Zen Technologies Unveils AI-Powered Hard-Kill Defences to Tackle Next-Gen Jam-Resistant Drone Threats

India’s defence sector is facing a new and dangerous challenge — the rise of autonomous, jam-resistant drones that can infiltrate airspace undetected and carry out attacks without relying on live communication links. In response, Hyderabad-based Zen Technologies is spearheading the push for advanced “hard-kill” systems capable of physically destroying such aerial threats.

Following the intense border conflict with Pakistan in May 2025, where over 500 drones targeted Indian military and strategic sites along the western frontier, the urgency for better anti-drone measures became clear. The drone swarm included not just basic quadcopters, but also sophisticated armed drones like the Turkish-made Asisguard Songar — a quadrotor UCAV capable of carrying assault rifles or grenade launchers.

Although India’s existing air defence systems managed to neutralise all incoming drones using a combination of electronic jamming (soft-kill) and physical interception (hard-kill), the incident exposed the growing challenge of large-scale, technologically advanced drone attacks. These modern drones are increasingly autonomous, meaning traditional jamming techniques are becoming less effective.

Recognising this, Zen Technologies’ Managing Director Ashok Atluri highlighted the importance of integrating advanced hard-kill systems. “The Turkish Songar drones are a wake-up call,” Atluri noted. “We must urgently adopt hard-kill options to decisively counter this new kind of threat.”

To tackle this evolving danger, Zen Technologies has developed cutting-edge indigenous solutions. At the Aero India 2025 exhibition, the company unveiled Vyomkavach, an AI-powered aerial defence system designed to act as a complete protective shield. It combines advanced sensors for drone detection, electronic jammers for soft-kill, and physical interceptors for hard-kill actions — effectively neutralising threats ranging from small quadcopters to larger armed UAVs like the Bayraktar TB2.

In a major milestone, Zen also delivered its Zen Anti-Drone System with Hard-Kill (Zen ADS HK) to the Indian Army’s Air Defence College in Gopalpur, Odisha, in June 2024. Worth approximately ₹150 crore, this system integrates radar and electro-optic sensors with kinetic weapons to engage and destroy hostile drones. It has been built with high indigenous content, aligning with the Government of India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) programme.

Understanding the impracticality of using costly missiles against cheap drone swarms, Zen has introduced a more economical hard-kill weapon — a four-barrel rotary machine gun. Capable of firing up to 3,500 rounds per minute, with an adjustable rate to conserve ammunition, this weapon offers an effective solution for protecting vital assets against massed drone attacks.

Zen Technologies' commitment to indigenous innovation is underlined by its strong portfolio of 160 Indian and international patents. Through initiatives like Vyomkavach and Zen ADS HK, the company is positioning itself at the forefront of India’s counter-drone defence industry, preparing the armed forces to face the future of warfare — where unmanned, autonomous, and jam-resistant drones will be a common feature of the battlefield.