New Delhi: The counter-drone system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is ready for production and was already demonstrated to armed services and other internal security agencies with some orders already placed. The DRDO is now focussing on high endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) while the capability for smaller drones exists with the industry.

“The DRDO is making drone-based systems and anti-drone systems based on the requirements of user agencies. The DRDO has developed a comprehensive integrated anti-drone system which comprises detection, identification and neutralisation of a drone…,” the Defence Ministry informed a Parliamentary panel in a written reply. According to the reply by the Defence Ministry quoted in the 42nd report in the chapter “A review of working of DRDO”, it said.  “Three Services have already placed 23 orders on BEL for DRDO-developed technology. The above technology is suitable for detection, identification and neutralisation of an intruding drone on our land borders also. The solutions can be customised for different challenges.”

The Transfer of Technology (ToT) for above technologies has been handed over to private industries, including BEL, Adani, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and ICOMM, the Ministry said. The technology is capable of countering attacks, soft kill and hard kill of all types of drones, including micro drones, which is being developed in the DRDO.

“Anti-drone technology is where the focus should be and in that the DRDO is working very closely with the industry. We are also doing a lot of R&D for doing anti-drone, protection against these types of drones,” a representative of the DRDO said. On the R&D efforts, the DRDO said that the capacity for smaller drones which could loiter and attack, akin to those seen in Ukraine war, exists in our country with the industry, and that is not a focus area for the DRDO. The DRDO is focussing on high-end drones, the panel was informed.