Search for anti-drone technology

AMID a rising number of cases of drones being used for smuggling in arms, explosives and drugs from across the border, the Union government will soon issue guidelines for the procurement of anti-drone technology and systems.

Though the Border Security Force (BSF), the National Security Guard along with the Defence Research Development Organisation had been working on counter-drone technology, things were at a nascent stage and it would take time to come up with an effective counter-drone technology, sources in the security set-up said.

The Union Home Ministry had taken feedback from the central security forces to formulate the standard guidelines for the procurement of counter-drone technology and it was learnt that the possible technology had been identified by the government and soon the procurement guidelines would be issued, officials said.

They said draft qualitative requirements had been sent by the BSF and the expression of interest had been sought from the manufacturers and possible vendors to supply the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVS) or drones.

The BSF is looking for a handheld gun to shoot down drones or a group of UAVS (swarm attack) from a considerable distance of 1 000m to 2 500m.

The BSF had sought the technology of anti-drone guns which should be portable, lightweight, capable of working both in day and night and must have jamming technology of the radio signal, said the sources.

“The system should be capable of jamming the radio signal between the visible drone and the remote-control centre. Technology must accompany the guns that are capable of neutralising the flying objects across the border,” a BSF official.

The officials also said the technology must have the capability to shoot UAVS within 10 to 15 seconds of detection.

There have been roughly 60 sightings of drones along the northern border in Jammu and Kashmir, and on the western border in Punjab.

Recently, drone strikes in Abu Dhabi have demonstrated the threats they possess. There is a constant threat to the vital installations near the border areas.

On January 17, Houthi rebels from Yemen targeted the Abu Dhabi international airport and civilian infrastructure by using drones. Six people, including two Indians, were killed.

In June 2021, IEDS (improvised explosive devices) were dropped at the air force station in Jammu using drones, which were sent from across the border. |