NEWS – India has successfully tested the Bhargavastra, its first micro-missile system designed to counter swarm drones.

ABOUT BHARGAVASTRA

• Purpose:
  • India’s first indigenous micro-missile system designed to counter the threat of swarm drones.
• Development:
  • Developed by Economic Explosives Ltd.
• Key Features:
  • Mobility: Deployable on mobile platforms.
  • Range: Can engage targets over 2.5 km.
  • Detection Capability: Detects small incoming flying objects from over 6 km.
  • Guided Munitions: Uses micro-munitions that can be guided towards threats.
  • Simultaneous Engagement: Capable of firing more than 64 micro missiles simultaneously.
  • All-Terrain Capability: Operable in high-altitude and other challenging terrains.
• Military Integration:
  • Designed for Army Air Defence as the first counter-drone system utilizing micro missiles.

WHAT ARE SWARM DRONES?

• SWARM: Stands for “Smart War-Fighting Array of Reconfigured Modules.”
• Technology: Coordinated operation of three to thousands of drones for cooperative missions.
• Applications: Examples include controlling wildfires, damage assessments, finding access points, and firefighting with minimal human intervention.
• Advantages:
  • More efficient and robust compared to single drones.
  • Perform tasks in parallel without direct human supervision.
• Technical Framework: Integrates advanced computer algorithms with local sensing and communication.
• Control Methods:
  • Preprogrammed missions with specific flight paths.
  • Centralized control by a ground station or a single control drone.
  • Distributed control where drones collaborate based on shared data.