How are AI-powered systems stopping drones in real time and changing the way security forces operate? Himanshu Dave from Infitron Advanced Systems, tells EFY’s Nidhi Agarwal and Vidushi Saxena everything about the role of AI-led integration in modern security.
Q. Can you tell me about your company?
A. Infitron Advanced Systems works on advanced defence and security technologies, including radar systems, radio frequency (RF) detectors, jammers, and anti-drone solutions. The company functions as a complete system integrator for command and control systems. Our headquarters are located in Ahmedabad.
Q. Who are your primary customers, and which segments are you actively targeting?
A. Our primary customers are government and defence organisations, including the Indian Army, Indian Coast Guard and state police forces such as Gujarat Police. We operate exclusively in the defence and homeland security sector and do not target civilian markets.
Q. Can you tell us about your R&D team, in terms of size and core skill areas?
A. Currently, our research and development (R&D) team consists of 10 members, and we are actively expanding. Most of our team has a background in embedded technology, hardware, and software development. Additionally, we have specialists with deep expertise in RF technology, which is critical for our anti-drone and advanced defence systems.
Q. Is your technology developed in-house, or do you rely on partners for sourcing?
A. A significant portion of our technology is developed entirely in-house. We do not rely on foreign partners or vendors. By creating our systems in-house, we avoid external dependencies on hardware and software, ensuring our solutions are fully controlled and tailored to India’s operational needs.
Also, we are in the process of setting up our own manufacturing facility in Sanand (Industrial Area), district. Ahmedabad. The documentation and licensing process, especially for defence production, is ongoing and can be lengthy. We anticipate that the factory will be operational in 2026.
Q. Are all the raw materials and components for your systems developed in India?
A. While system design and integration are done in-house, certain components; such as power amplifiers, semiconductors, integrated circuits, and resistors, still need to be sourced internationally. India’s semiconductor ecosystem is not yet fully equipped to supply these high-precision components. Overall, around 20 to 25 per cent of our material requirements depend on foreign vendors.
Q. Why should people understand that drones are a serious security challenge today?
A. Drones are a dual-use technology that can serve both beneficial and harmful purposes. Modern drones are fast, GPS-guided, and difficult to detect or shoot down, especially with conventional weapons. Because of these challenges, anti-drone technology has become a critical requirement for security forces to protect borders and sensitive areas.
Q. Can you tell me more about the anti-drone technology developed by your team?
A. Our systems were deployed during Operation Sindoor by the Gujarat Government in sensitive border areas. The anti-drone solutions are comprehensive, combining radars for detection, RF detectors using passive radar technology, and neutralisation tools such as spoofers and jammers. Electro-optics systems are also integrated for tracking and identification, creating a layered and flexible solution that can be tailored to different operational requirements.
Q. How do you explain your anti-drone system to a non-technical person?
A. While drones are commonly associated with weddings, light shows, and logistics, their role in conflict scenarios is very different. During Operation Sindoor, hostile drones crossed borders at speeds of 100-150 kilometres per hour, making them nearly impossible to stop with rifles or conventional weapons. Counter-drone systems address this by first detecting and tracking drones using radars and RF detectors. Once a drone is identified as hostile, it is neutralised from a safe distance by jamming its control signals, causing it to lose control and land safely before it can cause damage.
Q. How does your anti-drone system detect drones? Does it use hardware, software, or both?
A. Our anti-drone system uses a combination of hardware and software to detect drones. The hardware includes radar, RF detectors, and optical systems. Radars actively send signals and detect drones from their reflections, similar to how helicopters or fighter jets are tracked, with ranges from 1 to 20 kilometres depending on requirements. RF detectors passively monitor drone communication frequencies, including controller signals, video transmissions, and GPS. Optical systems use cameras for day and night operation to confirm whether a detected object is a drone, reducing false positives from birds or debris. The software integrates these components, alerts operators, and can use artificial intelligence (AI) to identify potential threats, distinguishing them from friendly drones.
Q. How does the system stop or neutralise drones, and what are the main integration challenges?
A. Once a drone is detected, our system can neutralise it automatically or manually. It jams the drone’s communication, causing it to return home or land safely without crashing, conserving battery power. The integration of hardware and software is challenging because it requires real-time communication between components, handling large sensor data streams, and ensuring accurate AI decision-making without delays. Our solution addresses these challenges, providing a reliable and responsive anti-drone system.
Q.Does anti-drone tech make drones land instead of destroying them?
A. Anti-drone technologies are broadly classified into soft kill and hard kill approaches.Soft kill methods disable the drone by jamming control, GPS, or video links, causing it to land safely. Hard kill methods physically destroy the drone using lasers, automated gun systems, or interceptor drones. Our current solutions focus on soft kill techniques, which allow drones to be recovered for forensic analysis rather than destroyed.
Q. What about your handheld anti-drone gun? Is it also doing the soft kill or the hard kill?
A. This system is similar to a man-portable jammer but uses trigger-based, directional jamming for precise neutralisation. In contrast, a manpack jammer operates omnidirectionally to protect a fixed radius continuously. The jammer gun is highly portable, can be vehicle-mounted or carried, and allows instant jamming on trigger activation, making it ideal for rapid and mobile operations.
