Advanced anti-drone system tested in Tarn Taran village
To check cross-border smuggling of drugs, weapons and explosives via drones, the state government will soon acquire a sophisticated anti-drone system to be installed in the border belt in consultation with central agencies.
A trial run of the integrated counter-drone system was held at Naushehra Dhalla border village in the presence of Cabinet ministers Aman Arora and Laljit Singh Bhullar, Special DGP RN Dhoke and ADGP Sudhanshu Srivastava on Wednesday.
Naushehra Dhalla village under the Sarai Amanat Khan police station is a drone movement hotspot. The cross-border trafficking of drugs and weapons via drones has been a major challenge for security and intelligence agencies. Tarn Taran and Amritsar districts witness the highest number of drone intrusions and seizure of drugs and weapons.
In 2024, the Border Security Force (BSF) shot down 294 drones along the Punjab border as compared to 107 in 2023. In the past two months, the figure has already crossed 50.
Today, Adani Defence and Aerospace officials demonstrated the working of an integrated counter-drone system that detects the direction and radio frequency of the drone, followed by signal jamming to immobilise it, said Abhimanyu Arya, retired commander and official of the company.
He said the system could detect any flying machine within 10 km radius. It has directional and omni-directional mode that could be used to detect multiple drones simultaneously.
“Similar systems are installed at northern and western borders,” he added. “We conducted a trial of advanced anti-drone technology at Naushehra Dhalla village and it marks a crucial step in strengthening Punjab’s defence capabilities,” said Aman Arora.
Earlier, trials were conducted at Mohali where three companies had demonstrated their equipment. “We are in the process of finalising the firm. The tendering process will start in a month or so. Anti-drone systems form part of a broader strategy to fortify Punjab’s second line of defence,” he said.
