As part of a push to modernise India’s air defence network against hostile and rogue drones, the Indian armed forces are developing a joint Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (CUAS) grid that will integrate anti-drone capabilities across all three services, defence officials said.
The proposed CUAS grid will function separately from existing air defence networks such as the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), which officials said would be overburdened if tasked with tracking small drones alongside conventional aerial threats. Instead, the new grid will be linked to the Joint Air Defence Centres (JADCs) of the Army, Navy and Air Force and will operate as a permanent, dedicated counter-drone network.
Officials said the grid will integrate the large number of counter-drone systems acquired by the three services over the past five to six years, enabling real-time monitoring and faster responses to low-altitude and unmanned aerial threats.
The move follows operational lessons from Operation Sindoor, during which the Pakistan Army attempted to target Indian civilian and military installations using drones of Turkish and Chinese origin. These attacks were effectively neutralised, particularly by the Army Air Defence units, with L-70 and ZU-23 guns inflicting significant damage on small drones.
The Indian Army is now also working on deploying air defence guns in populated areas to protect civilian centres from potential drone and aerial attacks.
At a broader level, the counter-drone grid forms part of Mission Sudarshan Chakra, a nationwide initiative to build a comprehensive shield against aerial threats. The mission was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day address from the Red Fort in 2025.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, during a recent visit to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) headquarters on its 68th anniversary, said the organisation would play a crucial role in implementing the initiative. He said DRDO had been tasked with equipping vital installations with air defence systems to ensure comprehensive aerial protection over the next decade, underscoring the importance of air defence demonstrated during Operation Sindoor.
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Published By:
Priyanka Kumari
Published On:
Jan 7, 2026
