The Indian Air Force plans to equip its helicopters with micro-missiles and AI-based target identification systems to counter low-flying kamikaze drones and loitering munitions.
The plan is set out in a handbook titled 'Problem Statements of IAF Directorate of Indigenisation' presented at the SANKALP 2026 seminar in Delhi.
The handbook says helicopters should be developed as Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems platforms rather than relying on ground-based defenses alone, citing drone use in the Iran-US and Ukraine-Russia conflicts as a growing challenge.
Planned equipment includes EO/IR pods linked to AI-based threat and target identification, a forward-mounted 20 mm cannon, and lightweight airborne radio-frequency and GPS jammers.
The handbook also lists a fragmentation rod-projectile warhead that can spread high-speed metal fragments to damage drones, missiles, aircraft or light military vehicles.
A related system, the Bhargavastra counter-swarm drone system by Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited, has neutralized a drone at 2.5 km at the Gopalpur firing range and was later demonstrated before Indian Army, Navy and Air Force officials in Nagpur.
The new capabilities may initially be fitted on AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and the indigenously developed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) 'Prachand'.