Counter Drone System Developed By DRDO

Context: The counter drone system developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) now ready to go into production. 

About Parliamentary Panel Report “A Review of the Working of DRDO”

The Defence Ministry, in a Parliamentary Panel report “A review of the working of DRDO”, informed the House of the functioning of Defence Research and Development Organisation and future endeavors.

Key Points from the Parlimentary Report

• Development of Counter Drone System:  DRDO has developed an indigenous counter drone technology that can counter attacks (soft and hard kill) of all types of drones, including micro drones.
  • Significance of Counter Drone System: It uses a laser-based kill system to  detect and destroy drones in the air. 
  • The Counter drone system can detect and jam micro drones up to 3 kilometers and fires laser signals to bring down a target up to 1-2.5 kilometres.
  • Transfer of Technology: It has been handed over to private industries, including BEL, Adani, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Icom.
• Development of Drone Systems: 
• Tapas Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV developed for Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) application is in an advanced stage of developmental trials. 
  • Short-range armed UAV Archer is being developed for reconnaissance, surveillance and low-intensity conflict is under progress.
• Scarcity of Drone Batteries: 
  • Lithium Ion-based battery with an indigenous battery management system has been developed by the DRDO which  is being used on Tapas UAV, but the cells are still imported. 
  • The Defence Research and Development Organisation and the ISRO are working on Lithium Ion cell development.

What are Drones?

• Definition: They are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that can be remotely controlled or fly autonomously using software-controlled flight plans in their embedded systems that work with GPS. It may carry lethal or nonlethal cargo.
• Classification: As per the Drone Rules 2021
  • Nano drone: Less than or equal to 250 grams.
  • Micro drone: Greater than 250 grams and less than or equal to 2 kilograms.
  • Small drone: Greater than 2 kilograms and less than or equal to 25 kilograms.
  • Medium drone: Greater than 25 kilograms and less than or equal to 150 kilograms
  • Large drone: Greater than 150 kilograms. 
• Certification: The Quality Council of India issues  airworthiness certificates to manufacturers on the Digital Sky platform if the drone meets all the specified certification standards. 
• Application of Drones in Defence: 
• Drones can be used in various areas of operation like:

• • Surveillance and Reconnaissance
  • Border security
  • Search and Rescue missions and delivery of essential supplies
  • Battlefield monitoring, and mine detection and clearance.
  • Target acquisition and targeted attacks.

Must Read: NAMO Drone Didi Scheme

News Source: The Hindu