BENGALURU : Bengaluru-based defence equipment manufacturer Alpha Design Technologies Ltd (ADTL) has completed a comprehensive upgrade of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Pechora surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, marking a significant step in the Centre’s push to modernise ageing military platforms through indigenous capability.
The upgraded Pechora system has been fully digitised and is expected to enhance India’s air defence posture. It is also slated to form part of Mission Sudarshan Chakra, the IAF’s long-term programme aimed at creating a layered and integrated air defence shield capable of countering a broad spectrum of aerial threats, ranging from small unmanned aerial vehicles to high-speed fighter aircraft.
Legacy System, Modernised Role
The Pechora SAM system, of Russian origin, was inducted into IAF service in the 1970s and has remained a key component of India’s air defence network for nearly five decades. While the system has been regarded as reliable, technological advances and the increasing difficulty of sustaining legacy hardware prompted the IAF to initiate a life-extension and capability enhancement programme.
Under this initiative, ADTL emerged as the strategic partner responsible for upgrading the system, drawing on its prior experience in delivering defence electronics and mission-critical systems for the armed forces. The company formally secured the project with the signing of a contract valued at ₹591.3 crore on September 25, 2020.
Trials and Operational Validation
According to Wing Commander (retd) Vishal Anand, programme director for the Pechora upgrade at ADTL, firing and user trials of the first fully upgraded system were successfully conducted at the Pokhran range between November 6 and December 26, 2025. He confirmed to The Times of India that the trials validated the operational readiness of the digitised system under field conditions, demonstrating its performance after the extensive modernisation effort.
Group Captain (retd) Raghavendra Aroor, chief operating officer of ADTL, said the project marked a first for the Indian private sector. He stated that ADTL had become the first Indian company to modernise a vintage Russian-origin weapon system and the first private Indian firm to carry out successful surface-to-air missile launches as part of such an upgrade programme.
Scope of the Upgrade
The modernisation involved complete digitisation of the missile’s tracking radar system, including the integration of a new transmitter. The entire receiver chain was upgraded, replacing vintage valve- and transistor-based components with contemporary electronic chips. The operators’ cabin was modernised with advanced displays, data collection systems, and integrated health monitoring, leading to a significant reduction in the number of personnel required to operate the system.
In addition, mechanical systems across the missile complex were refurbished or replaced, addressing long-standing issues associated with wear and obsolescence in the legacy platform. Collectively, these changes are intended to improve reliability, maintainability, and combat effectiveness while extending the system’s service life.
Indigenous Capability and Cost Efficiency
Aroor noted that the successful upgrade demonstrated that imported legacy systems could be indigenously modernised to meet current operational standards. He added that such upgrades can be carried out at a fraction of the cost of procuring entirely new platforms, resulting in substantial savings while maintaining operational readiness.
For the IAF, the upgraded Pechora provides a means to sustain combat capability during the transition to newer air defence technologies. ADTL CEO Hariprasad and CFO K S Ramesh stated that the modernised system would make a meaningful contribution to Mission Sudarshan Chakra, while also enabling Alpha Design Technologies to explore opportunities in the global defence market.
Broader Defence Portfolio
Beyond the Pechora programme, ADTL has indigenously manufactured and supplied a range of defence systems, including thermal imaging fire control units, software-defined radios, handheld laser target designators, and missile launch detection systems. The company has also developed the Aerial Targeting System, SkyStriker, which was deployed during Operation Sindoor.
With the completion of the Pechora upgrade, ADTL’s role in sustaining and modernising critical air defence assets underscores the growing involvement of Indian private industry in defence modernisation efforts aligned with national self-reliance objectives.
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