To strengthen the security of military drones and identify hidden security such as hidden software threats and potential cyber vulnerabilities (specifically of Chinese origin), India Army has established a dedicated laboratory in New Delhi. Named AASHVAST (Assessment and Analysis of Electronic Systems Hardware for Vulnerabilities and Security Threats), the laboratory was inaugurated by the chief of Army Staff, General Dhiraj Seth at the Directorate General of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering (DG EME) premises in Delhi Cantonment on August 14, 2026.
The lab is designed to scan, analyse, and assess military drones to identify hidden security threats by examining both the hardware and software systems of military drones. The lab can help identify security risks that conventional physical inspections may not reveal. It can scan for hidden passwords, embedded encryption keys, remote-access tools, unauthorised command pathways and other vulnerabilities that could potentially be exploited to compromise unmanned aircraft.
An important aspect of AASHVAST is the air-gapped and read-only operating environment which enables the software and firmware to be examined without connecting the system to an external network or making any changes to the hardware under assessment. Technicians and authorised officers receive a consolidated view of the identified risk after vulnerabilities are ranked by severity and converted into a structured security assessment.
