The Indian Navy has awarded a contract to Tonbo Imaging, a Bengaluru-based defence technology firm, for the integration and commissioning of a High Power Microwave (HPM) system for naval platforms. The agreement was made under the ADITI 3.0 innovation framework, as confirmed by the company on Tuesday.
Contract Details and Support
The programme is supported by the Ministry of Defence's iDEX initiative and the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO). Tonbo Imaging will carry out system integration and commissioning activities, followed by the supply of production units after successful validation and acceptance.
Significance of HPM Systems
HPM systems are a critical directed-energy capability possessed by only a handful of countries. They are designed to disable or degrade enemy electronics, sensors, and unmanned systems using concentrated electromagnetic energy rather than conventional kinetic weapons. Such systems are increasingly seen as an effective counter to drone swarms and asymmetric threats, particularly in maritime environments where unmanned systems are becoming more common.
ADITI Initiative
ADITI, short for Advanced Defence Technology Incubation, is a Government of India initiative aimed at supporting the development and validation of advanced defence technologies before induction into service.
Company's Perspective
Arvind Lakshmikumar, managing director and CEO of Tonbo Imaging, stated that the programme reflects the company's long-term investments in indigenous HPM technologies, including vacuum tube-based systems and critical sub-systems. He noted that vacuum tube-based sources remain essential for operational HPM systems because they can generate the extremely high peak power and pulse energy levels needed for effective target engagement. Solid-state RF sources, while useful in many radio-frequency applications, currently cannot match those power levels within practical operational limits.
Expansion Beyond Electro-Optics
The contract also marks Tonbo Imaging's expansion beyond electro-optics into advanced defence electronics, embedded systems, directed-energy technologies, and integrated mission systems.
