New Delhi: India’s march towards self-reliance in advanced defence technologies has received a major national recognition.
Two critical indigenous systems — the D4 Counter-Drone System and the Dharashakti Integrated Electronic Warfare (EW) System — have been awarded the prestigious SKOCH Award (Gold Category), underscoring India’s growing strength in electronic warfare, air defence, and counter-UAS technologies.
The award recognises the role of India’s defence research ecosystem in developing strategically significant, operationally deployed, and indigenously designed systems to counter emerging aerial and electronic threats.
What is SKOCH Award
The SKOCH Award is one of India’s most respected civilian awards, recognising excellence in governance, security, technology, and public sector innovation. The Gold Category is reserved for projects that demonstrate exceptional impact, scalability, and national importance.
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The selection of two high-end electronic warfare and counter-drone systems highlights their strategic relevance in modern battlefield environments, where drones, loitering munitions, and electronic attacks have become critical threats.
What is D4 Counter-Drone System
The D4 Counter-Drone System is a comprehensive, indigenous solution developed to detect, track, and neutralise hostile drones, including small UAVs used for surveillance, smuggling, or terror activities.
Key Capabilities of the D4 Counter-Drone System
- Multi-sensor detection using radar, RF sensors, and electro-optical systems
- Real-time drone tracking and classification
- Soft-kill options such as RF jamming and GNSS spoofing
- Hard-kill capabilities where required
- Mobile and static deployment options for military and strategic installations
The system is designed to counter modern threats such as swarm drones, low-RCS UAVs, and commercial off-the-shelf drones modified for hostile use.
DRDO Laboratories Behind the D4 System
The D4 Counter-Drone System has been designed and developed by four premier laboratories of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO):
- LRDE (Electronics & Radar Development Establishment) – Radar and sensor technologies
- DLRL (Defence Electronics Research Laboratory) – Electronic warfare and jamming systems
- CHESS (Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences) – Directed energy and advanced systems
- IRDE (Instruments Research & Development Establishment) – Electro-optical and imaging payloads
This multi-lab collaboration demonstrates DRDO’s system-of-systems approach in developing integrated defence solutions.
What is Dharashakti Integrated EW System
The Dharashakti Integrated Electronic Warfare System represents a significant leap in India’s offensive and defensive electronic warfare capabilities.
Designed to operate across diverse threat environments, the system provides real-time electronic situational awareness and active counter-measures against adversary sensors and communication networks.
What are the Features of Dharashakti EW System
- Integrated electronic support and electronic attack capabilities
- Wideband signal interception and analysis
- High-power jamming against enemy radars and communications
- Modular architecture for future upgrades
- Seamless integration with battlefield command systems
The system is critical for ensuring spectrum dominance, a decisive factor in modern network-centric warfare.
Collaborative Development of Dharashakti EW System
The Dharashakti Integrated EW System has been developed by DLRL in collaboration with:
- IRDE
- DEAL (Defence Electronics Applications Laboratory)
This collaboration highlights DRDO’s ability to integrate sensor design, signal processing, and electronic attack technologies into a single operational platform.
What is the Significance of Dharashakti Integrated EW System
The recognition of these systems comes at a time when:
- Drone warfare is reshaping global conflicts
- Electronic warfare is central to air, land, and naval operations
- Border security threats increasingly involve UAV intrusions
The D4 and Dharashakti systems strengthen India’s:
- Border surveillance
- Counter-terrorism infrastructure
- Protection of critical military and civilian assets
- Indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem
Advancing Atmanirbhar Bharat in Defence Technology
Both systems are fully indigenous, aligning with the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision. Their success demonstrates that India is not only reducing dependence on foreign defence equipment but is also developing globally competitive electronic warfare solutions.
The SKOCH Gold Award validates the operational relevance, technological depth, and future scalability of these systems.
