The formal transfer of an indigenously produced high-voltage power supply system from Versabyte Data Systems Private Limited to the armed services marks a key milestone in India’s defense technology environment.
The company, which is a part of the Sanlayan Group, transferred the crucial subsystem in front of senior DRDO executives and defense leadership at DRDO Bhawan in New Delhi.
The system, one of seven innovations transferred in this tranche and developed under DRDO’s Technology Development Fund (TDF), represents a critical transition from laboratory invention to operational deployment.
Active self-defense jammers for airborne electronic warfare applications are powered by the aforementioned power supply. It facilitates both continuous-wave and pulse operations, which are essential for improving an aircraft’s ability to withstand threats.
This shift through a private business partner highlights India’s developing defense-grade electronics ecosystem, where sophisticated subsystems that were previously dependent on imports now come from indigenous R&D.
As the Ministry of Defense’s research and development division, DRDO spearheads this advancement with a distinct goal: enabling India through state-of-the-art technology and independence in vital systems.
The Agni and Prithvi missile series, Tejas light combat aircraft, Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher, and Akash air defense system are only a few of its accomplishments. India’s military deterrence has been strengthened by these accomplishments, and the most recent transfer expands this legacy into power electronics for electronic warfare.
Founded in 1987, Versabyte Data Systems specializes in high-density, high-efficiency power supply for military applications on land, in the air, and at sea. For radars, battle tanks, airplanes, and ships, the company creates AC/DC converters, DC/DC converters, inverters, pulsed power supply, and high-voltage units.
Their products are reliable in challenging settings because they adhere to strict standards including MIL-STD-704F, MIL-STD-461E, MIL-STD-810F, and JSS 55555.
Versabyte’s high-voltage power supply for Klystron and Traveling Wave Tube (TWT) applications, which are optimized for Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) and minimized for corona effects, are a notable part of their portfolio. Examples include a 5.6kW DC-DC converter for pulse loads up to 10kHz, a 10kW rectifier for the Ashlesha radar that produces 300V DC from 415V AC with over 85% efficiency, and small devices like a lightweight multi-output PSU for manpack radios and drones that weighs less than 1kg.
Deep integration into India’s defense supply chain is demonstrated by the company’s partnerships with DRDO labs, including DARE, LRDE, ADA, CABS, DLRL, DRDL, RCI, MTRDC, and NSTL, as well as BEL and HAL divisions.
With in-house capabilities for environmental testing, EMI/EMC, and five-axis CNC milling, Versabyte also manages the repair and refurbishing of OEM power devices, aerial radar transmitters, and high-voltage supplies for microwave tubes.
This TDF-funded initiative is a prime example of a public-private partnership. DRDO provides finance and technical support, while private firms like Versabyte bring agile engineering, quick prototyping, and manufacturing scale. As a result, the traditional lab-to-field schedule is shortened, direct user feedback from the armed forces is obtained, and hardware is perfectly linked with operational needs.
The ramifications are significant for the defense manufacturing ecosystem. Indian companies can now demonstrate their capacity to provide high-reliability, ruggedized subsystems that meet international standards. Versabyte’s 37-year history, ISO 9001:2015 accreditation, and CEMILAC recognition as a design house give it legitimacy, which encourages startups and MSMEs to enter high-tech markets like EW systems, missile seekers, and power modules for phased array radars.
HV PSUs and modulators for TWT/Klystron tubes, with outputs from -1kV to -20kV at up to 10kW, PRF up to 1MHz, and over 85% efficiency, are particular Versabyte developments that are pertinent to jammers. MIL-STD shock, vibration, and electromagnetic interference criteria are met by airborne devices such as VPX PSUs, launcher power supplies, and low-profile DC-DC converters for missiles that operate between -55°C and +100°C. Platform integration is further ensured by power factor correction devices and EMI/EMC filters.
Using indigenous components improves supply security for the armed forces. For systems like self-protection jammers on fighters or AEW&C platforms, domestic production provides easily accessible parts, simplified maintenance, and quick upgrades. Versabyte’s products currently power ship-borne ECM/ESM radars, Astra missile launchers, SU-30 systems, and UTTAM AESA radars on LCA.
This transfer reduces reliance on imports for defense electronics and is in line with Aatmanirbhar Bharat. These high-voltage systems, which were formerly sourced outside, now form a strong domestic chain. It shows international partners that India can produce strategically important technology domestically, which might increase exports and joint ventures.
The increased need for supporting components, such as high-frequency magnetics, FPGA-based controllers, ceramic potting for high-altitude performance, and AlSiC baseplates for thermal management, has broader ecosystem implications. Reliability standards are set by companies like Versabyte, who use MTBF forecasts and NAVMAT criteria.
There are still issues like maintaining R&D investment and scaling production for mass deployment. However, TDF’s strategy provides a reproducible pattern, as seen in this uncommon shift from private enterprise to the armed forces. In order to increase self-reliance, future tranches might cover hypersonics, AI-integrated EW, or domestic engines.
This event highlights Versabyte’s transition from power bricks (15W-800W modules) to megawatt-scale solutions like 1MW-configurable rectifiers for industry watchers. This expertise is supported by their Bengaluru facility, which has equipment such as 30kV dielectric tests and 40kV probes.
In the end, India’s strategic position is strengthened by the DRDO-Versabyte partnership. In addition to improving aircraft survivability, integrating private innovation into operational arsenals opens the door to a self-sustaining defense industrial base prepared for challenges of the twenty-first century.
