Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) is witnessing ramped-up counter-drone deployments in forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC), Indian intelligence has reportedly learnt. Rawalakot, Kotli and Bhimber sectors have received new counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) after Operation Sindoor, the report said.
READ HERE | How India outsmarted Pakistan's drone warfare during Operation Sindoor
In Rawalakot, Islamabad has reportedly tasked the 2nd Azad Kashmir Brigade to manage the new counter-drone systems, while the 3rd Azad Kashmir Brigade is in charge in Kotli. The Bhimber sector is being handled by the 7th Azad Kashmir Brigade, with additional responsibilities handed to the 12th and 23rd Infantry Divisions. In the light of India’s effective ise of UAVs during the May conflicyt, the priority is to strengthen the Pakistan Army’s airspace surveillance and electronic warfare capabilities close to the LoC.
Quoting intelligence sources, a report claimed that Islamabad has inducted a mix of electronic and kinetic counter-UAS systems along the LoC. The ‘Sufra’ drone-jamming guns, as well as the Spider counter-UAS system, are part of the package, which also includes Oerlikon GDF 35-mm twin-barrel anti-aircraft guns and Anza Mk-II and Mk-III man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS).
ALSO READ:
The Pakistan Army wants to ensure it has enough drones at its disposal to match India’s capacity and is reportedly in talks with its allies Türkiye and China regarding procurements. Many of the new installations will come up facing the Rajouri, Poonch, Naushera and Sunderbani sectors of Jammu and Kashmir, the news report said.
‘Spider’, ‘Sufra’ and other anti-UAV systems
Pakistan’s Global Industrial and Defence Solutions (GIDS) has introduced a state-of-the-art Spider anti-UAV system with the objective of detecting, tracking and intercepting unmanned aerial vehicles. Available in both portable and vehicle-mounted variants, the system is capable of jamming and spoofing UAVs at ranges exceeding 10 kilometres with the help of radars, radio-frequency scanners, optical, infrared and acoustic sensors.
According to available information, the Spider system attempts to neutralise drones by disrupting their communication channels. The system can emit powerful jamming signals on the same frequencies used by drones, causing them to lose control, hover, return to base or land.
For more defence news, views and updates, visit: Fortress India
‘Sufra’, meanwhile, jamming guns were developed by the National Electronics Complex of Pakistan (NECOP). They have been designed to disrupt the communication systems of UAVs, which can lead to them crashing before reaching their targets. They can take on and neutralise multiple kamikaze drones at the same time within a 1.5-kilometre range.
The Anza is a series of indigenously developed Pakistani shoulder-fired, man-portable surface-to-air missiles. The Anza Mk-III is believed to be based on the Chinese QW-2 MANPADS, with a maximum range of five kilometres.