Anti-drone system: Indian armed forces are going to get DRDO-made anti-drone systems to tackle potential aerial threat 

The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has deputed state-owned aerospace and defence company Bharat Electronics as its leading agency to develop and manufacture the anti-drone system for the armed forces in India. 

The DRDO has been successful in developing both active and passive anti-drone technology to either take down enemy drones or disable them. According to the DRDO, there are two ways through which the anti-drone system can combat micro-drones – firstly, it can damage electronics of drones using laser-based directed energy weapons; secondly by jamming the command and control links. This system provides a comprehensive solution to combat the challenges posed by drones to national security agencies. 

As per media reports, the anti-drone system has been a part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s security at his residence and car cavalcade in view of the rising drone threat in recent years. During this year’s Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort, DRDO’s anti-drone system was deployed as part of PM Modi’s security. 

The anti-drone system in PM Modi’s security has a range of more than 2-3 kilometres with radar capability enabling it to detect drones after which it uses frequencies to jam them. It also uses radar to spot drones and destroy them using a laser beam.

The DRDO has noted that the anti-drone technology will prove effective in countering increasing drone-based activities across western and northern sectors of India. In recent years, the security forces deployed along the Line of Control (LOC) have seized a number of drones with Pakistani credentials on them. Reportedly, Pakistan-based groups have been using China-made drones to transport drugs and weapon payloads and drugs across the LOC in Jammu and Kashmir and the international border.

Along with the DRDO, India’s private sector has also been working with the security agencies to develop effective an indigenous anti-drone system. It was successfully tested on the LoC to tackle any potential aerial threat.

Recently, the Indian Navy received clearance for buying 10 new surveillance drones to upgrade its existing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in a bid to monitor the Indian waters effectively. 

It is important to note that the use of drones has potentially increased threats to public security in recent years. Earlier in October, Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen S K Saini had stated that drones stand out among other security threats due to their innovation and destructive capabilities.