As low-cost drones, swarm UAVs and first-person-view attackdrones increasingly reshape modern warfare from Ukraine to West Asia, India is accelerating efforts to build indigenous counter-drone systems capable ofdetecting, jamming and physically destroying hostile aerial threats.Zen Technologies unveils AI-powered anti drone systemAt the North Tech Symposium 2026 in Prayagraj, Hyderabad-based Zen Technologies unveiled a new integrated Counter Unmanned Aerial System (CUAS) designed to tackle evolving drone warfare threats through AI-enabledtracking, layered jamming and kinetic interception capabilities.
The system is being projected as a major step under India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat push, particularly as security agenciesface increasing concerns over drone-based surveillance, border infiltration, smuggling operations and swarm attacks targeting military infrastructure.Why anti-drone systems are becoming critical for IndiaThe growing use of inexpensive drones in conflicts worldwide has exposed vulnerabilities in traditional air-defence systems. Small unmannedaerial vehicles can carry out reconnaissance missions, artillery correction, kamikaze strikes and coordinated swarm attacks while flying below the radar envelope of conventional systems.For India, the threat has become particularly significant along sensitive border regions, where drones have increasingly been used for cross-border smuggling of narcotics, weapons and ammunition.Military planners are also preparing for future battlefields where autonomous drones and AI-enabled unmanned systems could play a central role in surveillance and combat operations.Against this backdrop, layered anti-drone systems capable of identifying, tracking and neutralising multiple aerial threats simultaneously are becoming a strategic necessity.How anti-drone system worksThe newly unveiled platform combines both “soft kill” and “hard kill” capabilities in a multi-layered architecture designed to counter different types of unmanned threats.The modular system can reportedly operate in vehicle-mounted, man-portable and fixed-site configurations depending on mission requirements.According to the company, the system offers wideband coverage from 70 MHz to 12 GHz, enabling it to detect and disrupt multiple drone communication channels.
How India’s anti-drone system works
Its architecture includes:
- RF-based drone detector: The RF-based drone detector scans frequencies between 70 MHz and 12 GHz to identify drone communication signals and reportedly track more than 100 drones simultaneously. This allows operators to detect hostile drones even before they become visually identifiable.
- Video tracking and identification: The Video-based Drone Identification and Tracking system uses day and night cameras mounted on an automatic servo-based positioning platform. The system is capable of capturing and tracking drone movement at ranges of up to 3 km.
- X-band 3D radar: The anti-drone shield also incorporates an indigenous X-band 3D radar designed to detect low radar cross-section drones and autonomous UAVs. Officials said the radar can detect smaller aerial targets at ranges between 15 and 20 km while providing precise azimuth and elevation data.
- AI-enabled command centre: At the core of the system is an AI-enabled Data Fusion and Command Centre that integrates radar feeds, RF signatures and visual tracking inputs. The command hub uses AI-based algorithms for threat classification, target tracking, sensor fusion, map-based monitoring and automated engagement prioritisation. According to the developers, this enables faster response times during swarm attacks involving multiple drones approaching simultaneously from different directions.
- Soft kill and hard kill options: The system includes multi-band RF jammers capable of disrupting ISM bands, GPS navigation signals and mobile communication networks used by hostile drones. These “soft kill” measures are intended to disable or disorient drones without physically destroying them. For direct interception, the platform also includes “hard kill” options involving kinetic neutralisation systems. These include remotely controlled weapon stations equipped with 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm guns capable of automatically aligning and firing at aerial targets. The platform can also integrate air-defence guns and kamikaze interceptors, while net-based drone capture mechanisms may be deployed for certain operational scenarios
Built under India’s indigenous defence pushThe company said the system was developed under the Indigenous Design, Development and Manufacturing (IDDM) framework, allowing India to retain fullintellectual property ownership while reducing dependence on importedcounter-drone technologies.Company chairman and managing director Ashok Atluri said recent battlefielddevelopments had shown how rapidly drone warfare was transforming military operations.He said countries unable to adapt to the changing nature of warfare would remain vulnerable to emerging unmanned threats.
