Zen Technologies gets govt licence to manufacture air defence, anti-drone cannons

Zen Technologies has received an arms manufacturing licence from the government to produce a range of cannons used in air defence and counter-drone operations, the company said on Friday.

The Hyderabad-based defence technology firm said the licence, granted under the Arms Act, 1959, allows it to manufacture 12.7 mm, 23 mm, 30 mm and 40 mm cannons.

These rapid-fire systems are widely used in air defence, naval platforms and Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS), serving as last-line protection against drones, loitering munitions and low-flying aerial threats.

The company said the systems, when integrated with fire-control technologies, radar and electro-optical/infrared sensors, can offer accurate and cost-effective protection for critical infrastructure, border areas and armoured formations.

Zen Technologies said the licence strengthens its position in the air defence and counter-drone segment and aligns with India’s push for indigenous defence manufacturing under the IDDM (Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) framework.

“Against the backdrop of ongoing global conflicts, where drones, loitering munitions, and asymmetric aerial threats are increasingly prevalent, these systems equip Zen Technologies to address emerging battlefield challenges with Indiacentric, cost-effective air defence solutions,” it added.