In the early hours of June 27 2021, the Indian Air Force base in Jammu was rocked by two IED blasts, when two drones dropped high-grade explosives damaging the roof of a building and injuring two IAF personnel. In June 2020, BSF troops downed a drone carrying an M4 carbine rifle and multiple Chinese grenades.
These multi-rotor Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV’S) have become ubiquitous in public as they become more affordable and more available in the markets. This also gives rise to a new threat from UAV’s which can be used to carry explosives like in the case of Jammu IAF blast, for reconnaissance, drone-aircraft collisions or even for drug smuggling.
This why India need a strong network of anti-drones systems in place. Though India did have anti-drone systems deployed during the republic day parade for the security of VIP’s but these systems were not in mass production.
How can drones be detected?
The few major ways of detecting drones are-
1. Radiofrequency (RF) analysers
RF analysers are basically used to detect communication between the drone and its controller.
2. Acoustic sensors (microphones)
Acoustic sensors include microphones placed that can detect the presence of a drone and its direction. This method only works in short-range (300-350m) and does not very well in noisy areas.
3. Optical sensors (cameras)
It is essentially video cameras that provide the ability to visually detect a drone.
4. Radar
Regular radars are not designed to identify drones. Drones can be easily mistaken for birds due to their similar sizes. New technologies have been developed to detect drones which include micro-doppler radars, Electronically scanned array (ESA) radar etc.
How can drones be countered?
UAV’s can be neutralized in two ways-
Soft-kill- This includes jamming the drone and disrupting its communication links.
Hard-kill- This includes physically taking down the drone.
The major counter-drone measures are listed below-
RF jammers-
An RF Jammer is a static, mobile, or handheld device that transmits a large amount of RF energy towards the drone, masking the controller signal. This results in one of four scenarios, depending on the drone:
The drone makes a controlled landing in its current position.
The drone returns to the user-set home location (which could be set to a target position instead of home)
Drone falls uncontrolled to the ground.
Drone flies off in a random uncontrolled direction.
2. GPS spoofers-
GPS spoofers can affect the drone GPS detecting capability and the drone is spoofed into thinking it is somewhere else.
This method however can affect other communication in the vicinity.
3. Kinetic methods-
Handheld devices can be used to throw nets and engulf drones which brings the drones down without completely destroying it and can be used to gain important intelligence.
These nets may also be launched from another UAV.
The range of this system is 200-300 m.
4. High energy lasers and high power microwaves-
These systems can disrupt/destroy the electronics of a radar.
This comes with the disadvantage of high chances of collateral damage.
An anti-drone system has a mix of these capabilities depending on the specific requirements.
DRDO Anti-Drone system-
1. The system can detect and jam micro drones up to 3 km and use a laser to bring down a target up to 1-2.5 km depending on the wattage of the laser weapon. It has a radar detection range of four kilometres, a jamming range of more than two kilometres and a kill range of more than one kilometre.
2. The system can identify drone threats quickly and terminate them. It has the capabilities to both detect and destroy drones in the air.
3. It can effectively counter increased drone-based activity in the western and northern sectors of India.
4. The drone system was first deployed to provide security cover to India's Republic Day Parade this year.
5. The system was also deployed during the Modi-Trump roadshow in 2020 in Ahmedabad to thwart any aerial threat from drones.
Drone Laws in India-
You can read this document if you want to know about the drone laws in India-
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