India orders Rs 155 crore mobile anti-drone systems for borders, urban security

Unlike conventional Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems, which primarily protect fixed military and strategic installations, the Ranger is designed to detect, track, identify and counter unauthorised drones while on the move.India is set to expand its counter-drone security beyond fixed military installations by deploying mobile systems for border protection, VVIP security and urban policing.Government agencies have placed orders worth around Rs 155 crore for the Indrajaal Ranger, according to reports. These include a Rs 145 crore order for border-security deployment and a separate Rs 10 crore order for use by urban police.The procurements reflect a shift in India’s response to the growing use of drones for surveillance, reconnaissance and the cross-border smuggling of weapons and narcotics.Unlike conventional Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems, which primarily protect fixed military and strategic installations, the Ranger is designed to detect, track, identify and counter unauthorised drones while on the move. MOBILE PROTECTION AGAINST DRONE THREATSThe mobile platform is expected to strengthen monitoring along borders where drones can cross at different locations to deliver weapons or narcotics.In urban areas, it can be deployed along VVIP routes and around airports, major public gatherings and critical infrastructure. The system allows security agencies to move the protected airspace according to operational requirements. Indrajaal Autonomous Defense Systems describes the Ranger as the country’s only ARDTC-approved anti-drone patrol vehicle. According to the company, the platform can retain its full counter-drone capability while travelling at high speeds.The company said the system had undergone government evaluations and had been selected by the Ministry of Home Affairs.The Ranger is powered by the company’s SkyOS platform and combines sensors, artificial intelligence, sensor fusion and command-and-control systems with multiple counter-drone measures.THREE-LAYER COUNTER-DRONE SYSTEMThe platform uses three protection layers to respond to different types of drone threats.The first, called “Retractor”, electronically takes control of a rogue drone, allowing security personnel to recover it and conduct a forensic examination.The “Lakshman Rekha” layer creates a virtual boundary intended to prevent unauthorised drones from entering protected airspace.The third layer, called “Net Interceptor”, physically intercepts and captures a hostile drone when electronic countermeasures prove inadequate.DRONE THREAT MOVES BEYOND BATTLEFIELDKiran Raju Penumacha, founder and CEO of Indrajaal Autonomous Defense Systems, said the use of drones in Ukraine had demonstrated their impact on warfare, but the threat had now expanded beyond the battlefield.“Borders, airports, cities, public events, critical infrastructure and VVIP movements all require continuous protection of low-altitude airspace. Counter-UAS must therefore become part of a nation’s everyday security infrastructure,” he said.Penumacha said the Ranger was designed to allow security forces to take autonomous counter-drone capabilities wherever a threat emerged.Sunil Kalidindi, CEO of Sigma Advanced Systems, said the programme demonstrated the ability of India’s defence manufacturing sector to develop and deliver indigenous technology at an operational scale.He said Sigma’s partnership with Indrajaal would help strengthen border and urban security through next-generation counter-drone capabilities.The deployment comes amid growing global concern over the vulnerability of borders, airports, cities, public events and critical infrastructure to inexpensive unmanned systems. - EndsPublished By: Aprameya RaoPublished On: Aug 17, 2026 23:22 IST