• Source:JND
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In a major boost to the Indian Army’s airspace management capabilities, the indigenous ‘SAKSHAM’ Counter Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Grid is being procured to provide real-time detection, tracking, identification and neutralisation of enemy drones.

SAKSHAM (Situational Awareness for Kinetic Soft and Hard Kill Assets Management) represents a significant advancement in integrated airspace control, NDTV quoted army sources as saying.

“The modern battlefield is no longer confined to the ground. Control of the Air Littoral - the airspace immediately above troops - is now critical to tactical dominance,” NDTV quoted an official as saying.

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What Is SAKSHAM? Know Its Key Features

- The Indian Army, in collaboration with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Ghaziabad, has developed an indigenous ‘SAKSHAM’ Counter Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Grid.

- Situational Awareness for Kinetic Soft and Hard Kill Assets Management, or SAKSHAM, operates on the secure Army Data Network (ADN) and provides a unified “Recognised UAS Picture” across the Tactical Battlefield Space (TBS), extending up to 3,000 meters (10,000 feet) above ground.

- The concept of TBS was introduced following Operation Sindoor, India’s cross-border strike in response to the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, when increased drone incursions revealed the need for real-time space control.

- SAKSHAM uses AI-driven threat analysis to automate decision-making and improve accuracy in neutralising drone threats.

- SAKSHAM’s modular grid integrates various counter-drone weapons and sensors, combining data from radar, electro-optical devices, and other sources to provide immediate threat alerts and response capabilities.

- Upon deployment, SAKSHAM will form the backbone of India’s Counter-UAS network, offering commanders seamless situational awareness across land and air domains.

- “This is about more than drones - it's about autonomy, speed, and control of our battlespace,” a defence official said.

- The initiative aligns with the Indian Army’s Decade of Transformation (2023-2032), aimed at creating a digitally networked, technology-enabled force prepared for future hybrid warfare.

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“The future battlefield is multidimensional - and SAKSHAM ensures India stays ahead of the threat curve,” an officer said.