Nearly five months after Operation Sindoor showcased the strength of India’s security forces and their ability to neutralise nearly 400 drones launched by Pakistan, the Indian Army has started the process to procure an indigenously developed system called ‘SAKSHAM’ Counter Unmanned Aerial System Grid.

Defence officials said the new system is built to “detect, track, identify, and neutralise hostile drones and unmanned aerial systems in real time, ensuring complete airspace security across what is now defined as the Tactical Battlefield Space (TBS), an expanded domain that includes the Air Littoral, the airspace up to 3,000 metres (10,000 feet) above the ground.”

They explained that the need for such an advanced counter-drone network became clear during Operation Sindoor, when enemy drones highlighted the importance of “swift detection, coordinated response, and airspace control beyond traditional ground limits.”

“The Indian Army has since evolved its operational concept from the earlier Tactical Battle Area (TBA) to the more inclusive Tactical Battlefield Space (TBS), recognising that future wars will be fought not just on land but also in the air littoral directly above it,” said an official.

This shift allows ground forces to control the airspace up to 3,000 metres above the battlefield, ensuring smooth movement for friendly aerial assets while detecting and neutralising enemy drones and aircraft.

Officials noted that modern conflicts, including the Russia-Ukraine war, the Israel-Palestine and Israel-Iran conflicts, and Operation Sindoor itself, have shown how drones are now central to surveillance and attacks.

Developed as a high-end modular Command and Control System, SAKSHAM stands for Situational Awareness for Kinetic Soft and Hard Kill Assets Management. It has been developed in collaboration with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Ghaziabad.

Saksham will provide complete situational awareness for counter-drone operations through a unified CUAS network across the Tactical Battlefield Space.

It aims to “integrate own and enemy Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) data, Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (CUAS) sensors, and soft/hardkill systems on a common GIS-based platform.”

The system will support commanders with automated decision tools and real-time visual displays, using a flexible and scalable structure that can adapt to changing threats.

Among its major strengths is an AI-enabled threat analysis feature that helps predict drone attacks and supports faster decision-making.

The system is fully indigenous and aligns with the government’s vision of building a self-reliant defence ecosystem under ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat.’

Designed and developed by BEL, SAKSHAM uses AI-driven fusion technologies suitable for future warfare and can be easily upgraded as new challenges emerge.

To speed up its induction, the project has been cleared under the Fast Track Procurement route, with deployment across all field formations expected within a year.