The emergence of Nano and micro drones and compact unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with advanced capabilities, introduce fresh security challenges.
What are drones?
Drone- It means an aircraft that can operate autonomously or remotely without a pilot on board.
India reported 79 cases of using drones for weapon delivery 2020, 109 in 2021 and 266 in 2022.
Provisions under Drone (Amendment) Rules 2022
Criteria- To operate a drone legally, the criteria set by the Civil Aviation Ministry and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation must be adhered to.
Exception- Nano/micro category drones for non-commercial use.
All drone activities are permitted only after receiving prior approval for a flight or series of flights.
Licence- The remote pilot certificate will not be required for flying small-to-medium size drones of up to 2 kg for non-commercial purposes.
What are the challenges posed by Nano drones?
Security- Although Nano drones lack artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities, they possess lethal intelligence-gathering capabilities.
Safety- Nano drones can be difficult to detect, and their small size makes it difficult to regulate their use.
Radars are dedicated to detecting aerial tracks, but mini-drones have low radar signatures, making them challenging to identify, especially in urban areas with potential false alerts.
Drone Swarms- When deployed in swarms, they can become highly dangerous without effective countermeasures.
Waste disposal- Nano drones are often made of lightweight materials which can be difficult to recycle or dispose of safely.
Complexity- Protecting against small UAV threats is a complex task that goes beyond simply stopping the drone.
How to detect the Nano drones?
Sensors- To enhance detection capabilities, a combination of sensors is essential.
EM sensors-These defence systems capitalise on the radio signals used for drone communication (uplink and downlink).
Intercepting these signals through electronic surveillance helps locate the drone and its control station.
Infrared sensors- Thermal cameras can detect drones even in low visibility conditions and at night.
Acoustic sensors- Drones that produce noise during flight can be detectable by acoustic sensors.
These sensors help classify the drone based on its specific noise characteristics, making them useful in conjunction with radar systems to cover both short and long ranges.
What lies ahead?
An integrated anti-drone dome with cutting-edge sensors, radars, and AI is crucial for safeguarding critical sites and events.
By investing in such defences, India can protect citizens and assets from evolving drone threats.
Drone Policy of India
Drones Rules, 2021 - It provides the regulatory framework for commercial use of drones through certification, registration and operation of drones, airspace restrictions, research, development and testing of drones, training and licensing, etc.
Drone Airspace Map- It has opened nearly 90% of Indian airspace as a green zone for drone flying up to 400 feet.
Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme- To promote the growth of drone manufacturing by private companies.
UAS Traffic Management (UTM) Policy Framework- It is an approved public or private entity that would assist various stakeholders to meet the operational requirements for enabling safe and efficient use of airspace,
Drone Certification Scheme- It was notified for making it easier to obtain type certificate by drone manufacturers.
Drone Import Policy- It banned import of foreign drones and freeing up import of drone components.
Drone (Amendment) Rules, 2022- It abolished the requirement of a drone pilot licence for drones of up to 2 kg for non-commercial purposes.
