Indian Army Begins Procurement of Indigenous ‘SAKSHAM’ Counter-Drone Grid System

The Indian Army has taken a major step toward strengthening its airspace security by initiating the procurement of the indigenous SAKSHAM Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS) Grid, a next-generation defense network capable of detecting, tracking, identifying, and neutralizing hostile drones. This indigenous solution marks a key milestone in India’s efforts to build a comprehensive anti-drone architecture across sensitive military zones and strategic installations.

The SAKSHAM system, short for Situational Awareness for Kinetic, Soft and Hard Kill Assets Management, is designed as a grid-based, AI-assisted command and control system. It connects multiple radar, electro-optical, and radio frequency sensors into one unified digital map that continuously scans the skies for incoming aerial threats. Once detected, the system automatically classifies drones based on their flight pattern, speed, and electromagnetic signature, and instantly recommends the most effective countermeasure — whether it is jamming, spoofing, or a kinetic strike.

Technically, SAKSHAM covers a wide detection envelope — from low-flying quadcopters hovering near border posts to high-altitude reconnaissance drones operating several kilometers away. The system’s modular design allows it to integrate with different sensors and countermeasures, including both soft-kill and hard-kill technologies. It can connect to jammers, electronic warfare suites, and even ground-based interceptors or anti-drone guns. Its GIS-based interface provides real-time battlefield visualisation to commanders, helping them make rapid tactical decisions and coordinate responses more effectively.

What makes SAKSHAM unique is its automation and data fusion capability. Using artificial intelligence, the system correlates inputs from multiple sources, identifies potential drone swarms, and prioritises the most dangerous targets first. This level of automation is critical because modern conflicts increasingly involve saturation or swarm attacks, where dozens of drones may be launched simultaneously to overwhelm defenses. In such situations, human reaction time alone is not enough. SAKSHAM’s grid structure allows distributed nodes — radars, cameras, and jammers placed across a wide area — to communicate with each other, forming a networked shield that responds faster than traditional, stand-alone systems.

In the context of drone swarm attacks, SAKSHAM is particularly valuable. Its integrated sensors can pick up multiple low-signature drones flying in coordinated patterns, while its decision engine rapidly assigns countermeasures in real time. Soft-kill options like radio jamming can disrupt large groups of drones at once, while hard-kill systems focus on those that break through. This layered approach ensures that even complex, multi-directional attacks can be contained with minimal reaction time.

Beyond battlefield defense, the SAKSHAM Grid also has strategic implications for critical infrastructure protection. It can be deployed to secure airbases, ammunition depots, oil refineries, and communication hubs — areas increasingly vulnerable to drone intrusions. The system’s scalability allows it to expand from a single-site installation to a sector-wide defense network, making it adaptable to both static and mobile military environments.

The development and procurement of SAKSHAM are part of India’s broader drive for self-reliant defense technologies. Rather than relying on imported counter-drone systems, the Indian Army is investing in indigenous innovation to ensure rapid upgrades, lower costs, and seamless integration with existing command networks. It also allows for the customization of the system to meet specific threats encountered along the Line of Control, international borders, and high-altitude posts where traditional air defense radars face operational limitations.

Recent experiences from global conflicts — such as Ukraine, Syria, and the Caucasus — have shown how inexpensive drones can inflict significant damage on high-value targets. These lessons have accelerated India’s adoption of counter-drone technologies. The SAKSHAM Grid represents a shift from reactive defense to proactive airspace management, where drones are tracked and neutralized long before they can strike.

In operational terms, the Indian Army is expected to deploy SAKSHAM in phased stages, beginning with high-priority zones before expanding to border sectors. Once integrated with the Army’s electronic warfare and air defense networks, SAKSHAM will provide a seamless “detect-to-destroy” capability that enhances situational awareness and reduces human workload in fast-changing combat scenarios.

Ultimately, the SAKSHAM C-UAS Grid is not just a single system — it is a national framework for drone defense. Its modular and AI-driven design reflects the future of warfare, where real-time data fusion, automation, and indigenous innovation will define how effectively a country can safeguard its skies against the next generation of unmanned threats.