India is increasingly concerned about the potential threat posed by drones, particularly in sensitive areas such as airports, defense installations, border regions, and public gatherings. In recent years, there have been several incidents where drones were used for illegal activities, including smuggling drugs and weapons, spying, and disrupting public events.
To address this growing threat, India has recognized the need for an effective anti-drone system. The government has been exploring various options to acquire and deploy anti-drone technology to protect critical infrastructure, counter cross-border terrorism, and ensure public safety.
Some of the key reasons why India requires an effective anti-drone system include:
- Security: Drones can be used by terrorists and criminals to carry out attacks or gather intelligence on potential targets. An anti-drone system can help prevent such incidents and enhance security. Drones are increasingly being used to smuggle weapons into states like Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir, which are then used by terrorists to target civilians and security personnel. Anti-drone systems are essential components of the overall counter-terrorism grid. They are also necessary during active conflict scenarios to protect weapon platforms and personnel from missile-equipped enemy drones.
- Safety: Drones pose a safety risk to aircraft and people on the ground, especially in crowded areas such as airports and public events. An anti-drone system can help detect and neutralize drones that pose a threat.
- Privacy: Drones equipped with cameras can invade privacy and capture sensitive information. An anti-drone system can help prevent such privacy violations.
The India-Pakistan border, approximately 2,900 km long, is one of the most heavily militarized borders in the world. The India-China border, approximately 3,488 km long, runs through some of the most inhospitable terrain in the world, including the Himalayan mountain range. India has been taking steps to strengthen its border infrastructure and enhance its military capabilities to ensure the security of its borders with Pakistan and China. However, defense forces are facing significant challenges at the borders, such as COTS (commercial off-the-shelf) drones capable of carrying up to 100 kg of shipments, which are being used to transport weapons and other supplies to terrorists. Many of these drones either go unnoticed or are not neutralized due to a lack of technology.
With approximately 6,000 km of border, both handheld and permanently fitted anti-drone systems are required to ensure no incursion by drones takes place. Taking a yardstick of a 3 km gap between one anti-drone system and another, roughly 2,000 permanently installed anti-drone systems would be required. The need for handheld anti-drone systems may be almost five times greater than that of permanently installed ones.
Most anti-drone systems used by various countries are of Chinese origin or contain parts of Chinese origin. Using such anti-drone systems is obviously unacceptable, as the vulnerabilities of these systems can easily be exploited by adversaries.
Overall, an anti-drone system that is not of Chinese make is essential for India to protect its critical infrastructure, ensure public safety, and maintain national security.
Limitations of Current Anti-Drone Systems:
- The future skies will have more friendly drones than threats.
- Stand-alone systems are neither scalable nor practical.
- Radar-based detections are inaccurate at low RCS (Radar Cross Section) and close to the ground. They are also incapable of identifying the operating radio frequency.
- Jamming can only delay, but cannot stop, an attack.
- Laser weapons require a large, stationary target.
- There is no countermeasure to mitigate a swarm attack.
Existing point-defense-based anti-UAV systems are inadequate against drone threats as they rely on physical sighting. They cannot protect large defense bases, areas like the National Capital Region of New Delhi, which contains several critically important buildings, international borders, and other sensitive regions against UAVs, low RCS missiles, smart munitions, and swarm drones.
As drones become increasingly sophisticated and accessible, the threats they pose to national security, public safety, and privacy are growing. India’s vast and challenging border terrains, combined with the rising use of drones by hostile entities, underscore the urgent need for a robust and indigenous anti-drone system. Such systems must be capable of detecting, neutralizing, and mitigating threats from both individual drones and swarm attacks. By investing in advanced, non-Chinese anti-drone technology, India can strengthen its defense capabilities, safeguard critical infrastructure, and ensure the security of its citizens. The development and deployment of these systems will not only fortify India’s anti-terrorism efforts but also set a global benchmark in securing airspaces against emerging drone threats.
