Indian drone shield
Pak-origin UAVs must be countered through huge tech investments across the board
In what should worry the security establishment, there's been an uptick in Pakistani smugglers pushing drones laden with drugs, arms and ammunition deeper into India. After a brief lull during Operation Sindoor, drone-borne smuggling has resumed with greater precision, reportedly using Chinese drones that can fly higher to evade detection. This is hardly petty smuggling but part of a well-planned Pakistani ICAD (illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive) strategy to undermine India's security. The goal is to get drugs, guns and money to criminal elements on this side of the border.
It's part of Pakistan's old doctrine of bleeding India with a thousand cuts. Consider this: last Sept, a police team in Punjab discovered a haul of Nato-grade guns – most likely originating in Afghanistan – from smugglers linked to Pakistani drone drops. With such weapons being also found with terrorists in Kashmir, the modus operandi is clear. Drone drops from Pakistan started after the nullification of Article 370 in 2019. To counter this BSF adopted anti-drone systems like Dronaam that neutralise Pak-origin UAVs using laser. Even specialised anti-drone teams have been set up. But the versatility of drone tech means that it is constantly evolving.
Drones can be modified and adapted to evade detection, they can change modus operandi and alter application. The Ukraine war exemplifies this. Drone tech is changing every fortnight. This also means counter-drone tech has to constantly innovate in real time. That in turn means creating a large pool of expertise throughout the security establishment and linking this with R&D institutes. Drones are rapidly transforming from FPV to fibre optic to the oncoming AI versions. The only way to stay ahead of the curve is to heavily invest in drone tech in both industry and academia. India must create its own drone shield.
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This piece appeared as an editorial opinion in the print edition of The Times of India.
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