New Delhi: In a significant stride towards bolstering India’s maritime defence capabilities, Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), a premier defence PSU under the Ministry of Defence, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Pentagon Rugged Systems India Limited. The strategic partnership, formalised on July 5, aims to jointly develop and integrate cutting-edge Anti-Drone Systems and Long-Range Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) Communication Systems for deployment on Indian Naval platforms.
The collaboration focuses on two critical areas of technological advancement. The first involves the development of advanced indigenous Anti-Drone Systems, designed to detect, track, and neutralize hostile unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) within a 30-kilometre radius. These systems will operate across the 400 MHz to 6 GHz spectrum, employing advanced jamming capabilities to disable drones without causing collateral damage. The initiative is in alignment with the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ programmes, aiming to enhance self-reliance in high-tech defence manufacturing.
The second focus area is the development of secure and resilient long-range NLOS communication systems, a critical requirement for effective naval operations in complex maritime and littoral environments. These systems will strengthen the Indian Navy’s operational flexibility and ensure secure connectivity in scenarios where traditional line-of-sight communication methods are ineffective.
HSL's Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Cmde Hemant Khatri underlined the strategic significance of the partnership, stating, “This MoU is a significant step towards Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence technology. Our partnership with Pentagon Rugged Systems will not only enhance the combat readiness of our naval platforms but also foster indigenous innovation in maritime security.”
Commenting on the collaboration, Pentagon Rugged Systems India Limited's Managing Director (MD) Dr. Swaminathan Manikandan said, “We are proud to collaborate with HSL to deliver indigenous, mission-critical, rugged, real-time, and scalable Anti-Drone technology tailored to address high-risk maritime threats.”
Integration trials for the systems are scheduled to begin in the next quarter, with deployment on frontline naval vessels expected soon after.
The partnership marks a crucial milestone in India's pursuit of advanced, home-grown defence technologies, with the potential to significantly enhance the Indian Navy’s preparedness against emerging asymmetric threats in the maritime domain.
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