Indian Navy Awards Contract to Tonbo Imaging for High Power Microwave System Integration under ADITI 3.0

Key Facts

• The Indian Navy awarded Tonbo Imaging a contract on 19 May 2026 to integrate and commission High Power Microwave (HPM) systems on naval platforms.
• The project is part of the ADITI 3.0 innovation framework, supported by the Ministry of Defence’s iDEX initiative and executed under the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO).
• High Power Microwave systems are directed-energy weapons that utilize concentrated electromagnetic energy to disable or degrade enemy electronic systems, sensors, and unmanned platforms, especially effective against drone swarms and asymmetric threats in maritime environments.
• Tonbo Imaging, a Bengaluru-based defence technology firm, is responsible for system integration, commissioning, and will supply production units after successful development, validation, and acceptance.
• The contract positions Tonbo Imaging as an indigenous technology partner advancing India's naval directed-energy weapon capabilities.

Background & Context

India emphasizes self-reliance and indigenous innovation in defence technology through initiatives like ADITI (Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX), and the iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) ecosystem, which provides structured support for developing critical defence technologies. ADITI 3.0 was launched in 2024 as part of the Ministry of Defence’s efforts to mature and validate advanced defence technologies before induction.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), through its Bangalore-based Microwave Tube Research and Development Centre (MTRDC), developed a prototype High Power Microwave system unveiled in January 2026 at the International Conference on Electronic Warfare. This prototype operates primarily in the S-band frequency, has a peak power output of around 450 megawatts, and demonstrated the capability to disable small quadcopters up to a 1 km range during trials.

Directed-energy weapons like HPM systems represent a modern strategic non-kinetic capability that targets electronic systems without physical projectiles, offering rapid, cost-effective means to counter drones, sensors, and other electronic threats, especially in challenging operational environments such as maritime settings with drone swarms and asymmetric warfare risks.

Why This Matters for Exams

This development illustrates India’s focused push towards indigenization in cutting-edge defence technologies aligned with strategic priorities like electromagnetic spectrum dominance and counter-asymmetric warfare capabilities. Familiarity with programs like ADITI and iDEX, and technologies such as High Power Microwave systems, is essential for aspirants preparing for defence, technology, and current affairs examinations. Understanding their operational role and the ecosystem supporting indigenous innovation reflects India’s modern defence modernization trajectory under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

Points to Remember

• Tonbo Imaging: Bengaluru-based firm awarded the 2026 contract for Indian Navy HPM system integration and commissioning.
• ADITI 3.0: Innovation framework under the Ministry of Defence’s iDEX, launched in 2024, promoting advanced indigenous defence technologies.
• iDEX: Ministry of Defence initiative fostering defence innovation through startups, MSMEs and innovators, supported by the Defence Innovation Organisation.
• High Power Microwave (HPM) Systems: Directed-energy weapons that disable electronics and unmanned systems remotely, effective against drones and electronic threats.
• DRDO MTRDC Prototype: Ground-based HPM system tested in early 2026, operating in S-band with about 450 MW peak power, successfully disabling drones up to 1 km away.