India’s First Port-Level Anti-Drone System at Chidabaranar port.

In a significant milestone for India’s coastal and maritime defence arrangements, the V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (often referred to as VOC Port) in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu has become the first port in India to deploy an advanced anti-drone defence system tailored for critical maritime infrastructure.

The anti-drone setup at VOC Port is an indigenous electronic counter-drone system with technical characteristics including:

• Integrated Radio Frequency (IRF) and Radar-based Detection: The system uses advanced radar and RF scanning to maintain a 360° view of the airspace over and around port facilities.

• Drone Detection and Classification: It can detect, track, identify, and classify unauthorized drone activities in real time — critical for distinguishing threats from benign devices.

• Neutralisation Capability: Along with detection, the system includes man-portable jammers that can neutralise unauthorized drones via signal disruption within an effective range of up to 5 kilometres.

• Rapid Deployment in Sensitive Zones: Designed for quick and reliable operation in specific port areas where traditional surveillance might struggle.

The system is being implemented under a formal agreement between VOC Port Authority and Central Electronics Limited (CEL), a Government of India enterprise under the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Science & Technology. Completion is expected by April 2026.

The Indian Navy signed contracts for indigenous naval anti-drone systems with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and DRDO, aimed at detecting and jamming hostile drones using electro-optical sensors and RF detectors.

DRDO and public-private partnerships have also brought forward vehicle-mounted counter-drone systems, increasing mobility and coverage against asymmetric aerial threats.

Start-ups like Indrajaal have launched AI-powered anti-drone patrol vehicles and autonomous wide-area defence domes capable of covering large airspace zones around critical infrastructure.

These capabilities form part of India’s layered approach to aerial defence, where ports, airfields, borders, and strategic installations are defended against small drones as effectively as larger aerial platforms.