The counterdrone system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is ready for production and was already demonstrated to armed services and other internal security agencies with some orders already placed. The DRDO is now focusing on high endurance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) while the capability for smaller drones exists with the industry.
“The DRDO is making dronebased systems and antidrone systems based on the requirements of user agencies. DRDO has developed a comprehensive integrated antidrone system which comprises detection, identification and neutralisation of a drone…,” the Defence Ministry informed the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence in a written reply. This was stated in its 42nd report, “A review of working of DRDO”, which was tabled in Parliament recently.
“Three Services have already placed 23 orders on BEL for DRDO developed technology. The above technology is suitable for detection, identification, and neutralisation of an intruding drone on our land borders also. The solutions can be customised for different challenges.” The Transfer of Technology (ToT) for above technologies has been handed over to private industries, including BEL, Adani, Larsen & Toubro (L&T), and Icom, the Ministry said. The technology is capable of countering attacks, soft kill, and hard kill of all types of drones, including micro drones, which is being developed in the DRDO.
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In Advance Stages
“Antidrone technology is where the focus should be and in that the DRDO is working very closely with the industry. We are also doing a lot of R&D for doing antidrone, protection against these types of drones,” a representative of the DRDO said. The DRDO is focusing on highend drones, the panel was informed. In advanced stage In this regard, the DRDO said that Tapas Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV developed for the Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) application is in advance stage of developmental trials.
The shortrange armed UAV Archer is being developed for reconnaissance, surveillance and lowintensity conflict, and developmental flight trials are under progress. During the briefing, it was submitted before the committee that drone batteries are unavailable in the country to which the Ministry later replied that the older generation of drones was using nickel cadmium and silver zinc batteries as a secondary source of power
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