Defence Ministry Signs Contract With BEL For Mobile Electronic Warfare Systems

The Ministry of Defence has signed a ₹1,476 crore contract with state-owned Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) to procure five ground-based mobile electronic warfare (EW) systems aimed at significantly enhancing the Indian Army’s capabilities in the electromagnetic domain. The agreement was concluded on Tuesday under the Buy (Indian–Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) category, underscoring the government’s push for indigenous defence production.

According to the defence ministry, the contract was signed in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and will feature at least 72 per cent indigenous content. The new systems are designed to strengthen the Army’s ability to detect, intercept and disrupt enemy communications, radar networks and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), providing what officials describe as a “soft kill” capability.

The mobile EW platforms are expected to be deployed with field formations along India’s western and northern borders. Unlike fixed installations, these systems are mounted on mobile platforms, allowing them to move alongside troops and operate within active tactical zones. This mobility is expected to give military commanders greater flexibility in both offensive and defensive operations depending on battlefield requirements.

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The procurement gains importance amid the increasing use of drones and loitering munitions in modern warfare. The systems can interfere with enemy drone control signals and satellite navigation links, potentially forcing unmanned aerial systems to lose guidance or abort missions. Defence officials say this provides a faster and more cost-effective alternative to traditional kinetic interception methods.

Beyond counter-drone roles, the EW systems are also designed to degrade adversary surveillance capabilities by disrupting radar and communication networks. While not a replacement for missile-based or air-based suppression operations, they are intended to act as a critical support layer by reducing enemy situational awareness and improving survivability of friendly forces in contested environments.

With modern conflicts increasingly shaped by control over the electromagnetic spectrum, defence experts note that such systems are becoming central to battlefield strategy. The new mobile EW capability is expected to enhance the Army’s ability to shape engagements even before direct combat begins, reflecting a broader shift toward technology-driven warfare preparedness.

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