New Delhi: India is taking another step towards strengthening its anti-drone defence capabilities, with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) inviting private Indian companies to jointly develop an advanced acoustic-based drone detection system.
The initiative aims to create an indigenous Acoustic-based Drone Detection (ADD) System capable of identifying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), particularly low-flying micro-drones and autonomous drones that can evade conventional detection methods.
DRDO has issued an Expression of Interest (EoI) inviting eligible Indian system developers and manufacturers to participate in designing, assembling and manufacturing the technology.
Unlike conventional counter-drone systems that largely depend on radar and radio-frequency scanners, the proposed technology will use sound to identify aerial threats. This passive detection approach could prove particularly useful against drones operating without radio-frequency signals, making them difficult to track through traditional surveillance systems.
The system will use highly sensitive microphones and specialised parabolic reflectors to capture the acoustic signatures of approaching drones. The recorded sound will be converted into digital signals through a low-power Data Acquisition (DAQ) system.
An integrated Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) processor will then analyse the sound patterns, separate drone-related frequencies from surrounding environmental noise and identify potential threats in real time. The system is expected to provide detection alerts, confidence levels and accurate timestamps.
Under the proposed collaboration, the selected private sector partner will work closely with DRDO to design, simulate, manufacture and conduct field trials of five fully functional prototype units. Participating companies will initially bear the development, testing and demonstration expenses, while all intellectual property rights associated with the technology will remain exclusively with DRDO.
The initiative comes amid growing efforts by Indian research institutions to develop advanced acoustic-based counter-drone technologies. Similar work by CSIR’s Central Scientific Instruments Organisation has explored using acoustic resonance to interfere with drone components and disrupt their flight stability.
By integrating acoustic detection with existing radar, thermal imaging and electronic warfare systems, DRDO aims to establish a cost-effective, multi-layered defence network. The technology could strengthen surveillance at military installations, forward operating bases and sensitive border locations.