Q. What is a portable jamming system, and how is it different from other jamming systems used in anti-drone technology?
A. There are two main types of jammers in anti-drone systems. The first is the portable jamming system. As per army standards, these weigh less than 20 kilograms and can be carried in a backpack by a soldier, along with a battery pack that supports several hours of continuous jamming. These are ideal for mobile operations where personnel move through different areas and need protection on the go.
The second type is stationary jammers. These are fixed systems powered by standard AC electricity and are designed to protect specific areas. They are heavier, not portable, and do not rely on internal batteries, making them suitable for long term, area-based protection rather than mobile use.
Q. How did you fit all parts and keep battery life in small portable jammers?
A. Weight and heat dissipation were the main engineering challenges. Conventional defence-grade materials made the systems too heavy and generated excessive heat. We addressed this by developing a compact design using bulletproof polymer casings, which reduced weight while protecting the operator. This enabled us to build a portable jammer weighing just 10.5 kilograms, suitable for field operations.
Q. What is the role of AI and machine language (ML) in these anti-drone systems?
A. AI and ML are central to the command-and-control layer. They analyse data from multiple sensors, compare it against extensive databases of drone signatures, classify threats, assess payload risks, and guide operators on appropriate responses. This significantly improves decision-making speed and accuracy.
Q. Can you tell me about the sensing technologies that your systems mostly rely on?
A. Our systems use RF detectors, acoustic sensors, and optical sensors such as SWIR and LWIR cameras. RF detection involves monitoring multiple frequency bands, with algorithms distinguishing drone signals from Wi-Fi or other sources. Raw sensor data alone is insufficient—it must be processed through software to accurately identify drones.
Q. How does your system differentiate between friendly drones and hostile drones?
A. The software maintains a continuously updated database of authorised drone signatures. Each drone emits a unique electronic signature. When detected, the system compares it against the database. A match classifies the drone as friendly; otherwise, the system raises an alert for a potential hostile or unknown drone.
Q. How are testing and validation performed for these anti-drone systems?
A. Primary testing is conducted in the field, as real-world conditions cannot be fully replicated in a lab. India’s diverse environments, from Rajasthan and Gujarat to the northern and eastern borders, affect system performance. Field trials, often led by the Indian Army, involve day and night exercises.
Q. What is the competitive landscape you see in anti-jamming products?
A. Competition has increased significantly in recent times. After recent operations, players of all sizes have shown interest in anti-drone systems, leading to a much more crowded space. Earlier, before these operations, there were only about eight to nine companies actively working in this domain.
Q. Are you investing in equipment, tools, people, or marketing? What are your investments in the future like?
A. Most of our investment is focused on research and development. This sector does not depend on conventional marketing, as our customers are government and defence organisations with a very specific audience. These stakeholders do not engage with social media or advertising, and the highly specialised nature of our systems makes traditional marketing unnecessary.
Q. Any current challenges that you are facing in growing in India? Are there any?
A. In terms of growth, focus is not the main challenge. The real challenge lies in the rapidly evolving technology, as drones are becoming more advanced, requiring counter-drone systems to continuously improve to detect and neutralise them effectively.
Q. How can the ecosystem help you? Are you also looking for any partners, distributors, or resellers for our tie-ups with academia?
A. We actively collaborate with academic institutions. Our first national seminar on electronic warfare was held at Gujarat Technical University when we were still a startup. We have worked with ISRO, the Institute of Plasma Research, and academicians from Mumbai University, and we support innovators with funding and mentorship. Distribution channels are uncommon in our sector; we work directly with end users.
Q. Are you planning to start exporting your products?
A. Exporting defence and security products is a complex process with many regulatory requirements. However, we are exploring opportunities and, if the right prospects arise, we are open to exporting our solutions in the future.
Q. Do you also receive any government funding?
A. The Government of Gujarat has funded us, and I was fortunate to receive the highest level of funding awarded by the state.
Q. Are there any upcoming technologies in anti-drone systems that you think could be a game-changer?
A. Cost will be a key factor in the future of anti-drone technology. During operations like Operation Sindoor, high-tech solutions such as missiles were very expensive even for small drones.
Interceptor drones are expected to play a central role, while radars and detectors may become smaller, more portable, and capable of real-time detection, potentially even wearable like a smartwatch. This blend of cost efficiency, miniaturisation, and smarter decision-making will shape the next generation of anti-drone systems.
Q. How do you see the anti-drone market evolving in India over the next five to ten years?
A. The market will continue to grow in a constant cat-and-mouse cycle, as improvements in anti-drone systems are matched by advances in drone technology.
When we began working on anti-drone systems in 2018, awareness was low, and the concept was often misunderstood. Today, thanks to demonstrations, operations, and media coverage, both authorities and the public recognise the importance of these systems. Demand is increasing steadily, and the market is expanding accordingly.
