BEL to provide Indian Navy with locally developed system to counter micro UAVs

The Indian Navy (IN) has awarded public-sector company Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) a contract for the supply of a locally developed system designed to detect, track, and neutralise micro unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The contract, which was signed on 31 August, is for an undisclosed number of ‘Naval Anti Drone Systems (NADSs)' featuring both soft- and hard-kill effector options. The former consists of a jammer used to suppress the control and navigation signals to the UAV, with an effective range of 3 km. The latter consists of a high-energy laser that works by directly damaging or destroying the UAV's flight-critical systems, thereby downing it.

Developed jointly by the IN, BEL, and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the counter-UAV (C-UAV) system “will be an effective all-encompassing counter to the increased drone threat to strategic naval installations”, said the Indian government's Press Information Bureau (PIB) in a statement.

The C-UAV system is offered in static and mobile variants, both of which will be supplied to the IN “within a short time”, stated the PIB, adding that BEL “is to sign similar contracts” with the Indian Army (IA) and Indian Air Force (IAF). Neither the value of the IN contract nor the delivery timeline was disclosed.

Janes