Giving an impetus to strengthening defences against hostile drones that are increasingly being employed for attack, surveillance and disruption, the Indian Army is urgently seeking a new Drone Interception System (DIS) that can be integrated into the air defence network for detecting and shooting down small drones at close ranges.
“The air threat from low radar cross-section drones (RCS)/unmanned aerial systems (UAS) 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,” a request for information (RFI) issued by the Ministry of Defence on February 20 states.
“Drone Interception System is required to detect and counter the low RCS drone/UAS by utilising kinetic means. The proposed system should be able to deploy independently or in conjunction with in-service air defence weapon systems and other counter-UAS weapon systems in all types of terrain conditions in India, the RFI adds.
The RFI comes within a week of the ministry seeking procurement of a Drone Catcher System that, unlike using weapons, would launch drones equipped with nets to ensnare and neutralise hostile platforms.
The DIS is required to have a surveillance, detection and tracking capability along with a microprocessor for computing a targeting solution, and an interceptor with kinetic impact capability. Kinetic capability implies the ability to employ ‘hard kill’ options by using guns, missiles, lasers or directed energy weapons.
The sensor will be based on ‘electronically scanned array’ technology or better with the ability for a 360 degree scan of large volumes of airspace for intrusions. It should be able to detect and track a minimum of 20 drones/UAS simultaneously at a range of at least 4 km for nano and micro drones and at least 10 km for small sized drones.
The sensor should be able to detect, track, prioritise and thereafter designate the hostile targets through the GCS to the interceptor, a fully autonomous fire-and-forget component to detect and defeat the aerial target by direct impact or explosion in its vicinity beyond the visual line of sight.
Effective electronic counter-counter measures (ECCS), compatibility for integration with the Akashteer control and reporting air defence and meeting the Army Cyber Group evaluation criteria for being on-boarded on to the Army Data Network are other stipulated requirements.
The RFI also states that the DIS should be capable of being operated in all types of terrain and climatic conditions from plains, coastal areas and deserts to altitudes above 16,000 feet in temperatures ranging from -20°C to 45°C.
