DRDO deploys anti-drone system at Red Fort during 76th Independence Day Celebration

On August 15, PM Narendra Modi announced that DRDO has installed an anti-drone system around the Red Fort to counter any potential aerial threats.

The Intelligence Bureau (IB) had issued five high alerts about a possible terror strike using Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) in Delhi and several neighbouring cities on August 15. A few recently arrested terrorists had claimed that numerous drones had made entry into India through the Punjab border.

A police officer explained that the anti-drone system will monitor an area around the Red Fort with a radius of 4 km to detect any potential threat objects like kites, balloons, or Chinese lanterns. With the help of a jammer, the system will be able to disable drones and any potentially dangerous objects in the surrounding area.

The counter-drone system is equipped with multiple sensors like Electro Optic Sensor and COMINT, that identify the airborne drone to enable counter techniques to either destroy them (hard kill) or deny intended operation (soft kill). The hard kill is achieved by Laser Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) and soft kill is carried out with RF jamming and Anti GNSS technologies.

In his speech, PM Narendra Modi also urged the country’s youth for innovation in the drone industry following the liberalisation of Drone policy in India.

DRDO has handed over several products to the Armed forces and Ministry of Home Affairs like the Modular Bridge, Smart Anti Airfield Weapon, Chaff Variants and Light Weight Fire Fighting Suit. The anti-drone system has been handed over to Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) by the defence minister for detection, deterrence, and destruction of drones.