A Hyderabad-based robotics firm has unveiled a state-of-the-art autonomous anti-drone system, powered by artificial intelligence. The system can protect not just vital installations like nuclear installations and oil rigs, but also a wide area encompassing even an entire city, from multiple drones of any kind. This is the first time such a system has been developed in India.
This advanced full-spectrum drone security system capability was demonstrated live on the outskirts of Hyderabad by Grene Robotics, a deep-tech company that specialises in providing AI-powered security solutions for defence, enterprise, and government sectors.
Named Indrajaal, it is said to be the world’s only wide-area Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS). It can provide a comprehensive and integrated security mechanism against moving threats that cannot be tackled with static defence systems.
Uttarakhand Governor Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh, who served as the Deputy Chief of Army Staff from 2014 to 2016, sees Indrajaal as a futuristic solution to India’s security challenges in the defence, public infrastructure, and private sectors.
“We will never forget the June 27, 2021 drone attack on the Jammu airport and the June 15 Galwan attack. At that time, we wondered what solution we had against drones and swarms. Today, Indrajaal has given us the answer and shown that it is possible.”
Kiran Raju, the founder of Grene Robotics, which was established 12 years ago, says that Indrajaal’s design uses a LEGO-like combination mechanism that offers 12 unique layers of technology powered by artificial intelligence.
“The system provides 360-degree protection, with the ability to detect, identify, classify, track, and neutralise threats in real time. The threat lifetime can be as short as 30 seconds to a few minutes,” Mr Raju said. Indrajaal is designed to defend against all classes and levels of autonomous drones over an area of 4,000 square kilometres.
“From low radar cross section (RCS) threats to medium and high-altitude long endurance (MALE and HALE) UAVs, loitering munitions, smart bombs, rocket showers, nano and micro drones, swarm drones, and more, we have it all covered,” said Wing Commander Sai Mallela, co-founder of Grene Robotics. He had earlier helped develop the Integrated Air Command and Control System for the Indian Air Force, to adopt network-based operations, and also helped orchestrate a multi-million dollar import substitution for the forces.
Lt Col Gurmit Singh, who has headed units that overlooked the Line of Control in Kashmir and has also worked in border issues and counter-terrorism, points out that India has seen a significant increase in hostile UAV activity in the past couple of years. This includes attempts to drop weapons, money, and narcotics across the border into Jammu and Punjab regions, as well as missions to surveil Indian security forces.
In 2020, there were 76 reported cases of hostile UAV activity in India. This number increased to 109 in 2021 and 266 in 2022. In the first 8 months of 2023, there have already been 200 reported cases, drawing attention to the need for heightened vigilance and counter-measures to safeguard national security.
