SOURCE: AFI
India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), through its Hyderabad-based Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), has unveiled the Jammer Anti-UAV (JAU) system—a sophisticated counter-drone technology designed to neutralize unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by targeting their command and control (C2) and navigation links. Capable of spoofing UAV signals to force a crash landing or compel a return to base, the JAU integrates robust Electronic Support Measures (ESM) and Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) capabilities.
The JAU system is engineered to intercept and disrupt the two lifelines of UAV operation: the C2 link, which connects the drone to its operator, and the navigation link, typically reliant on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) like GPS or GLONASS. By deploying ESM, the JAU detects and identifies UAV signals across a wide frequency spectrum—commonly 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz for control, and GNSS bands like GPS L1 (1575.42 MHz). Once identified, its ECM suite unleashes targeted jamming to drown these signals with electromagnetic noise, severing the drone’s connection to its operator and disrupting its positional awareness.
Beyond jamming, the JAU’s spoofing capability sets it apart. Spoofing involves transmitting counterfeit GNSS signals that mimic legitimate satellite data, tricking the UAV into accepting false coordinates or timing information. This can confuse the drone’s navigation, prompting erratic behavior—such as hovering, crash landing, or initiating a pre-programmed “return-to-home” (RTH) function. DRDO claims the JAU forces UAVs to either plummet or retreat, offering a non-kinetic, recoverable neutralization method that preserves the drone for intelligence analysis.
The JAU’s portability and adaptability suggest configurations ranging from handheld units to vehicle-mounted systems, drawing parallels to DRDO’s earlier counter-drone efforts showcased in 2021 at Pokhran. Its effectiveness likely spans micro-drones to medium-altitude UAVs, making it a versatile tool for India’s border security forces, especially along the volatile Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan.
The JAU’s dual-pronged approach—jamming C2 and spoofing navigation—makes it highly effective against RF-dependent, SATCOM-free UAVs. Here’s why:
- C2 Disruption: By targeting the 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz bands, the JAU can sever the RF link between Pakistani drones and their operators. Without SATCOM as a fallback, drones like the Burraq or Shahpar-II lose real-time control, triggering RTH protocols (if GNSS remains intact) or uncontrolled hovering until fuel depletion.
- Navigation Spoofing: Most Pakistani UAVs, even without SATCOM, rely on GNSS for autonomous flight or RTH functions. The JAU’s spoofing can inject false coordinates, forcing these drones to veer off course, crash land, or return to unintended locations—potentially into Indian territory for recovery. For smaller commercial drones, lacking robust anti-spoofing firmware, this effect is amplified.
- ESM Advantage: The JAU’s signal detection pinpoints active RF frequencies, ensuring precise jamming even against frequency-hopping drones. Pakistan’s older UAVs, unlike modern Chinese models with adaptive RF, are vulnerable to this ESM-ECM synergy.
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