Indian Army’s 'Man Portable Counter-Drone System' Revolutionizes Modern Combat

The Man Portable Counter Drone System (MPCDS) delivered to the Indian Army earlier this week is a landmark in the South Asian country's quest to enhance its modern warfare capabilities, a pundit has said.

The comments of Siddhant Hira who is a Non-Resident Fellow at the US-based Irregular Warfare Initiative (IWI) come days after Axiscades Technologies, a private sector firm specializing in defense technology and engineering, handed over the first consignment of MPCDS to the Indian Army as part of an INR 100 billion order.

"This is the first Counter Drone System being inducted into the Indian Defence Forces in the man-portable category, and the system is being deployed at multiple locations across various Commands in the Indian Army," Arun Krishnamurthi, the company's CEO and Managing Director said in a statement on Monday.

According to Axiscades Technologies, the MPCDS is equipped to deter enemy drones within a radius of 5 kilometers, including jamming and detection. It covers a wide variety of frequency spectrums and can also make the command, control, and navigation systems of the adversary ineffective.

MPCDS to Wage a War Against Smuggling of Illegal Weapons and Narcotics

In this light, Hira noted that the MPCDS should be used to neutralize drones carrying illegal weapons and narcotics that cross into Indian territory from India's Western border. If the situation permits, these drones and their payloads should be captured within Indian territory rather than losing the drone and/or its payload outside of Indian territory.

"Secondly, it should be deployed at all strategic installations with a high threat level - so air force bases/stations close to the LoC (India's borders with Pakistan), and other similar sites at sensitive locations. The MPCDS will also serve as a deterrent to inimical interests, especially if visible patrols are conducted with it," the unconventional warfare analyst told Sputnik India on Wednesday.

Furthermore, Hira mentioned that systems like these are effective and low-cost, high-impact weapon solutions. All that needs to be ensured is sufficient familiarity and training on such systems in near-actual simulation exercises.

The think tanker emphasized that when it comes to the development of MPCDS for the Indian Armed Forces, it has always been a question of when: not "if", not "if and when".

He highlighted that the Russia-Ukraine conflict has demonstrated the need to have MPCDS.

A Russian serviceman of the Central Military District takes part in a training of operators of reconnaissance and attack drones

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Induction of Swarm Drones Awaits Indian Armed Forces

"This has become the norm today, among both state and non-state actors. And herein comes the concept of drone swarms: India's Veda Defence Systems won an Indian Air Force (IAF) deal in August 2023 worth USD 36 million/INR 3 billion deal to produce 200 long-range swarm drones. These drones are expected to be ready for induction in August 2024," Hira opined.

Additionally, for India, countering drones carrying illegal weapons and narcotics inside Indian territory as well as protecting vital assets with MPCDS will serve as familiarisation of the Indian Armed Forces to such systems.

This familiarization can be a first step to conducting drone warfare simulations, wargaming, and exercises to prepare for a conflict/war with its rivals that could utilize UAVs, the IWI researcher added.

"Perhaps the Indian Armed Forces should conduct an exercise employing Axiscades Technologies MPCDS, Veda Defence Systems' drone swarms, and existing drones in the Indian arsenal," he suggested.

What is perhaps most crucial is staying as close to the curve as possible when it pertains to advancements in UAV technology, Hira expressed.

"I do not say ahead of the curve because it is much simpler for a non-state actor to acquire an off-the-shelf drone, modify it to make it more lethal, and then deploy it. It only takes one drone to make an incursion and pose a national security threat," he concluded.

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