IG Defence’s T-SHUL BEAM Counter-Drone System Demonstrated at Dronathan 2026 in Pokhran

IG Defence demonstrated the indigenous T-SHUL BEAM counter-drone system at the Indian Air Force's Dronathan 2026 exercise in Pokhran. The public description focuses on the system's ability to neutralise hostile drones using soft-kill electronic countermeasures and on its suitability for frontline, tactical use where larger systems are not practical.

T-SHUL BEAM is a man-portable, directional RF system built to interfere with critical electronic links on unmanned aerial systems. The demonstration showed its capability to disrupt command-and-control channels, telemetry, onboard video feeds and navigation signals. Because it uses directed radio-frequency interference across multiple bands, it can address several drone communication channels at once.

T-SHUL BEAM uses soft-kill methods rather than hard-kill effects. Instead of destroying a drone, it disrupts communications or navigation so the UAV becomes ineffective. The intended effect is a lower risk of collateral damage compared with kinetic or explosive countermeasures. The multi-band RF architecture aims to cover a wide spectrum of common drone links so a single system can engage diverse threat types.

IG Defence states that T-SHUL BEAM operates on GRID, the company's indigenously developed AI-powered battle management system. GRID is presented as an integrative layer that brings together sensors, unmanned systems, intelligence and command elements into a single operational picture. The integration allows detection, decision and coordination steps to be shared across the battlespace, turning the counter-drone device into a component of a wider defensive architecture rather than an isolated tool.

Why this matters for Indian defence procurement

India has been emphasizing indigenous solutions for unmanned and counter-unmanned capabilities. Demonstrations at Dronathon 2026 are part of a broader effort by the Indian Air Force and the defence ecosystem to test domestic UAS and CUAS technologies under realistic conditions. A man-portable, RF-based countermeasure that connects to an AI-enabled battle-management system addresses operational needs at the platoon and company level where mobility and quick reaction are priorities.

The reporting focuses on the system's role against small and low-cost drones. It does not provide technical performance metrics such as effective range, required power, or rules for use in cluttered electromagnetic environments. Based on the described design, T-SHUL BEAM is positioned as a short-range, tactical countermeasure intended to complement larger layered defences rather than replace them.

T-SHUL BEAM combines man-portability, directional RF soft-kill effects and integration with an AI battle management layer to provide frontline units with a responsive counter-UAS capability. The Dronathon demonstration showcased how such systems can be applied where mobility and minimizing collateral effects are priorities.