The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for SHIELD, an S-band High-Power Microwave Integrated Evaluation System intended to assess the effects of high-power microwave radiation on electronic systems.
The proposed system is being developed under the Technology Development Fund (TDF), which supports the development of indigenous defence technologies through industry participation.
The SHIELD project aims to create a dedicated platform for evaluating how electronic equipment behaves when exposed to high-power microwave energy.
High-power microwave systems are part of the broader directed-energy technology landscape and can be used to study the vulnerability of electronic equipment to electromagnetic threats.
Through the SHIELD initiative, DRDO is seeking to create an advanced evaluation platform capable of studying the effects of high-power microwave radiation on electronic systems.
According to news sources, the proposed SHIELD system will have a modular and scalable architecture, allowing it to be adapted for different testing and operational environments. The design is intended to provide researchers and defence technologists with a flexible platform for evaluating electromagnetic effects and establishing a structured understanding of the vulnerability of electronic systems.
A key component of the proposed system will be Gallium Nitride-based Solid State Power Amplifier (GaN SSPA) technology. Gallium Nitride is increasingly used in high-frequency and high-power electronics because of its efficiency and high power density. In the SHIELD architecture, the technology is intended to support the generation of high-power microwave signals while addressing the thermal and reliability challenges associated with such systems.
SHIELD is also designed to operate in pulsed mode with flexible duty cycles. This feature would allow different electromagnetic exposure conditions to be simulated during testing, providing researchers with greater flexibility in evaluating how electronic systems respond to high-power microwave radiation under varying conditions. Thermal management is another important element of the proposed system. High-power microwave technologies generate considerable thermal loads, making effective heat management essential for maintaining reliability and sustained performance.
The SHIELD programme therefore incorporates advanced thermal management solutions intended to support operation over extended periods. The central objective of the platform is to evaluate and quantify the lethality and damage potential of S-band high-power microwave radiation against electronic systems. Such testing can help establish a clearer understanding of how communications equipment, sensors and control systems respond when subjected to electromagnetic energy.
One of the notable features outlined for SHIELD is its drone-mountable capability. The provision for mounting the system on an unmanned platform could provide additional flexibility for conducting airborne testing and demonstrations. It also reflects the wider interest in combining directed-energy technologies with unmanned systems.
The SHIELD initiative is also significant from an industrial perspective. By being pursued through the Technology Development Fund, the programme provides an avenue for Indian private-sector companies and start-ups to participate in the development of advanced defence technology. Industry participation can help translate research concepts into engineered systems while strengthening the domestic technology ecosystem.
This DRDO’s programme aligns with India’s wider emphasis on indigenous defence development under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Developing domestic expertise in high-power microwave technologies, power amplifiers, thermal management and electromagnetic evaluation can contribute to reducing dependence on foreign technologies in an increasingly important area of military capability.
*Curated from various published news sources.
