SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
On May 29, 2025, the Indian Army, under the aegis of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, issued a Request for Information (RFI) for the procurement of Manpack Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) as per the Defence Acquisition Procedure-2020 (DAP-2020). This RFI aims to identify capable Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), authorized vendors, and government-sponsored export agencies to supply lightweight, portable systems designed to detect, track, and neutralize hostile drones in real-time. The initiative underscores India’s commitment to enhancing battlefield survivability and operational security in response to the growing threat of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) across diverse terrains.
The Manpack C-UAS is intended to provide the Indian Army with a robust solution to counter aerial threats during tactical operations and to protect critical infrastructure. With drones becoming increasingly prevalent in modern warfare, this system is designed to detect, identify, track, and neutralize adversary drones using advanced sensors and wideband cyber electromagnetic transmitter (CEMT) capabilities. The RFI emphasizes rapid deployment, mobility, and operation in challenging environments, including high-altitude areas up to 14,500 feet, plains, deserts, and marshy terrains, ensuring versatility across India’s diverse operational landscapes.
The RFI outlines a tentative issuance of a Request for Proposal (RFP) in December 2025, with vendors expected to deliver initial quantities within 12 months of contract signing. This acquisition aligns with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, prioritizing indigenous design, development, and manufacturing (IDDM) with a minimum of 50% indigenous content on a cost basis for procurement under the Buy (Indian) category.
Operational and Technical Specifications
The Manpack C-UAS is a single-operator system, weighing less than 9 kg, designed for high mobility and rapid deployment. It comprises two primary subsystems: a Wideband RF Detector for detection and tracking, and a Wideband Cyber Electromagnetic Transmitter (CEMT) for soft-kill measures, supported by a high-capacity rechargeable battery system. Key specifications include:
- Detection and Tracking System:
- Frequency Range: 400–6000 MHz, covering ISM and non-ISM bands (excluding telecom and licensed bands), with customizable exclusions.
- Detection Range: Capable of detecting drones like the DJI Phantom (+26 dBm) at 3 km or more, with instantaneous bandwidth of 100 MHz or higher.
- Accuracy: 5-degree RMS error in Direction of Arrival (DOA), with 360° azimuth and 40° elevation coverage.
- Threat Library: User-extendable, storing up to 1,000 drone frequency signatures, with real-time classification of friendly (Blue), adversary (Red), or unidentified (Black) drones.
- Operational Features: Continuous scanning, multiple target tracking, and look-through mode synchronized with the jammer to counter frequency-switching drones.
- Soft Kill System (CEMT):
- Jamming Range: Effective up to 2 km, with a 1:1 drone-to-jammer distance ratio, using omnidirectional or directional antennas.
- Capabilities: Jamming, spoofing, metadata injection, and fault injection across GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, IRNSS) and RF communication links.
- Modes: Selective jamming of adversary drones, simultaneous multi-frequency jamming, and user-defined bandwidth customization.
- Safety Features: Built-in filters to avoid interference with friendly frequencies and reduced power output in urban environments to minimize civilian disruption.
- Power System:
- Endurance: Minimum 5 hours of continuous operation (3 hours for RF Detector, 30 minutes for continuous/intermittent jamming).
- Battery: Rechargeable via 220V AC with fast chargers, with hot-swappable options and safety features like overload protection.
- Environmental Compatibility: Operates in extreme temperatures, dust, and moisture, compliant with MIL-STD-810G and UN 38.3 standards.
- Handheld Display System:
- Interface: Ruggedized touchscreen with color-coded drone identification (Blue, Red, Black), real-time alerts, and data logging for post-mission analysis.
- Security: Password-protected access, encryption for data security, and anti-glare screens for day/night visibility.
- Training System:
- Simulator: Integrated training mode simulating realistic scenarios without activating detection or jamming subsystems.
- Features: Interactive dashboard, performance evaluation, and support for basic, advanced, and emergency training scenarios, with options for AR/VR-based modules.
The procurement of Manpack C-UAS systems reflects the Indian Army’s proactive approach to countering the evolving threat of drones, which have become critical in modern warfare for reconnaissance, surveillance, and attack. By prioritizing lightweight, portable, and indigenously developed solutions, the Army aims to enhance its tactical flexibility and protect critical assets in diverse operational scenarios, from urban environments to high-altitude battlefields.
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