Archive · 7 Sep 2026
DRDO Advances SHIELD Microwave Testing Programme for Drone Vulnerabilities
India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation wants to build a system called SHIELD.
The system will help researchers study how powerful microwave energy affects drones and other electronic equipment.
It is mainly a testing platform, not a weapon intended for immediate battlefield use.
Companies such as Indian start-ups and small businesses are invited to help develop it.
SHIELD will use powerful amplifiers made with Gallium Nitride technology.
Its parts can be changed or expanded for different experiments.
The system may also be used in moving or drone-mounted tests.
Earlier DRDO trials reportedly disabled quadcopter drones from one kilometre away.
DRDO has launched the SHIELD programme and issued a Request for Proposal under its Technology Development Fund.
SHIELD is a testing platform designed to assess how high-power microwaves affect drone electronics, sensors and communications.
The proposed system will use modular, scalable Gallium Nitride-based Solid State Power Amplifiers.
It is expected to generate a far-field peak electric field strength of at least 3 kV/m.
The programme builds on earlier DRDO tests that reportedly disabled quadcopter drones at a range of one kilometre.
- Who
- The Defence Research and Development Organisation, along with Indian start-ups, micro, small and medium enterprises, and private defence firms.
- What
- The SHIELD High-Power Microwave Integrated Evaluation System for Lethality and Damage.
- When
- The articles do not provide a specific date, but state that DRDO has launched the programme and issued a Request for Proposal.
- Where
- India, with the system intended for controlled testing environments and tactical field-test simulations.
- Why
- To measure drone and military-electronics vulnerabilities, improve electromagnetic resilience, and support indigenous directed-energy and electronic-warfare capabilities.
- Programme
- SHIELD, the High-Power Microwave Integrated Evaluation System for Lethality and Damage
- Technology
- Gallium Nitride-based Solid State Power Amplifiers
- Frequency band
- S-band
- Expected field strength
- At least 3 kV/m in the far field
- Primary purpose
- Controlled testing of microwave effects on drone electronics, sensors, communications and military systems
- Development framework
- Technology Development Fund scheme
- Earlier result
- DRDO reportedly disabled quadcopter drones at a range of one kilometre
- Industry participants
- Indian start-ups, micro, small and medium enterprises, and private defence firms
