The Indian Army is establishing six AASHVAST Labs to identify security risks in military drones. One laboratory has already been established in Delhi. The remaining five labs will be set up at other locations across India. The initiative will help the Army examine drones before their operational deployment.

Labs to Examine Military Drones

The laboratories will examine the hardware and software used inside military drones. Engineers will inspect drone firmware for possible security vulnerabilities. Firmware controls several important functions of electronic devices. The checks will help identify problems that may not be visible during normal testing.

The labs will also search for hidden commands, passwords, encryption keys, and remote-access mechanisms. They can examine around 14 categories of potential vulnerabilities. Some vulnerabilities could affect a drone at specific locations or times. Others could interfere with navigation or mission-related functions.

Focus on Foreign Components

The Army will also examine foreign-origin components used in drones. Chinese-origin components are among the components receiving particular attention. The checks will examine whether these components create possible security risks.

The initiative is designed to identify potential problems before drones are deployed. This could help reduce risks linked to compromised hardware and software. It will also support stronger security checks for military electronic equipment.

CCTV Cameras May Also Be Checked

The Army may later extend the testing process to CCTV cameras. These checks could examine embedded technologies and communication protocols. The objective is to identify security weaknesses in electronic systems before their wider use.

The AASHVAST programme reflects the Army’s increasing focus on hardware and software security. The laboratories will provide specialised testing for military electronic systems. This will help the Army better understand potential vulnerabilities in equipment used during operations.