Army has initiated procurement of indigenously developed ‘Saksham’ Counter Unmanned Aerial System Grid System to ensure complete airspace security up to 3,000 metres. Developed by BEL, the AI-driven system integrates real-time detection and tracking.
New Delhi: In a significant step towards enhancing national security and operational preparedness against evolving aerial threats, the Indian Army has initiated the procurement of an indigenously developed ‘Saksham’ Counter Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Grid System.
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Designed to detect track, identify and neutralise hostile drones and unmanned aerial systems in real time, the system is designed to detect, the ‘Saksham; counter UAS grid system would ensure complete airspace security across what is now defined as the Tactical Battlefield Space (TBS), an expanded domain that includes the Air Littoral, the airspace up to 3,000 metres (10,000 feet) above the ground.
Genesis and need
The necessity for a comprehensive Counter-UAS framework emerged prominently during Operation Sindoor, where hostile UAS activity highlighted the need for swift detection, coordinated response, and airspace control beyond traditional ground limits.
The Indian Army has since evolved its operational concept from the earlier Tactical Battle Area (TBA) to the more inclusive Tactical Battlefield Space (TBS), recognising that future wars will be fought not just on land but also in the air littoral directly above it.
This new approach ensures that the airspace up to 3,000 metres above the ground the Air Littoral remains under control of ground forces, allowing unrestricted movement for friendly aerial assets while detecting, tracking, and neutralising hostile drones or aircraft.
Modern conflicts increasingly involve drones for surveillance and attacks, making situational awareness and real-time decision support essential for mission success.
The ‘Saksham’ system
Conceived as a high-end, modular command and control System, Saksham, short for Situational Awareness for Kinetic Soft and Hard Kill Assets Management, has been developed in collaboration with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Ghaziabad.
The system operates over the secure Army Data Network (ADN) to provide an integrated, recognised UAS picture to all formations and arms in real time, covering both the surface and the Air Littoral layer of the Tactical Battlefield Space.
The system will also receive inputs from the Akashteer system, further enhancing situational awareness by mapping all airspace users; friendly, neutral, or hostile; within the combat zone.
The Saksham counter-UAS system is fully indigenous, embodying the Government’s vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ in defence technology.
Designed and developed by BEL, the system incorporates AI-driven fusion technologies for future combat systems, enabling scalability and upgradation as threat environments evolve.
To ensure speedy induction, the project has been approved under the Fast Track Procurement (FTP) route, with rollout to all field formations targeted within the next one year.
Strategic impact
Once operational, Saksham will serve as the backbone of the Indian Army’s counter-UAS grid, giving commanders a unified picture of both ground and aerial threats in the Tactical Battlefield Space.
It will enhance decision-making speed, ensure rapid engagement, and secure control over the Air Littoral, thereby protecting troops and infrastructure from aerial incursions.