India / DRDO, other agencies working on anti-drone technology: Amit Shah

Days after a drone attack at the Jammu air force station, Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and other agencies are working on indigenous anti-drone technology. Shah claimed all gaps along India's land border will be sealed by 2021-end. "There will be no gap in our fencing from 2022," he said.

Vikrant Shekhawat : Jul 18, 2021, 06:43 AM

New Delhi: Weeks after two explosives-laden drones crashed into the Indian Air Force (IAF) base in Jammu, Union home minister Amit Shah said that the Defence Research and Development Organisation is working on indigenous counter-drone technology.

The drones will be available soon, and the Union government has already sanctioned all the Research and Development projects required in this regard, said Shah.

Calling smuggling of drugs, arms and explosives through tunnels and drones a major challenge, the Home Minister said it is important to deal with these issues at the earliest.

“Our idea is to have peaceful relations with all but if someone disturbs our borders, if someone challenges our sovereignty, the priority of our security policy is that such an attempt will be replied to in the same language,” he said.

NSG deploys anti-drone system in Jammu

Since the June 27 attack, several drones have been spotted hovering over Indian military installations across the UT. The Indian Army and the Border Security Forces (BSF) troops have often fired at them.

The drone attack did not cause any damage to the material or equipment of the Air Force, but two personnel suffered minor injuries.

On Friday, four drones were spotted at different locations in Samba and Jammu.

The NSG has deployed an anti-drone system in Jammu after the drone attack. At the same time, the IAF has also taken measures to prevent any such attack in Jammu and other important airbases across the country.

IAF to procure 10 anti-drone systems

According to news agency ANI, Srinagar, Kupwara, Rajouri and Baramulla have imposed bans on the storage, sale, possession, use and transport of drones and other similar unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

On June 29, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a top-level meeting to discuss emerging security threats, including drones.

The IAF has decided to procure 10 anti-drone systems to thwart such attacks in the border areas and has floated a Request for Information (RFI) for Indian vendors for Counter Unarmed Aircraft System (CUAS) that can be armed with laser directed energy weapons to bring down rogue drones.