All about Swarm attack shield with radar, jammers and hard-kill guns - The Economic Times
AI Analysis
Zen Technologies of India unveiled an AI-powered, integrated Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (CUAS) featuring both 'soft kill' (jamming) and 'hard kill' (kinetic interception) capabilities. This development aligns with India's 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliance) initiative to bolster domestic defense production. The system is designed to address growing threats from drones, including swarm attacks, reconnaissance, and smuggling.
Key Takeaways
- Zen Technologies showcased its CUAS at the North Tech Symposium 2026.
- The system utilizes AI-enabled tracking and layered jamming.
- The CUAS is modular and deployable in vehicle-mounted, man-portable, or fixed-site configurations.
- Recent conflicts (Ukraine, West Asia) have highlighted vulnerabilities in traditional air defense systems against low-cost drones.
- India faces specific threats from drones along its borders, including smuggling and infiltration.
Why It Matters
The increasing use of drones in modern warfare necessitates robust counter-UAS capabilities. India's investment in indigenous CUAS technology reduces reliance on foreign suppliers and strengthens its border security and defense posture. The development of layered systems capable of handling swarm attacks is particularly crucial given the evolving nature of drone warfare.
All about Swarm attack shield with radar, jammers and hard-kill guns - The Economic Times
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All about Swarm attack shield with radar, jammers and hard-kill guns
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All about Swarm attack shield with radar, jammers and hard-kill guns
ET OnlineLast Updated: May 28, 2026, 04:32:00 PM IST
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Synopsis
India is accelerating efforts to build indigenous counter-drone systems, with Zen Technologies unveiling an AI-powered integrated CUAS. This system combines "soft kill" jamming and "hard kill" kinetic interception to counter evolving drone warfare threats, bolstering India's Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Agencies
Photo credit: Zen technologies
As drone warfare rapidly transforms modern battlefields from Ukraine to West Asia, India is stepping up efforts to build indigenous systems capable of detecting, jamming and destroying hostile unmanned aerial threats.At the North Tech Symposium 2026 in Prayagraj, Hyderabad-based Zen Technologies showcased a new integrated Counter Unmanned Aerial System(CUAS) equipped with AI-enabled tracking, layered jamming systems and kinetic interception capabilities aimed at tackling evolving drone threats.The platform is being projected as a significant addition to India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat defence initiative, especially as security agencies face growing concerns over drone-based surveillance, cross-border smuggling, infiltration attempts and swarm attacks targeting military infrastructure.
Why anti-drone systems matter for India
The widespread use of low-cost drones in recent global conflicts has exposed serious gaps in traditional air-defence systems. Small unmanned aerial vehicles are increasingly being used for reconnaissance, artillery support, kamikaze attacks and coordinated swarm strikes while remaining difficult to detect through conventional radar systems.
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For India, the threat has become more acute along sensitive border regions, where drones have frequently been used to transport narcotics, weapons and ammunition across borders.
Defence planners are also preparing for future combat scenarios in which autonomous drones and AI-enabled unmanned systems could dominate surveillance and battlefield operations.
In this environment, layered anti-drone systems capable of simultaneously detecting, tracking and neutralising multiple aerial threats are emerging as a strategic requirement.
How the system operates
The newly unveiled platform combines both “soft kill” and “hard kill” technologies within a multi-layered architecture designed to counter a wide range of unmanned threats.The modular system can reportedly be deployed in vehicle-mounted, man-portable or fixed-si