Punjab’s Strategic Leap in Border Security: Anti-Drone Systems to be Deployed
Punjab Government’s move represents an important intermediate measure—one that is both complementary and supplementary to the broader national security and defence architecture under the Armed Forces.
Punjab to Procure Anti-Drone Technology
A Timely and Decisive Intervention
Punjab’s Government has taken a long-overdue, decisive step to bolster border security by approving the purchase and deployment of nine advanced anti-drone systems along its 532-kilometre border with Pakistan, covering all the six border districts. This initiative, announced by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and backed by a cabinet allocation of ₹51.41 crore of Friday (May 9, 2025), is a direct response to the persistent threat of cross-border smuggling of drugs, weapons, and explosives using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones—a menace that has repeatedly breached border fencing and challenged the state’s security apparatus.
Why This Move Was Overdue
Punjab, sharing a sensitive and porous border with Pakistan and lying in proximity to Afghanistan (a major heroin producer), has for years been a frontline state facing the brunt of drone-based smuggling operations. Despite the Border Security Force (BSF) already deploying some anti-drone systems, the scale and sophistication of drone incursions have made it clear that state-level augmentation was essential. The new systems will not only supplement BSF efforts but also enable Punjab Police and state agencies to respond faster and more effectively to evolving threats.
A Supplement, Not a Substitute
It is important to clarify that Punjab’s initiative is not meant to serve as a substitute for the high-end counter-drone systems operated by the Indian Air Force or the Indian Army, which are designed to neutralise advanced aerial threats and protect critical national infrastructure. Instead, this deployment targets small, low-cost drones typically used by ISI-abetted elements from across the border to ferry narcotics, explosives, grenades, and occasionally even firearms. These drones fly low and slow, often under the radar of traditional defence systems. In that context, the Punjab Government’s move represents an important intermediate measure—one that is both complementary and supplementary to the broader national security and defence architecture available with the armed forces under the Union of India.
The Technologies: What Punjab Can Deploy
a.) AI-Powered Detection and Tracking
Modern anti-drone systems leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning to distinguish drones from birds or other objects, drastically reducing false alarms. These systems use:
4D Imaging Radars: Capable of detecting drones up to 3–5 km away in all weather conditions, with 360-degree coverage.
RF (Radio Frequency) Analysers: Scan the airwaves for drone control signals, identifying and tracking drones even when they attempt to evade radar by flying low or slow.
Electro-Optical/Infrared Cameras: Provide visual confirmation and tracking, especially useful at night or in adverse visibility.
b.) Neutralisation Capabilities
Once a hostile drone is detected, anti-drone systems can employ:
RF/GNSS Jamming: Disrupts the drone’s communication and navigation, forcing it to land or return to its origin. This is the most common and least destructive method, minimising collateral damage.
Laser-Based Neutralisation: High-intensity lasers can disable or destroy drones mid-air with precision, ideal for high-value or urban targets where debris must be minimised.
Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Devices: These can disable multiple drones at once by frying their electronics, making them particularly effective against drone swarms.
Hard-Kill Interceptors: Some advanced systems, such as those offered by Big Bang Boom Solutions (BBBS), deploy interceptor drones or kamikaze drones to physically neutralise the threat.
c.) Integrated Command and Control
Cutting-edge systems offer:
Real-Time Visualisation: A centralised dashboard allows operators to track, plan, and respond with precise digital overlays.
Automated Response: AI algorithms determine the best countermeasure to deploy without waiting for manual input, increasing effectiveness under pressure.
Likely Suppliers and System Options
Given the ₹51.41 crore allocation for nine units, Punjab has a viable range of domestic options with proven performance:
Kotai Electronics: Offers AI-integrated anti-drone systems with up to 3 km detection and up to 5 km neutralisation range. Modular and scalable, these systems are tailored for varied defence applications.
Zen Technologies: Known for integrated solutions combining radar, RF, and EO/IR sensors with real-time data fusion, automated threat response, and customisable jamming capabilities.
Big Bang Boom Solutions (BBBS): Their Vajra Sentinel system features AESA radar, AI-based threat classification, and both soft- and hard-kill options, including interceptor drones. It has been recently inducted by the Indian Air Force.
Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL): A public sector giant with extensive R&D in defence electronics, BEL provides anti-drone systems with long-range surveillance, RF/EO tracking, and neutralisation features including high-power jammers and directed energy weapons.
Adani Defence & Aerospace: Through partnerships and indigenous development, Adani offers modular counter-UAS platforms capable of both military-grade and tactical field deployment. Their systems are optimised for border conditions and integrate radar, jamming, and visual confirmation modules.
Indo Wings, IdeaForge, and Other Startups: A host of smaller Indian vendors also provide competitively priced, high-tech options with promising operational metrics, especially in integration and AI-supported functionality.
While international vendors like Lockheed Martin, Elbit Systems, and Thales offer premium-grade systems, these typically face regulatory and integration challenges and would not align as seamlessly with India’s defence protocols and indigenisation goals.
Regulatory and Legal Considerations
Operating and acquiring anti-drone systems within India entails multilayered statutory clearances:
Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) Wing: Mandatory certification for RF and jamming equipment under the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act.
Ministries of Home Affairs and Defence: Operational approvals and strategic alignment, especially for systems involving jamming, kinetic, or EMP components.
DGCA, DGFT, and State Authorities: Import licensing, area-specific deployment permissions, and coordination with local law enforcement, particularly near civil aviation corridors or critical infrastructure.
Given the focus on indigenous systems, Punjab’s procurement process is expected to dovetail smoothly with the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India) defence manufacturing policy.
What This Means for Punjab’s Security
The operational deployment of these nine anti-drone systems will:
Strengthen Surveillance: Provide all-weather, continuous monitoring over porous and high-risk zones.
Curtail Drone-Borne Smuggling: Make it significantly more difficult for transnational smuggling rings to use drones for drug drops or arms deliveries.
Empower State Enforcement Agencies: Offer Punjab Police and allied forces real-time alerts and quick interdiction tools.
Augment National Defence: Serve as a tactical buffer that enhances the centralised air defence systems operated by the Indian Armed Forces and the BSF.
In Summary
Punjab’s investment in cutting-edge anti-drone systems signals a pivotal shift towards technologically empowered internal security. While it does not replace national military infrastructure, it fills a crucial tactical gap against low-altitude, small-payload drones operated by cross-border criminal syndicates and state-sponsored actors. The state’s choice of high-quality indigenous solutions not only addresses its immediate challenges but also supports India’s strategic objective of self-reliance in defence. It is a necessary, pragmatic, and forward-looking move—one that strengthens both Punjab’s border control and the broader national security fabric.
By Karan Bir Singh Sidhu, IAS (retd.) (Punjab Cadre, 1984 batch), policy analyst and geo‑strategic expert, retired Special Chief Secretary, Government of Punjab, and former Deputy Commissioner Amritsar (1992–96), Additional Deputy Commissioner Amritsar (1990–92), District Magistrate, Police District Batala (1989) – a frontline administrator who battled Pakistan‑abetted proxy war.