Evolving Drone Risks in Modern Warfare

#GS-3 #Defence Technology #Internal Security #Infrastructure #Science & Technology #Economy

Why in News

The Union government issued warnings about potential rogue drone attacks targeting vital installations along India’s border areas.
Security agencies are rushing to install counter-drone systems to safeguard essential infrastructure throughout the nation.
This urgent action follows global conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia, where inexpensive commercial drones have transformed modern military tactics.

The Centre highlighted the danger posed by rogue drones near national borders and started deploying protective anti-drone systems through joint efforts of the BSF, CISF, DRDO, Intelligence Bureau, and Airports Authority of India.
This development matches a worldwide change in combat where affordable drones, FPV systems, loitering munitions, and electronic warfare tools drive military operations in active combat zones.

Drones are inexpensive, mass-produced systems providing powerful capabilities like surveillance and precision strikes at a fraction of the cost of traditional weapons.
They perform multiple combat tasks such as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), artillery spotting, electronic warfare, logistics support, and deep-strike missions.
Modern drones are easily modified and deployed in large numbers, letting both militaries and non-state actors adjust quickly to changing battlefield needs.
FPV (First Person View) drones and loitering munitions turn commercial devices into accurate kamikaze weapons capable of destroying high-value targets.
The creation of fibre-optic and electronic warfare-resistant drones reduces vulnerability to jamming, ensuring success even in heavily contested airspace.
Continuous battlefield surveillance makes rear areas and logistics hubs constantly vulnerable to sudden attacks.

The low cost and easy availability of drones allow insurgents and terrorists to access advanced surveillance and strike tools, worsening asymmetric warfare risks.
Cheap and expendable drones lower the political and financial cost of launching attacks, which increases the chances of conflict escalation between states.
Drones threaten critical infrastructure like ports, airports, and refineries, while also facilitating cross-border smuggling of weapons and drugs.
Small, low-altitude drones easily bypass traditional radars, and swarm attacks can overwhelm standard air defence systems.
Drone operations face cyber interference and civilian collateral risks, while fast technological shifts create serious gaps in global legal frameworks.

The Indian Army released a detailed Technology Roadmap for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Loitering Munitions, listing requirements for 30 distinct types of uncrewed platforms.
This strategy plans to field thousands of short, medium, and long-range uncrewed systems across every military corps.
The government approved a large program worth Rs 32,350 crore to acquire 87 Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drones for the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
While filling immediate needs with foreign systems like the MQ-9B Predator / SkyGuardian, India is developing indigenous alternatives like the TAPAS-BH-201 and Rustom series.
Through iDEX and the ADITI scheme, the government gives direct financial grants to private startups to solve complex military engineering problems.
Mission Sudarshan Chakra, planned for completion by 2035, is India’s proposed AI-enabled multi-domain defense shield combining hard-kill weapons and soft-kill electronic jammers.

Establish strong national and international regulations governing drone sales and deployment to ensure full adherence to humanitarian law.
Limit drone use to licensed operators with human oversight while mandating real-time tracking and geo-fencing systems to stop misuse.
Deploy layered counter-drone systems combining radar, radio frequency detection, and electronic jammers around vital installations and borders.
Boost domestic institutions like DRDO and BEL to build AI-driven counter-drone solutions while improving coordination among ministries.
Improve security personnel training in drone countermeasures and enforce strict monitoring of civilian drone registries.