DRDO's DLRL Develops Man-Portable ELINT Modules to Detect Enemy Radars and Counter Drones

21 October 2026National

The Defence Electronics Research Laboratory (DLRL), Hyderabad, under DRDO, has begun developing man-portable Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) modules for radar identification, electronic warfare, emitter localisation and counter-drone operations. The system uses antennas and receivers to capture signals across frequency bands, with digital signal processing and machine learning separating overlapping emissions and identifying radar signatures. It continues a run of DRDO 2026 announcements that includes armour panels about 20% lighter than existing systems, which resist 30 mm armour-piercing ammunition and meet STANAG 4569 Level 6 protection for future main battle tanks, light tanks and Future Infantry Combat Vehicles, developed by R&DE(E), Pune.

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DRDO was established in 1958 and functions under the Department of Defence Research and Development, Ministry of Defence, with headquarters at DRDO Bhawan, New Delhi | ELINT stands for Electronic Intelligence and is a branch of signals intelligence (SIGINT) dealing with non-communication electronic emissions such as radar | STANAG is a NATO Standardization Agreement; STANAG 4569 defines protection levels for occupants of armoured vehicles

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