Indian Army inducts indigenous Saksham CUAS grid system

The Indian Army has begun procuring the indigenous ‘Saksham’ Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (CUAS) Grid System to enhance airspace security and neutralise aerial threats in real time.

Key Features of Saksham CUAS Grid System

• Developed in partnership with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Ghaziabad, Saksham is a modular, high-end Command and Control (C2) system.
• Operates on the secure Army Data Network (ADN) and offers an integrated Recognised UAS Picture (RUASP) to commanders for real-time situational awareness.
• Utilizes AI-driven analytic technologies and fuses data from radar, electro-optical, and other sensors to automatically detect, track, identify, and neutralise drones.
• The system integrates own and enemy UAS data, CUAS sensors, and soft/hard-kill systems on a common GIS-based platform.
• Designed to be scalable, flexible, and upgradable as aerial threats evolve.

Strategic Context and Recent Developments

• The need for a robust CUAS framework was highlighted during Operation Sindoor, where vulnerabilities in airspace were exposed due to hostile drone incursions.
• The operational concept now covers the Tactical Battlefield Space (TBS), which spans both land and low-altitude airspace up to 3,000 metres (10,000 feet) above ground.
• Induction is fast-tracked for all field formations within a year and is a part of the Indian Army’s Decade of Transformation (2023-2032) roadmap.

Operational Advantages

• Enables seamless interoperability with other airspace management and defense systems.
• Provides automated decision support and real-time visualisation to field commanders for rapid response.
• Ensures enhanced protection of troops, infrastructure, and assets from drone-based aerial threats.

(Source: TH)