2 ADITI

To design and develop a swarm of multi domain launch capable loitering aerial interceptor against swarm drones (counter swarm-drone system)

Long range swarm drones are a threat to vital installations. The interception of these drones will require large infrastructure and high per weapon cost. The swarm drones carry distributed intelligence with some drones as communication, warhead, dummy, navigation systems etc. With increasing development of swarm drones, an autonomous swarm drone interceptor system is required to detect, identify, disrupt, neutralise and destroy these drones. The system to be developed requires multiple drones that act against swarm to disrupt communication, create confusion by smoke/ any other optical disruptor, soft kill, hard kill etc. The launch of system may be from a tube/ any other technology that can be shoulder carried, vehicle mounted, aerostat, balloon or any other multi domain launched capability. The challenge entails design, development, testing and certification of an autonomous multi-domain launch capable interceptor system against drones: - (a) To act against a swarm drone attack and neutralise the attack by multiple collaborative swarms of drones neutralising individual targets. (b) Desirable to have all drones with similar form factor and design with modular concept towards hard kill, soft kill or any other mechanisms. (c) It may be based on tube launched drone system/ any other design for easy carriage, rapid deployment and long-term storage in harsh environment that can be launched from ground vehicles or static installations. (d) The swarm drones must be able to maintain loiter over a vital installation while waiting for an incoming drone threat. The system must be able to home on to drones. The neutralisation may be a combination of hard kill, soft kill, communication disruption, navigation disruption, sensor disabling, electromagnetic pulse or any suitable technology in different drones. (e) It is desirable to have sensor payload bay/ nose cone/ sensor carriage design reconfigurable for replacing sensor (RF homing, radar guidance/ EO guidance/ data link or any other technology) for minimal design changes between different type of launch platform and threats. (f) Desirable to have warhead compartment as modular to fit in different warheads as offered by developer or future development. (g) The system must be portable and capable of transportation on vehicles, rail, ships and aircraft for quick deployment. (h) All system protocols, communication structure and Interface control documents must be made available to integrate IAF systems in future. (i) The system must be able to operate till 5000 mtr & above. (j) Integral IFF for avoiding friendly fire with own drones and aircraft (k) Desirable to recover unused drones for the next mission. (l) Desirable to have a combination of electric, internal combustion, rocket assisted, jet powered drones or any other technology for interception against different class of drone attacks (m) Desirable swarm autonomy in intercept and target allocation by algorithm. However, option of manual override should also be provided.

Challenges