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Amidst the ongoing tensions along the India-Pakistan border following a series of ceasefire violations and drone incursions, Tonbo Imaging, a Bengaluru-based defence optics firm, has rolled out a critical upgrade to one of the Army’s longstanding anti-aircraft systems.
The company has unveiled the MGS-23, a modernisation kit for the Zu-23-2 anti-aircraft gun—one of the Indian Army’s key air defence assets. It has been reported previously by BharatShakti, Zu-23-2 anti-aircraft gun was deployed in certain sectors during Operation Sindoor, the Army’s recent counter-drone operation launched in response to coordinated attacks along the western border on the night of May 8–9.
According to defence officials, the Indian Army repelled multiple drone-based assaults and responded decisively to ceasefire violations across the Line of Control (LoC). In the operation’s aftermath, focus has shifted to the systems that enabled such rapid and effective countermeasures.
Originally designed in the 1960s, the Soviet-era Zu-23-2 is a twin-barrel gun known for its high rate of fire and battlefield reliability. However, its effectiveness has been constrained by outdated optics and limited performance in low-light and high-speed engagements—gaps that the MGS-23 aims to bridge.
The upgrade equips the gun with a thermal imaging weapon sight (TWS) and a digital targeting interface, enabling operators to detect and engage aerial threats—especially drones—even in complete darkness. At the heart of the system is Tonbo Imaging’s 12-micron TUVE-XII sensor, which delivers high-resolution thermal imagery at a 50Hz refresh rate, ensuring lag-free tracking of fast-moving targets.
The system includes built-in reticles tailored for drone engagements and an edge-detection mode that enhances threat visibility against cluttered backgrounds—a critical feature during low-visibility operations.
Notably, the entire upgrade is self-powered, compact, and designed to withstand the harsh conditions of battlefield deployment. It comes with a dedicated mounting kit that enables rapid integration with existing gun platforms without requiring structural modifications.
Military sources say systems like the MGS-23 are now increasingly vital as the nature of aerial threats evolves. “Unmanned aerial systems pose a unique challenge. They’re small, fast, and can appear with little warning,” said a senior air defence officer, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“Upgrades like these make legacy systems viable and battle-ready in this new era of warfare.”
The Indian Army’s Air Defence units, which include legacy systems like the L-70, Zu-23, and Schilka platforms, have been systematically undergoing modernisation. Alongside indigenous solutions, India also fields advanced systems like the S-400 ‘Sudarshan Chakra’, creating a multi-layered response mechanism.
As border tensions persist, the quiet induction of systems like the MGS-23 could prove crucial—not only in countering immediate threats but also in demonstrating the potential of indigenous innovation to modernise and future-proof India’s legacy defence infrastructure.
Team BharatShakti
