The Indian Navy is actively pursuing the acquisition of advanced counter-drone systems and longer-range attack vectors in the wake of Operation Sindoor, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti announced on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a tri-services conference in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, he outlined plans to bolster the Navy’s combat capabilities following insights gained from the May 7-10, 2025, military conflict with Pakistan.

Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, saw India deploy precision strikes using drones like the Bengaluru-made SkyStriker and Israeli Harop to target terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan-controlled territories. The operation highlighted the growing threat of low-cost unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), with Pakistan deploying over 600 drones, including Chinese CH-4s and Turkish Bayraktar TB2s, which were neutralized by India’s multi-layered air defense systems, including the Akash and S-400.

Vice Admiral Sobti emphasized that the Navy’s warships, equipped with costly surface-to-air missiles, cannot rely solely on these expensive arsenals to counter inexpensive drones. “We have to develop systems, especially counter-UAVs, which will help us take down low-cost drones effectively,” he said. The Navy is exploring solutions like the indigenous VajraShot anti-drone gun, which uses directed-energy to jam UAV communications, and the Bhargavastra counter-drone system, recently tested for its hard-kill micro-rockets.

Also Read: Indian Navy Bolsters Maritime Might with Dual Frigate Commissioning in Vizag

The Navy is also prioritizing long-range attack vectors to enhance its ability to strike targets both at sea and on land, reflecting lessons from Operation Sindoor’s drone-centric warfare. Sobti noted that the Navy is analyzing the operation’s outcomes to refine strategies, with personnel having been “raring to go” during the conflict, showcasing high readiness.

The push for counter-drone technology aligns with broader military modernization efforts, including the Army’s plans to integrate UAVs and anti-drone systems at the battalion level and the Air Force’s use of the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) for real-time threat neutralization. The Navy’s focus on cost-effective, indigenous solutions underscores India’s drive toward self-reliance under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, with the domestic drone market projected to grow to $11 billion by 2030.

Also Read: Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan Assumes Command of Western Naval Command