Indian Army Moves to Acquire Drone Catcher System to Counter Low-Radar Threats

By
Ravi Shankar
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Drone Catcher System
Indian Army demonstrated New Generation Equipment (NGE) and New Technology Equipment (NTE) during Exercise Rudra Shakti 2026 held in February

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to procure a dedicated Drone Catcher System for the Indian Army, amid rising concern about the use of small, low-radar-cross-section (RCS) unmanned aerial systems.

The RFI, released on Friday, seeks industry input on a system capable of detecting, tracking, and neutralising , including those deployed in swarms. The MoD has not specified the quantity to be acquired.

Officials said the requirement follows a steady increase in the use of small drones in recent conflicts and operations. Their limited radar signature makes them difficult to detect with conventional air defence systems. Sources pointed to operational lessons, including their employment during Operation Sindoor, as underlining the need for a specialised counter-drone capability.

Three-Part System

The proposed solution will have three core elements: a drone sensor, a drone catcher and a Ground Control Station (GCS).

The sensor must be based on Electronically Scanned Array (ESA) technology or better. It must provide 360-degree coverage and scan large volumes of airspace. The Army wants the system to detect and track at least 20 drones simultaneously. It should also prioritise and designate hostile targets to the interceptor through the GCS.

The minimum slant detection range has been pegged at 4 km against a target with a radar cross section of 0.01 square metres, typical of small tactical drones.

The Ground Control Station will function as the command node. It will relay sensor data to the drone catcher over a secure data link. The GCS will display telemetry from hostile drones, compute targeting solutions on an onboard processor, and pass engagement data to the interceptor. A laptop- or tablet-based interface has been specified for real-time monitoring and control.

Net-Based Interception

The drone catcher itself must be capable of autonomous operation. Once cued by the GCS, it should acquire the designated target and neutralise it using a net-based capture mechanism.

Unlike hard-kill systems that rely on kinetic destruction, a net-based interceptor can disable or recover a drone with reduced risk of collateral damage. This factor may be relevant in urban or sensitive installations.

The Army has asked that the system be deployable across varied terrain, including plains, deserts and high-altitude areas. It should be capable of operating as a standalone unit or be integrated with existing air defence and counter-UAS systems in service.

Electronic Warfare Layer

In addition to physical interception, the proposed system must incorporate electronic warfare features. These include RF denial, selective Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) denial and GNSS deception. The jammer subsystem should cover both standard and non-standard frequency bands used by hostile drones.

The move reflects a broader shift in air defence thinking. As small drones become cheaper and more accessible, armed forces are seeking layered responses that combine detection, electronic attack, and non-kinetic interception.

Technical evaluations and field trials will follow the RFI stage before a formal procurement case is taken up.

Ravi Shankar

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Dr Ravi Shankar has over two decades of experience in communications, print journalism, electronic media, documentary film making and new media.
He makes regular appearances on national television news channels as a commentator and analyst on current and political affairs. Apart from being an acknowledged Journalist, he has been a passionate newsroom manager bringing a wide range of journalistic experience from past associations with India’s leading media conglomerates (Times of India group and India Today group) and had led global news-gathering operations at world’s biggest multimedia news agency- ANI-Reuters. He has covered Parliament extensively over the past several years. Widely traveled, he has covered several summits as part of media delegation accompanying the Indian President, Vice President, Prime Minister, External Affairs Minister and Finance Minister across Asia, Africa and Europe.

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