The Indian Navy has awarded a contract to Bengaluru-based defence technology company Tonbo Imaging under the ADITI 3.0 innovation framework for the integration and commissioning of a High Power Microwave (HPM) system for naval platforms.
The company confirmed that the project is being supported by the Ministry of Defence through the iDEX initiative and the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO).
Advanced microwave weapon system
High Power Microwave systems are considered advanced directed-energy technologies capable of disabling or degrading enemy electronics, sensors, and unmanned systems using concentrated electromagnetic energy instead of conventional weapons.
Defence experts say such systems are increasingly important in countering drone swarms and asymmetric threats, especially in maritime warfare environments.
Tonbo Imaging stated that under the contract, the company will undertake system integration and commissioning activities before supplying production units after successful testing and validation.
Part of India’s defence innovation push
ADITI, or Advanced Defence Technology Incubation, is a Government of India initiative focused on supporting indigenous development of next-generation defence technologies before induction into military service.
Arvind Lakshmikumar, Managing Director and CEO of Tonbo Imaging, said the programme reflects the company’s long-term investment in indigenous HPM technologies and critical defence subsystems.
He added that vacuum tube-based systems remain crucial for operational microwave weapons because they can generate extremely high peak power required for target engagement.
Expanding beyond electro-optics
The project also marks Tonbo Imaging’s expansion into advanced defence electronics, embedded systems, directed-energy technologies, and integrated mission systems.
The development is being viewed as another step in India’s push toward indigenous defence manufacturing and advanced military technology capabilities under the broader self-reliance initiative.