Hindustan Shipyard (HSL), a leading defence public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Defence, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Pentagon Rugged Systems India to co-develop indigenous anti-drone and long-range secure communication systems for the Indian Navy.

The MoU, formalised on July 05 in Visakhapatnam, targets the growing threat from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in maritime zones. The advanced anti-drone systems will be capable of detecting, tracking, and neutralising hostile drones in real-time within a 30 km range. With jamming capabilities across the 400 MHz to 6 GHz spectrum, the system aims to neutralise threats without causing collateral damage.

The partnership will also develop resilient long-range Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) communication systems, essential for naval operations in complex coastal and deep-sea environments. Calling the collaboration a step towards “Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence,” HSL Chairman and MD Commodore Hemant Khatri highlighted the partnership’s importance in enhancing naval preparedness and indigenous innovation. Integration trials are slated to begin next quarter, followed by deployment on frontline naval vessels.