by Kiran Raju, Founder & CEO at Grene Robotics

The global implications of the Russia-Ukraine crisis have shed light on the vulnerabilities inherent in globalization. It has highlighted the sensitivity to the interconnectedness of countries and their dependence on each other.  The most significant lesson that countries have learned is the importance of cultivating self-sufficiency, particularly in sectors that are essential for their functioning and security. Therefore, nations are developing their capabilities to ensure excellent stability and resilience.

India, known as the world’s largest importer of weaponry, currently contributes 11 per cent of total global imports and heavily relies on nations like Russia, France, Israel, and the United States for defence-related matters. However, as the Ukraine crisis heightened concerns regarding the need for self-reliance in defence technology, the nation has significantly intensified its efforts towards indigenization.

The rising concern about Drones threats

Drones, once a novelty confined to hobbyists and military applications, have rapidly increased across various sectors, posing new risks and challenges. It has raised concerns about its potential misuse for malicious purposes like espionage, smuggling, and terrorism.

In recent years, India has witnessed an alarming surge in hostile UAVs attempting to smuggle weapons, money, or narcotics into the country. As a result, there has been a significant demand for anti-drone technology, driving the development of innovative solutions to detect, track, and neutralize rogue drones.

Why Deployment of Anti-drone Technology is Important

Understanding the capabilities of unmanned aerial threats is crucial in effectively combating them. Modern drones come equipped with sophisticated features such as long-range flight, autonomous navigation, high-resolution cameras, and payload delivery systems, making them potential tools for espionage, terrorist attacks, or corporate counterintelligence. Moreover, their small size and agility make them challenging to detect and intercept using traditional methods like radar systems. Therefore, the stationing of anti-drone technology is crucial to safeguard national security against emerging threats posed by unmanned aerial vehicles.

Capabilities of Anti-Drone Technology – A Multi-Layered Protection Shield

In the current era, nations worldwide recognise the need for advanced technology capable of identifying and neutralizing aerial threats intelligently. A recent report predicts that the global anti-drone market will reach USD 3.8 billion by 2027, growing at a rate of 27.7% each year.

Anti-Drone security systems possess remarkable capabilities to detect potential targets, disrupt communication links, and effectively eliminate drones within their operational range. To counter modern drone threats like drone swarms and low RCS missiles, autonomous drone security technology becomes indispensable. By incorporating artificial intelligence, anti-drone security technology acts as a unified, autonomous system where different technological components seamlessly communicate with each other. These countermeasures employ a multi-layered approach, including the following capabilities:

1)       Wide Area Detection

The first line of defence involves the detection of drones using radar systems, radio frequency (RF) scanners, acoustic sensors, and visual observation. These technologies enable the detection and tracking of drones, allowing security personnel to respond swiftly.

2)       Threat Identification

Once a drone is detected, it is crucial to identify its owner or operator. This is achieved through the analysis of drone communication signals or specialised software that can determine the drone’s make, model, and unique identifiers. Identification helps differentiate between harmless drones and potential threats.

3)       Neutralization of Incoming Threats

The final layer of defence involves neutralizing unauthorized drones through non-kinetic or kinetic methods. Non-kinetic methods disrupt the drone’s communication or navigation systems using signal jamming or GPS spoofing. Conversely, the kinetic method involves physically disabling the drone using directed energy weapons or anti-drones capable of intercepting and capturing rogue drones.

4)       Promising Multi-layer Technologies

The development of anti-drone technology has led to the emergence of innovative solutions. These drone detection systems are becoming more efficient with advancements in radar technology, thermal imaging, and artificial intelligence.

Efforts are also being made to enhance the effectiveness of neutralization techniques. High-power microwave weapons, laser systems, and anti-drone domes equipped with nets or projectiles are being deployed to intercept and disable rogue drones. Furthermore, research is underway to develop sophisticated software algorithms that can accurately identify and classify drones based on their behaviour and flight patterns.

The Way Forward

With the increasing proliferation of drones, there is a growing demand for effective anti-drone technology. Drones will also become a vital component of modern warfare because they’re cheap and have no human cost involved. Therefore, by investing in advanced detection, identification, and neutralisation systems, nations must mitigate the risks posed by unmanned aerial threats, ensuring safer skies for all.