Taj Mahal to get anti-drone system for better security
The security of the famous Taj Mahal will become higher-tech with the introduction of an anti-drone system to neutralise possible aerial threats, a top official stated on Sunday.The monument, which is at present secured by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the Uttar Pradesh Police, will receive an additional layer of security through enhanced drone neutralisation technology soon, he stated.advertisementAssistant Commissioner of Police (Taj Security) Syed Arib Ahmad stated, "An anti-drone system will be fitted on the Taj Mahal complex. The system will be capable of a 7-8-kilometre range but will mainly be in effect within a 200-meter radius of the monument's main dome. "The system will jam the signal automatically of any drone approaching the area, making it useless through what is called a 'soft kill'," he said.
Ahmad informed that police officers are being trained to pilot the system, while a specialised response team is being established."The team will track the origin point of the drone and seal the place where it is shot down," he explained, noting that the establishment of the system is due to be finished in a matter of days.Taj Mahal, a world heritage monument, is among India's most popular monuments and a source of national pride, and thus its security takes top priority.advertisementThe action follows days when India conducted targeted raids under Operation Sindoor on nine terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7 in retaliation for the dastardly Pahalgam carnage.(With PTI inputs)Must Watch
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Indian Express
Trump, Musk and a split foretold
It has been less than six months (of a 48-month tenure) since Donald J Trump assumed the office of the President of the United States for a second time. In that time, he has upended the US's relationship with its Western allies and engaged in a start-stop tariff regime based on questionable assumptions. He has also injected elements of uncertainty into the US's ties with countries, including India, that have been growing and deepening steadily for nearly three decades. The public spat between President Trump and Elon Musk — beyond the barbs and the almost reality TV style of the 'breakup' — must be seen in this context. Drama and uncertainty mark both US domestic politics and how the superpower engages with the world. The world's richest man played a significant part in the Trump campaign and the administration. Musk contributed about $250 million to Trump's election fund and, after the election, led the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The differences over the Trump administration's 'One Big Beautiful Bill', emerging a day after Musk left DOGE, quickly spiralled into an all-out social-media war between the two billionaires, replete with name-calling. While Musk claimed that he won Trump the election and echoed conspiracy theories about his connections with deceased financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the President raised questions about government contracts for the Tesla and SpaceX founder's companies. Given their egos, perhaps it was a split foretold. That said, the Trump-Musk spat sends out the message that it is not necessarily institutions and interests that determine the course of politics and policy in Washington. Till recently, the 'bromance' between the two men made Musk's companies all but de facto national champions and the tech entrepreneur was seen across capitals as an extension of the White House. SpaceX, for example, has deep ties to NASA and its vessels ferry US astronauts to the International Space Station. The uncertainty around the future of that collaboration will make things more complicated for Delhi as it tries to deepen cooperation in space with the US. Deals with Tesla and Starlink, while made by private players, may take on a different colour. The Trump administration's domestic policies have already had reverberations in India, especially its attitude to visas for foreign students and workers. The immature insistence that the White House mediated the ceasefire after Operation Sindoor went against the grain of 30 years of the bilateral relationship — through Republican and Democrat administrations — of de-hyphenating India and Pakistan. As India tries to manage the US relationship over the next three years, it must keep in mind that it is working with a partner that is much more temperamental — today's Trump loyalist might be tomorrow's persona non grata.
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Time of India
Masula Beach Fest: Anti-drone system used in ‘Op Sindoor' captivates visitors
Vijayawada: Visitors at the 2025 Masula Beach Festival were captivated by the anti-drone system on display, the Drone Detection, Deterioration, and Destroyer (D4) system, which played a crucial role in both soft and hard kills of enemy drones during 'Operation Sindoor,' launched by India in response to the terrorist attacks in Pahalgam. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The exhibit evoked a strong sense of pride and patriotism among attendees, especially after learning that the indigenous D4 system used in the operation was manufactured at the Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) facility in Machilipatnam for the Indian Army. The BEL manufacturing unit in Machilipatnam, which specializes in Electro Optics (Night Vision Devices), produced some of the D4 Anti-Drone Systems and supplied them to the Army. The anti-drone system is among the many attractions on displayed at the beach festival. Krishna district collector DK Balaji told TOI that the main objective behind showcasing the anti-drone system is to raise awareness among local residents that these systems are manufactured locally at the BEL facility in Machilipatnam and have contributed significantly to combating enemy drones during 'Operation Sindoor'. "The anti-drone system, apable of executing both soft and hard kills, can carry out soft kills against enemy drones within a five-kilometre radius by jamming or neutralising them. Hard kills can be executed against enemy drones within a one-kilometre radius using a high-powered laser beam that incinerates the drones," explained a BEL, Machilipatnam representative. The BEL representative said that the D4 anti-drone system is equipped with electro-optic systems aided by radar to carry out commands issued by a commander or operator from within the Integrated Command Control System housed inside the unit. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Integrated Command Control System can accommodate two commanders, who monitor the drones on their screens and make decisions to execute soft or hard kills by distinguishing between friendly and hostile drones, he added. The components used in manufacturing the D4 Anti-Drone Systems were sourced from BEL's units in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Pune. Anti-Drone Systems produced at the BEL facility in Machilipatnam have been delivered to the Indian Army.
United News of India
11 hours ago
- United News of India
Sanjay Seth visits MCEME, highlights Indigenous defence innovations
Hyderabad, June 6 (UNI) Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth visited the Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering (MCEME) in Secunderabad on Friday. During the visit, he was briefed by Lt Gen Neeraj Varshney, VSM, Commandant of MCEME, about the institution's training activities. The Minister interacted with soldiers and visited the newly established drone training facility, 'Drone Alaya.' He also held discussions on the development of indigenous anti-drone systems aimed at countering Kamikaze drone attacks. Sanjay Seth reviewed new staff-led projects focused on radar technologies in super high-altitude areas, and lauded the contributions of EME technicians in Operation Sindoor. He appreciated MCEME's proactive role in fostering Atmanirbharta (self-reliance) in defence technology through collaboration with MSMEs and start-ups. Marking the occasion, the Minister also planted a sapling on the college premises, underscoring the importance of environmental responsibility alongside defence innovation, a defence statement said. UNI VV GNK
