Indian Navy's platforms to get a boost with anti-drone systems, special long-range comms?

Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Pentagon Rugged Systems India Limited to integrate anti-drone and long-range communication systems on Indian Navy platforms, in a significant move to enhance maritime warfare readiness.

The agreement, signed on July 5, 2025, focuses on two key areas: the integration of advanced Anti-Drone Systems and the deployment of Long-Range Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) Communication Systems. These technologies are expected to bolster the Navy’s operational capabilities in both blue-water and littoral theatres.

As unmanned aerial threats grow more sophisticated and prevalent, the Indian Navy has been prioritising counter-drone capabilities. The anti-drone system being developed under this partnership promises real-time detection, tracking, and neutralisation of hostile drones, with coverage extending up to 30 km. The system is designed to jam frequencies across the 400 MHz to 6 GHz spectrum, enabling neutralisation without causing collateral damage to friendly systems or infrastructure.

More from India

Earthquake of magnitude 5.9 jolts Assam, tremors felt in Bhutan and north Bengal 'First Assam visit after Op Sindoor': PM Modi inaugurates projects worth Rs 18,530 cr

Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) has taken a decisive step towards future warfare readiness by signing a Strategic Partnership Agreement with Pentagon Rugged Systems India Limited on 05 Jul 2025 to jointly integrate cutting-edge Anti-Drone Systems on Naval ships with cutting-edge… pic.twitter.com/s7EuYUmyj7

— Chairman, Hindustan Shipyard Limited (@CMD_HSL) July 6, 2025

The partnership is also aligned with India’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ programmes, with both companies aiming to indigenously design and produce the technologies. According to the official statement, integration trials are scheduled to begin in the next quarter, with deployment on frontline vessels to follow shortly after.

Cmde Hemant Khatri, Chairman and Managing Director of HSL, stressed the urgency of equipping the Navy to counter asymmetric threats. “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.”

The collaboration also targets long-range NLOS communication solutions, which are vital for ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore coordination in complex maritime environments where traditional line-of-sight communications can falter. These systems are expected to significantly improve the Navy’s ability to operate in contested zones while maintaining secure and resilient communication links.

Dr. Swaminathan Manikandan, Managing Director of Pentagon Rugged Systems India Ltd, echoed the sentiment, saying, “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.”