Amid increasing security measures across India, the anti-drone system was installed at the Taj Mahal on Friday and a mock drill was conducted to protect the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Police personnel have also been trained for effective use of this new technology. The historical monument is currently guarded by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) inside and by UP police around the walls.
The anti-drone system is deployed to detect the origin and current location of a drone flying within 8 km range of a structure. These are mostly used to protect sensitive areas like airports, military bases, and critical infrastructure.
Why anti-drone system installed at the Taj Mahal?
No drones will be allowed in ‘no drone flying’ area surrounding the Taj Mahal, including the ones being flown by tourists and vloggers for photography/videography purposes, authorities have clarified.
“Any drone flown by anyone in the prohibited skyline of the Taj Mahal will be detected by an anti drone system and its origin will also be traced and legal action will be taken accordingly,” said ACP, Taj Security, Syed Areeb Ahmed.
What is anti-drone system?
Also known as a Counter-UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System) or C-UAS, anti-drone system is a set of technologies and strategies designed to detect, track, and neutralise or mitigate the threat posed by unauthorised or hostile drones. These systems are used to protect sensitive areas, critical infrastructure, and events from potential drone-based threats.
Sensors used by anti-drone system
Anti-drone systems use various sensors to detect and identify drones, such as Radio Frequency (RF) sensors, which detect the radio signals between a drone and its controller, Radar systems that detect the physical presence of drones, Electro-Optical sensors that capture images and video of drones and passive surveillance that uses cameras and other sensors to track and identify drones. Some systems also use artificial intelligence and computer vision algorithms to classify and track drones.
Anti-drone systems in India
Anti-drone systems, developed and utilised in India, are designed to detect, track, and neutralise drone threats. These systems utilise various technologies, including RF jamming, laser beams, and micro-missiles, to counter drone activity. Various anti-drone systems, including the Aerostatic Drone, DRDO-developed laser-based systems, and the Bhargavastra micro-missile system are used in India.
India also uses the D4 system, Indrajaal, Vajra-Shot, and the DRDO’s comprehensive integrated anti-drone system. The D4 system, developed by DRDO, is a counter-drone system capable of detecting, deterring, and destroying drones. Indrajaal, developed by Grene Robotics, is a wide-area anti-drone system that uses AI. The Vajra-Shot is a handheld anti-drone gun that can jam and detect drone signals. Additionally, India’s armed forces have acquired laser-based counter-drone systems from DRDO.
Which anti-drone system was mainly used in Operation Sindoor?
During Operation Sindoor, India primarily used the VajraShot anti-drone gun, an indigenous, portable, directed-energy weapon, to jam and neutralise enemy drones. This system disrupted the drones’ communication and navigation systems, effectively forcing them to crash or return to base. The VajraShot was a key component of India’s Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS) Grid, which was deployed to counter Pakistan’s drone swarm.
In addition to the VajraShot, the Indian Army also used Akashteer (Sky Arrow), a digitised command and control system developed by Bharat Electronics Limited, which enabled seamless coordination between sensor units and weapon platforms to manage low-level threats, including UAVs, at the tactical level.
DRDO-developed D4 anti-drone system, SkyStriker loitering munitions, Akash missile system, a homegrown surface-to-air missile system and battle-proven air defense systems like Pechora, OSA-AK, and LLAD guns were also deployed.
