After terrorists used drones to attack the military airbase in Jammu, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is seeking approval to purchase 10 Counter Unmanned Aircraft System (CUASs) or anti-drone systems specifically from Indian vendors.
Such was the necessity to buy this equipment from a security point of view to counter this emerging threat, the IAF floated a Request for Information (RFI) to invite bids last week.
The RFI bids to make CUASs were dated 28 June after two low-intensity improvised explosive devices were dropped from a drone at the Jammu airbase, which exploded close to the station’s helicopter hangar and left two IAF personnel injured.
However, the procurement and the RFI for CUASs has been in the works for the last several months, but after the terror attack, the request has now been expedited.
The RFI is very specific and is looking to procure 10 CUAS via indigenous routes that have the capability to “detect, track, identify, designate and neutralize” hostile drones with a Laser Directed Energy Weapon (Laser-DEW) is essentially required as a “kill option”.
Other requirements in the RFI include a “multi-sensor, multi kill solution” effective enforcement of ‘No-Fly’ zones for unmanned aircraft (drones) while inflicting minimal collateral damage to the surrounding environment.
Other points include, a composite air situational picture for the operator and generate alerts based on user defined parameters which means inputs from different sensors will be consolidated on a single screen to enable a composite understanding of the situation for the controlling agency and the commander.
To mount the CUAS on indigenous vehicles with cross country capability and powered by indigenous electrical power supply systems, and to transport it by air and road.
The system should have a phased array radar (for detection of the UAV); radio frequency sensor (for detecting the UAV frequency); and an electro optical and infrared (EO/IR) system for detection and tracing a hostile UAV by way of visual and heat signatures.
It should have a soft kill option, which can include a Global Navigation Satellite Jammer System and RF Jammer, and a hard kill option (Laser-DEW).
After the Jammu airbase attack, the need for the Indian military installations military bases, airports, critical infrastructure and other sites critical to national security has taken precedent.
The CUASs when put in service will detect and intercept hostile drones and unmanned aerial systems, which can be used for intelligence gathering or smuggling contraband, or to deploy explosives.
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