Army Seeks Drone-Catcher System - What It Is and How It Will Tackle Threats

New Delhi: The Indian Army is seeking a drone catcher system to tackle threats from smaller drones which are difficult to detect from radars. 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.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.