IG Defence successfully tests two solid rocket motors for JWALA micro-missile

IG Defence has successfully test-fired two solid rocket motors under its JWALA micro-missile programme, marking a key milestone in the development of an indigenous private micro-missile and hard-kill Counter-UAS capability.

The test was conducted at around 4 am as the company advances JWALA towards its objective of providing an affordable and scalable interceptor against drone threats.

IG Defence describes JWALA as India’s first indigenously developed private micro-missile programme, aimed at developing a robust and affordable hard-kill Counter-UAS system to neutralise drones.

The growing use of drones in modern conflicts has increased the need for affordable countermeasures. The ability to deploy large numbers of relatively inexpensive unmanned systems has also made adequate missile magazine depth an important consideration for air-defence systems.

JWALA is being developed to address this requirement by providing an indigenous micro-missile capability that can complement existing layers of air defence and enable the engagement of drone threats at scale.

“The drone threat is evolving rapidly, and Counter-UAS systems must evolve with it. There is a growing need for affordable interceptors that can be produced and deployed in meaningful numbers. JWALA is being developed with exactly this requirement in mind. This successful propulsion test is an important milestone towards building an indigenous hard-kill capability for the evolving drone threat,” said Wing Commander Anoop Sharma (Retd.), AVP, IG Defence.

JWALA to work with AI-powered GRID Defend

JWALA is being developed as part of IG Defence’s broader GRID ecosystem, an AI-powered Battle Management System designed to connect sensors, effectors and command systems.

GRID Defend is designed to integrate detection, identification, tracking, threat assessment and engagement management within a common operational architecture. The system can process information from multiple sensors, build a common operational picture, identify and track aerial threats, assess the developing situation and coordinate an appropriate available effector.

The architecture is designed to support the autonomous execution of authorised Counter-UAS missions. In this setup, JWALA provides the hard-kill interceptor, while GRID acts as the intelligence and mission-management layer coordinating the engagement.

“We are not building JWALA as a standalone missile. We are building it as part of an intelligent defence architecture. GRID is designed to bring sensors, AI, command and effectors together so that the system can autonomously execute authorised Counter-UAS missions from detection to engagement. JWALA becomes the hard-kill effect, while GRID provides the brain that coordinates the mission,” said Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya, Founder & CEO, IG Defence.

The company said combining an affordable interceptor with an AI-enabled battle management system is intended to address a key challenge in Counter-UAS operations: defending against large numbers of increasingly capable and affordable drones without relying exclusively on high-cost defensive effectors.

The successful solid rocket motor test is part of IG Defence’s ongoing development of indigenous propulsion, interceptor and Counter-UAS technologies. The company said it will continue the development and testing of JWALA, with a focus on system maturity, reliability, manufacturability and scalability.