New Delhi: Drones are fast becoming a cornerstone of modern warfare and the Indian Army has increasingly turned to drones for surveillance, reconnaissance, and even combat roles, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing the risks to human soldiers. With increasing usage of drone, securing these unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from the emerging cyber threats have become a critical priority for defence forces globally.
Recognising the vulnerabilities of drones in its inventory, the Indian Army has initiated talks with an Indian company, Zuppa Geo Navigation Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (ZUPPA), to integrate its cutting-edge technology ‘Suraksha’ – designed to protect these assets from cyberattacks. Zuppa’s technology is India’s first indigenous solution to counter the growing threat of cyber intrusion in the military drone domain.
At present, many of the drones in Indian Army’s inventory, especially those sourced from open-source platforms, have components that pose potential cybersecurity risks. Several of these components, including autopilots and control systems, trace back to suppliers in China, which could harbour vulnerabilities that might allow malicious actors to hijack or manipulate drone operations.
The Indian Army to address this critical gap in drone security, plans to deploy Zuppa’s Suraksha Edge Monitoring Device (EMD), a sophisticated cybersecurity solution specifically designed to protect drones from malicious attacks. The Suraksha EMD is engineered to monitor and secure communication channels between drones and their Ground Control Stations (GCS). In the event of a hacking attempt, such as a hacker attempting to take control of the drone through a rogue GCS, Suraksha instantly detects the anomaly, alerts the operator, and blocks the attacker. Simultaneously, it triggers a “Return to Home” command, ensuring the drone safely returns to its starting point. This automatic fail-safe mechanism prioritises the drone’s integrity and minimises the risk of it being hijacked or used for hostile purposes.
Suraksha EMD, unlike other systems that may block data leakage or attempt to secure all data transfers, focuses solely on preventing unauthorized control commands, making it a highly specialised tool in the fight against cyber threats targeting drones. As cyber threats evolve, Zuppa plans to introduce newer versions of its EMD, continuously improving the technology to stay ahead of potential vulnerabilities.
Founded by Sai Pattabiram and Venkatesh Sai, father –son duo, Zuppa is a homegrown technology firm. Zuppa has positioned itself as India’s only deep-tech cyber-physical drone stack solution provider, with a focus on designing and manufacturing 100 percent indigenous drones. As India’s pioneering deep-tech drone manufacturer, Zuppa offers end-to-end control over the design and delivery of its UAV products. With its complete in-house drone solution, Zuppa not only manufactures drones but also develops the critical cybersecurity technologies to protect them. The company’s drones, including secure micro drones and autopilots, are already in use by the Indian Army for surveillance and reconnaissance operations. By incorporating Suraksha into its drones, Zuppa is enabling the Indian military to reduce its dependence on foreign drone technology and, more importantly, to secure its UAV fleet from cyber threats.
Executing missions with greater speed, accuracy, and fewer casualties compared to traditional infantry, drones could become the primary force multipliers in future conflicts. The growing reliance on drones also introduces significant risks, as the vulnerability of these unmanned systems to cyberattacks could undermine their effectiveness. For instance, a hijacked drone could be used to conduct surveillance, deliver explosives, or disrupt military operations.
Reflecting India’s push for self-reliance in defence, Zuppa’s approach to developing indigenous technology is well aligned with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. In terms of UAVs evolving autonomy and capabilities, cybersecurity will remain a top priority for defence forces worldwide as they must adapt rapidly to the growing cyber threats that accompany these technologies.
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