NEW DELHI: 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 to jointly integrate cutting-edge Anti-Drone Systems on Naval ships with cutting-edge solutions in maritime security and communication.

The MoU was signed with a focus on two key areas: the integration of advanced Anti-Drone Systems on Indian Naval ships and the development and deployment of Long-Range Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) Communication Systems to enhance naval operational capabilities.

The partnership aims to indigenously develop and deploy robust anti-drone systems to counter the growing threat of unmanned aerial vehicles in maritime environments. These systems will offer real-time detection, tracking, and neutralization of hostile drones, significantly enhancing the defensive capabilities of naval vessels up to 30 km, this indigenous system offers comprehensive protection to onboard assets and surrounding naval infrastructure jamming across the 400 MHz to 6 GHz spectrum, enabling the neutralization of hostile drones without causing collateral damage. This alliance supports India’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives, strengthening self-reliant defence manufacturing.

Additionally, the collaboration will advance secure and resilient long-range communication capabilities that are not dependent on direct line of sight, which is critical for operations in complex maritime and littoral environments.

Speaking on the occasion, Cmde Hemant Khatri, CMD, HSL highlighted the urgency of countering asymmetric drone threats and affirmed the Navy’s need for robust counter-drone technologies. He stated that “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.”