Q.The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by our adversaries across the borders to ferry arms / ammunitions, drugs, etc., is a serious threat to the internal security. Comment on the measures being taken to tackle this threat.

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A. How UAVs Pose a Serious Threat

• Smuggling of Contraband: Drones are frequently used to drop payloads of automatic weapons, ammunition, and narcotics (especially in the Punjab and J&K sectors) to fund and arm local terror modules.
• Surveillance and Espionage: Equipped with high-resolution cameras, hostile UAVs conduct reconnaissance over sensitive military installations and border outposts.
• Kinetic Attacks: Drones can be weaponized with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to target critical infrastructure, as demonstrated by the 2021 attack on the Jammu Air Force Station.

B. Measures Being Taken to Tackle the Threat

• Deployment of Anti-Drone Systems: The Indian Armed Forces have deployed advanced anti-drone technologies featuring soft-kill (RF jamming, GPS spoofing) and hard-kill (laser weapons, kinetic interception) capabilities. This includes the DRDO-developed Indigenous Anti-Drone System (DADS).
• Integrated Border Surveillance: The Border Security Force (BSF) has upgraded border infrastructure with thermal imagers, acoustic sensors, and low-altitude radars to detect incoming aerial threats.
• Strict Regulatory Frameworks: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has implemented strict drone regulations, mandating 'No Permission, No Takeoff' (NPNT) compliance and establishing geofenced No-Fly Zones around strategic installations.
• Interagency Coordination: Joint task forces comprising the Indian Army, BSF, and state police forces ensure real-time intelligence sharing and rapid response to drone sightings.
• Technological Innovations: Integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) into air defense radars to distinguish small commercial drones from birds.

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