Flying Wedge Defence & Aerospace (FWDA) has successfully tested FWD YAMA, which it described as India's first autonomous swarm interceptor designed for counter-drone warfare, air defence and Suppression of Enemy Air Defence (SEAD) missions.

The company said the platform is aimed at tackling the rising threat posed by low-cost drones by offering precision aerial interception at significantly lower cost compared with conventional missile-based air defence systems. FWDA stated that the interceptor could operate at up to 100 times lower cost, with a projected per-unit cost of around $10,000, depending on configuration and mission profile.

The system integrates artificial intelligence, swarm coordination and precision-kill capability to counter aerial threats ranging from micro-drones (including DJI Mini-class platforms) to larger unmanned aerial systems. It runs on Flying Wedge's proprietary autonomy stack, which is designed for integration across multiple aerial defence platforms, including unmanned systems and precision-guided munitions. This software enables autonomous navigation, targeting and engagement.

FWD YAMA operates on a fully autonomous engagement architecture. Once cued by radar or surveillance systems, it can independently detect, classify, prioritise, track and engage aerial threats without human intervention. The system utilises radar-based cueing, multi-sensor data fusion, electro-optical tracking and vision-based terminal guidance to carry out precision interceptions.

Notably, the platform is designed to function in GPS-denied and communication-contested environments, including conditions involving electronic warfare and signal jamming. It also supports coordinated swarm deployment, allowing multiple interceptors to distribute targets and carry out cooperative engagements.

Additionally, FWD YAMA has been designed for airborne integration. The company said it is compatible with its Kaalabhairav UAV series, enabling both ground-based and airborne deployment and supporting air-to-air defensive operations.

Suhas Tejaskanda, Founder and CEO of Flying Wedge Defence & Aerospace, commented: "Recent global conflicts have demonstrated how low-cost drones can impose disproportionately high costs on traditional air defence systems. This makes one thing clear that the next war will be won by superior anti-drone systems. Meeting this challenge requires autonomous interception systems that are scalable, economically sustainable, and resilient in contested environments".

"The Autonomous Swarm Interceptor, FWD YAMA, is engineered to address this gap, enabling precision aerial interception at a projected cost that can be up to 100 times lower than conventional missile-based air defence systems, depending on configuration and mission profile. This enables sustained defence against drone swarm attacks without depleting high-value strategic missile inventories and strengthens India's sovereign capability to counter evolving aerial threats," he further added.