Bengaluru, – Indian defence technology company Tonbo Imaging India Limited has proposed establishing a High-Power Microwave (HPM) manufacturing facility in Bengaluru and a dedicated 130-acre testing centre in Vijayapura district, Karnataka. The expansion aims to strengthen the company's capabilities in directed-energy weapons and advanced counter-drone technologies.
The company has sought five acres of land in Bengaluru's Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR) Phase 2 for research, development and manufacturing of HPM systems. It has also requested 130 acres at Mulwada Industrial Area in Vijayapura for testing, evaluation, field trials and demonstrations of its defence technologies.
The proposed Vijayapura centre will support testing of next-generation directed-energy technologies, particularly systems designed to counter individual drones and drone swarms. It will provide facilities for field trials and demonstrations before the systems are delivered to customers.
Focus on WaveStrike High-Power Microwave Technology
Tonbo Imaging has been expanding its work in directed-energy weapons. Its product portfolio includes WaveStrike, a third-generation High-Power Microwave system that uses Multi-Beam Klystron (MBK) technology.
The system is designed to use concentrated microwave energy to disable electronic components in drones and disrupt enemy radars and other electronic systems. It is also designed to counter autonomous drones that operate without GPS.
HPM technology offers a non-kinetic approach to counter-drone operations. Instead of destroying targets with conventional ammunition, it uses electromagnetic energy to disrupt or damage their electronic systems.
Tonbo Imaging has also secured an Indian Navy contract under the ADITI 3.0 initiative to integrate and commission an HPM system for naval platforms. The programme is supported by the Ministry of Defence's iDEX initiative and Defence Innovation Organisation. Production units are planned following successful development, validation and acceptance.
Karnataka Government Support
The proposals were discussed during a meeting between Tonbo Imaging representatives and Karnataka Industries Minister M.B. Patil. The minister assured the company of government support and coordination with the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) and other departments, subject to applicable regulations.
The company has not announced a specific investment amount for the two proposed facilities. Both projects are awaiting land-allocation procedures and necessary administrative approvals.
The expansion is part of Karnataka's broader effort to attract defence and aerospace manufacturing investments beyond Bengaluru. On the same day, UK-based Martin-Baker announced a proposed ₹380 crore investment for an aircraft ejection seat manufacturing facility in Karnataka.
Overall, the proposed facilities would expand Tonbo Imaging's domestic capabilities in HPM weapons, electronic warfare and counter-drone technologies, while adding dedicated infrastructure for manufacturing and testing in Karnataka.
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