Copyright infringement not intended

Picture Courtesy:  INDIAN EXPRESS

Context:

The nature of modern warfare is undergoing a transformation, driven by the expansion of low-cost, high-impact Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), or drones.

What is Drone Swarm Technology?

Drone swarms are a group of interconnected UAVs that communicate and coordinate with each other to achieve a common objective.

They operate as a single, intelligent entity.

The swarm is designed for redundancy. If some drones are neutralized, the remaining ones can adapt and continue the mission.

A key tactic is to "saturate" or overwhelm an enemy's air defense systems. Even if most are shot down, a few can get through to hit their targets.

Concern

Cost Imbalance => A simple FPV (First-Person View) drone, which can be built for a few thousand dollars, can potentially damage or destroy a multi-million dollar asset like a fighter jet or a radar station. Firing an expensive surface-to-air missile at a cheap drone is not a sustainable defense strategy.

Accessibility => Unlike conventional military hardware, low-tech drones are easily available and can be modified from commercial quadcopters. This makes them accessible to non-state actors like terrorist groups.

Stealth and Detection => Small drones, often referred to as being the "size of a water bottle," are difficult to detect by traditional radar systems, making them "undetectable" and "untargetable" in many scenarios, as highlighted by India's Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

India's Counter-Drone Capabilities

Detection (The First Layer)

Radars: Advanced AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radars are used to pick up aerial threats.

Sensors: Electro-optical and infrared sensors help in visually identifying and tracking drones, day or night.

Acoustic Detectors: These systems "listen" for the sound of drones.

AI-Powered Fusion: Systems like the Akashteer Air Defence Control System, developed by Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), integrate data from all sensors to create a comprehensive real-time air picture for the Indian Air Force.

Neutralization (The Second Layer)

India employs both "soft kill" (disabling) and "hard kill" (destroying) methods.

Soft Kill Measures:

• Electronic Warfare (EW): Jamming the drone's communication link with its operator or its GPS signal is a primary and cost-effective method.
• Spoofing: Hijacking the drone's navigation system to make it land or crash in a safe area.

Hard Kill Measures:

• DRDO's Anti-Drone System: This indigenous system provides 360-degree radar coverage and has both jamming and laser-based "hard kill" capabilities, capable of neutralizing threats up to a 4 km radius.
• Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs): Using high-energy lasers or microwave pulses to damage a drone's electronics. This is a key area of investment due to its low cost per shot.
• Guns and Missiles: Automated gun systems (like C-RAM) are used for close-in defense. Firing expensive missiles is reserved for high-value drone threats.
• Indigenous Rocket Systems: Bhargavastra, developed by a private firm, is a system that fires micro-rockets in a salvo to neutralize an entire drone swarm.
• AI-Powered Grids: Indrajaal, developed by a Hyderabad-based startup, is an AI-powered "anti-drone dome" that can protect large areas (up to 4,000 sq km) by integrating a suite of technologies.

Way Forward

Promoting a Domestic Ecosystem: India has recognized the need for self-reliance. The government is promoting over 550 startups in the drone and anti-drone space to promote innovation and build indigenous capacity.

Evolving Military Doctrine: The military must integrate drone warfare into its combined arms strategy, using drones alongside infantry, armor, and air power.

Intelligence and Policing: Countering drone threats is not just a military task. As seen in the Ukraine example where drones were transported by trucks, local intelligence and even traffic police play a role in detecting threats before they materialize.

The AI Arms Race: The future is moving towards AI-driven autonomous swarms that can make decisions without human intervention. India must invest heavily in AI and machine learning to stay ahead in this race.

Must Read Articles: 

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)

Bhargavastra: All about India's indigenous air defence 

Source: 

INDIAN EXPRESS