IAF to procure 10 Anti-drone systems

Following a drone attack at Indian Air Force (IAF) station in Jammu, Air force has decided to procure 10 anti-drone systems in order to stop such attacks in future across border areas.

Key Points

• Army Force has floated Request for Information (RFI) from Indian vendors for Counter Unarmed Aircraft System (CUAS).
• Counter Unarmed Aircraft System (CUAS) can be armed with laser-directed energy weapons to bring down rogue drones.

Background

Drone attack was carried on Jammu Air Force Station on June 27, 2021 where two unmanned aerial vehicles were used to drop bombs. National Investigation Agency is currently probing the matter.

Counter Unarmed Aircraft System (CUAS)

CUAS is intended to detect, identify, track, designate and neutralize hostile Unarmed Aircraft System (UAS). Laser Directed Energy Weapon (Laser-DEW) is required as kill option. Systems are required to be equipped with Global Navigation Satellite Jammer System (GNSS) & Radio Frequency jammers as soft kill option while Laser-based Directed Energy Weapon (Laser-DEW) as a hard kill option in order to destroy drones.

What are the requirements for CUAS?

It should also provide multi-sensor & multi-kill solution to enforce effective no-fly zones for UAS. It should result into minimal collateral damage in surrounding environment. It should also generate composite air situational picture for operator. Such anti-drone systems are required in mobile configuration which are mounted on indigenous vehicles with cross country capability. It should be powered by indigenous Electrical Power Supply (EPS) system. It should be road and air transportable. Its design should include modularity for quick deployment and withdrawal.

Month: Current Affairs - July, 2021