The move, as per sources, is driven by the exponential rise in air threats from smaller drones deployed either individually or in swarms. The defence ministry on Friday issued a Request for Information (RFI) for the procurement of the Drone Catcher System for the Indian Army. However, the ministry has not disclosed the number of systems planned for acquisition.

What The Drone Catcher System Should Be Capable Off

The system is designed to detect, track, and neutralise smaller drones using a net-based interception mechanism. According to the RFI, the system is expected to operate independently or in conjunction with in-service air defence weapon systems.

It's planned to be deployed across diverse terrain conditions nationwide, including plains, deserts, and high-altitude areas. As for the system's capabilities and requirements, it should be capable of scanning large volumes of airspace and provide 360-degree coverage to detect drone intrusions.

The sensors are required to perform simultaneous detection and tracking of at least 20 drones-UAS, detection, tracking, prioritisation, and designation of hostile targets up to a range of 4 kms against a target with 0.01 sqm.

In addition to physical interception, the system must include a jammer subsystem capable of electronic attack against hostile drones.

Air Threat From Low Radar Cross Section Drones

Seeking the requirement of drone catcher system, the ministry said that air threat from low Radar Cross Section (RCS) Drone/UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System) employed individually or as a SWARM has grown exponentially. Therefore, there is an urgent requirement of developing and procuring suitable weapon systems for countering and neutralising this emerging threat.

The Drone Catcher System is required to detect and counter the low RCS Drone/UAS by utilizing the Net Catcher.

The proposed system should be able to deploy independently or in conjunction with in-service Air Defence weapon systems and other C-UAS weapon systems in all types of terrain conditions as obtainable in India.

It should also have a surveillance, detection, and tracking capability, microprocessor for computing a targeting solution, and a Drone with Net Catcher facility.

Drone incursions from across the border on the Line of Control (LOC) have witnessed a surge in recent times. However, India's security agencies have been up to the task to intercept and destroy these drone incursions before they make touchdown on the Indian soil. One of the sole purposes of these drone incursions is to drop weapons to be used by terrorists or narcotics substances for narco terrorism.

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