IST - Saturday, February 21, 2026 5:34 am
Hot News

Paras Defence Wins Rs 360M MoD Order for Counter-Drone Systems Breakthrough

Soniya Gupta

Paras

Paras Defence and Space Technologies Ltd. has received a significant domestic order worth Rs 356.8 million from the Ministry of Defence for Portable Counter-Drone Systems, with completion expected by May 2026. Additionally, its subsidiary, Paras Anti-Drone Technologies Pvt. Ltd., secured a Rs 39.5 million order for Radio Frequency Jammers. These orders highlight the Ministry’s confidence in the company’s capabilities for advanced counter-UAV technologies, aligning with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision. CEO Ashutosh Behati emphasized the growing trust and urgency for indigenous counter-drone systems in response to escalating drone-related threats. The company is positioned as a trusted partner in electronic warfare and anti-drone systems development.

Paras Defence & Space Technologies Ltd has secured a major contract from the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) worth ₹ 35.68 crore (≈ ₹ 356.8 million) for the supply of portable counter‑drone systems This deal, to be executed by May 2026, marks a noteworthy deepening of the government’s trust in indigenous anti‑UAV technologies and underscores Paras Defence’s growing role in India’s national security architecture Paras Defence says that the rise in drone-related risks ranging from cross-border intrusion to smuggling, reconnaissance, and airspace violations has driven MoD demand for locally made counter-drone systems parallel, its subsidiary Paras Anti‑Drone Technologies Pvt Ltd has also won a ₹ 3.95 crore contract for radio frequency (RF) jammers that integrate detection and jamming functions.

Strategic Importance & Technological Edge

This contract comes at a time when drone threats have become increasingly sophisticated and frequent. As adversaries deploy small UAVs for surveillance, smuggling, or worse, the ability to rapidly detect, classify, and neutralize these systems is vital. Paras Defence’s portable counter‑drone systems are modular: they detect, track, and then neutralize UAVs, giving armed forces and strategic installations greater flexibility in responding to emerging aerial threats The RF jammers ordered via the subsidiary add a complementary layer of defence. By disrupting the command‑and‑control links of hostile drones, these jammers can prevent them from executing their missions. This soft‑kill (non‑lethal) approach is often preferred where kinetic methods risk collateral damage or are less feasible.

This isn’t Paras Defence’s first foray into counter‑UAV systems for India’s military. Earlier in 2025, they secured a ₹ 142.31 crore order from DRDO (via its CHESS lab) to develop a high‑power laser module for anti‑drone and anti‑missile applications That project involves mobile beam‑control integration and is planned to be completed in 24 months The development of directed energy weapons (DEWs) like this laser‑based system gives India a cutting-edge capability to neutralise aerial threats rapidly and precisely In addition, Paras Anti‑Drone recently won a ₹ 46.19 crore contract from MoD for advanced jammer‑based anti‑drone systems. Together, these orders show a clear pattern: MoD is increasingly relying on Paras to provide a layered, indigenous counter‑drone.

Why This Matters for India

  1. Atmanirbhar Bharat / Self‑Reliance: These orders strengthen India’s push to indigenously source critical defence systems. Rather than depending on foreign suppliers, the MoD is betting on homegrown companies like Paras Defence to secure the nation’s skies Capability from portable detection/jamming systems to directed‑energy solutions.

  2. Modern Threat Landscape: Drones are not just recreational tools—they have evolved into strategic threats. Whether for smuggling, intelligence, or attacks, the proliferation of UAVs demands robust countermeasures. Paras’s systems help fill that gap.

  3. Export Potential: As Paras scales up its technology, there may be opportunities for export. In fact, the company has previously signed an MoU with Israel’s MicroCon Vision to collaborate on drone‑camera technology, pointing to its international ambitions.

  4. Future‑Ready Defence: With both electronic (RF jammer) and directed‑energy (laser) systems in development, Paras is helping India build a layered, future-ready counter‑drone architecture.

  5. Economic & Skill Impact: Such orders drive job creation, R&D investment, and (Solar) technology development in India’s defense‑industrial base, contributing to broader economic and strategic goals.

Challenges & Considerations

Yet, challenges remain. Counter‑UAV is a fast-evolving domain. As drone technology becomes cheaper and more accessible, threats multiply. Paras must continue to innovate especially to handle drone swarms, low-RCS (radar cross-section) UAVs, and rapidly shifting threat vectors. Moreover, field deployment and reliability under real‑world conditions will be key the systems may work in labs, but how they perform under operational stress will decide long-term success In addition, integration with broader air‑defence networks is critical. A counter‑drone system is most effective when it works alongside radar, guns, missile systems, and command-and-control architecture. Paras’s solutions will need to be interoperable with existing defence platforms The MoD’s continued patronage of Paras sends a strong signal to.

The Indian defence manufacturing ecosystem: homegrown companies developing advanced electronic warfare and anti-UAV technologies are now central to national security. This could encourage more private players to invest in R&D, particularly in domains like portable jammers, RF detection, directed energy, and integrated C-UAV (counter‑UAV) suites Further, the market for counter‑drone systems in India is set to grow. As drone incidents increase and regional tensions persist, military and civilian users alike will demand scalable, reliable, and indigenous solutions. Paras’s growing order book positions it well to capture a significant share of this market Over the next year, Paras Defence will focus on executing these MoD orders, delivering portable counter‑drone systems and RF jammers.

By May 2026, as stated, the contracts are to be completed. Meanwhile, the DRDO‑funded laser project is likely to mature through 2026‑2027, potentially giving India one of its first mobile high‑power laser systems for aerial threat neutralisation If successful, the company will not only contribute to national security but also strengthen (Solar) India’s “Make in India” credentials in cutting‑edge defence technology. This could lead to export opportunities, partnerships with global defense firms, and further contracts from both governmental and non‑governmental users Paras Defence’s ₹ 35.68 crore MoD counter‑drone order is more than just a financial win it’s a strategic milestone. It reflects India’s commitment to building resilient, indigenous counter‑UAV capabilities and underscores.

Q1. What contract has Paras Defence won?
Paras Defence has secured a ₹ 35.68 crore order from the Indian MoD for portable counter‑drone systems.

Q2. When will the contract be executed?
The delivery and execution are scheduled to be completed by May 2026.

Q3. What other contract did Paras or its subsidiary receive?
Its subsidiary, Paras Anti‑Drone Technologies, received a ₹ 3.95 crore contract for RF jammers from MoD

Q4. Has Paras Defence won other related defence contracts?
Yes earlier, Paras secured a ₹ 142.31 crore order from DRDO for a high‑power anti‑drone laser system

Q5. Why is this order significant for India?
It underscores the government’s push for self‑reliance (“Atmanirbhar Bharat”) in defence, enhances counter‑UAV capabilities, and bolsters the domestic defence‐technology sector.