Context: Recently, Union Home Minister announced that India will soon establish a comprehensive anti-drone unit to bolster border security, addressing the growing threat of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). 

• The announcement was made during the 60th Raising Day event of the Border Security Force (BSF) at a training camp near the India-Pakistan border.

• Highlighting the rising menace of drone/Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), he stressed on adopting 'whole of government' approach involving defense and research organizations to tackle the issue. 

Key Points

• Drones are increasingly used for smuggling arms, drugs, and other contraband across borders.

• Cases of drone neutralization and detection along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab have surged from 3% to 55% with advanced mechanisms.

• Over 260 drones were downed in 2024, a significant rise from 110 in 2023.

• The majority of drone activity is concentrated in Punjab, with fewer incidents reported in Rajasthan and Jammu.

• Use of DRDO Anti-Drone Systems: These are deployed along the western border to combat UAV infiltration.

Anti-Drone Systems

• About: These are methods/systems used to detect, track, and mitigate unauthorized UAVs or drones that may pose a security threat, like carrying explosives, conducting surveillance, or interfering with airspace, etc. 

• Technology Used: Radio Frequency jammers, Global Positioning System (GPS) spoofers, net guns, etc. 

Need for Anti-Drone Unit in India

• Rising Threats: Drones are increasingly used for illegal activities along borders. Over 260 have been intercepted in 2024 from Pakistani border. 

• Real-time detection, tracking and Neutralization: Particularly to safeguard areas such as airports, military installations, critical infrastructure, and public events.

• Counter Non-state actors: Drones are being used to smuggle weapons by terrorists to target civilians and security personnel. 

• Dual Use of drones: Along with their use for smuggling weapons, they are being used for combat missions and military reconnaissance. 

• Example: Recently, Bangladesh flew a Bayraktar TB2 combat drone. 

• Internal Security: Recently militants in Manipur used drones to drop explosives raising concerns. 

Some recent Anti-Drone Measures Deployed by India

• DRDO’s Soft Kill (for jamming the communication links of Drone) and Hard Kill (Laser based hard kill to destroy the Drone): Indigenous technology to counter enemy Drones. 

• Laser-equipped anti-drone gun-mounted Mechanism: Along India-Pakistan border has witnessed significant increase in neutralisation and detection cases. 

• Counter Drone System (D4 System) of Bharat Electricals Limited: Capable of performing real time search, detection, tracking and neutralization.