New Delhi, September 2026: The Defence Electronics Research Laboratory (DLRL), a Hyderabad-based laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is developing a new vehicle-mounted electronic warfare jammer specifically designed to detect and disrupt advanced cognitive radio systems, according to a report by Alpha Defense.
The project marks a significant development in India’s efforts to strengthen its electronic warfare capabilities and counter sophisticated communication systems that can rapidly adapt to conventional jamming techniques.
Under the programme, three jammer units are reportedly being developed, with each system designed to operate across a broad frequency spectrum ranging from 30 MHz to 6 GHz. The platforms are expected to provide 360-degree detection and jamming coverage, with an effective operational range of up to 20 kilometres.
The wide frequency coverage is intended to enable the systems to identify and interfere with adversary communication networks operating across multiple frequency bands. Such capabilities are increasingly important on modern battlefields, where secure and adaptive communications play a critical role in coordinating military operations.
One of the key features of the proposed system is its extremely rapid reaction time. The jammer is reportedly designed to respond in less than five microseconds, allowing it to detect and disrupt radios that rapidly change frequencies to evade electronic countermeasures. The system is expected to be capable of countering radios that can hop frequencies as many as 2,000 times per second.
Cognitive radios represent a growing challenge for electronic warfare forces because they can use artificial intelligence and machine-learning techniques to dynamically optimise communication links, particularly in contested electromagnetic environments. Their ability to adjust operating parameters can make them considerably more difficult to detect and jam using conventional systems.
The vehicle-mounted configuration is expected to provide Indian forces with greater mobility and operational flexibility. According to the reported programme timeline, the systems can be deployed from their vehicles in less than an hour, enabling relatively rapid preparation for operations in different terrains and theatres.
The development programme reportedly targets completion of delivery and testing within 21 months, highlighting DRDO’s growing emphasis on accelerated development and field evaluation of critical defence technologies.
The project is also aligned with India’s broader push for self-reliance in defence technology under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Indigenous electronic warfare systems can reduce dependence on foreign technology while strengthening India’s ability to protect its command-and-control networks and disrupt hostile communications.
The new jammer is expected to complement India’s wider investments in spectrum dominance, electronic countermeasures and resilient battlefield communications. Its ability to counter adaptive and intelligent radios could provide Indian forces with an important capability in increasingly network-centric warfare environments.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
