The Indian Navy on Tuesday (31 August)  sealed a contract with defence PSU Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for the supply of the first indigenously developed Naval Anti Drone System (NADS) said the defence ministry.

The NADS, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured by BEL, is the first indigenously developed anti-drone system to be inducted into the Indian armed forces, it said.

• The NADS can instantly detect micro drones and uses a laser-based "kill mechanism" to terminate the targets.
• The NADS was first deployed to provide security cover for the Republic Day Parade this year and later during the prime minister's Independence Day address to the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort.
• NADS uses the help of Radar, electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors and radio frequency (RF) detectors to detect and jam the micro drones.

• Serious concerns over threats from enemy drones first emerged in June when two drones were used by suspected Pakistan-based terrorists to attack the Indian Air Force (IAF) base in Jammu.
• Some explosives were dropped at the airbase using unmanned aerial vehicles that triggered alarm among national security planners.