India’s D4 anti-drone system to fight Colombian drug cartels?
Colombia is seeking defence cooperation with India and is considering Bharat Electronics Ltd's anti-drone system to counter the ever-widening use of UAVs by cartel-linked armed groups
Colombia is currently exploring the acquisition of advanced anti-drone technology from India, specifically targeting the menacing threat of weaponized unmanned aerial vehicles utilized by drug cartels. With Colombian armed groups increasingly employing drones for both surveillance of coca crops and lethal attacks, the nation's Ministry of Defence has faced a surge in drone-related casualties. To counter this growing crisis, Bogota is considering Bharat Electronics Limited's D4 counter-drone system, which features sophisticated real-time detection, GPS jamming, and laser-directed energy capabilities.
Colombia is currently exploring the acquisition of advanced anti-drone technology from India, specifically targeting the menacing threat of weaponized unmanned aerial vehicles utilized by drug cartels. With Colombian armed groups increasingly employing drones for both surveillance of coca crops and lethal attacks, the nation's Ministry of Defence has faced a surge in drone-related casualties. To counter this growing crisis, Bogota is considering Bharat Electronics Limited's D4 counter-drone system, which features sophisticated real-time detection, GPS jamming, and laser-directed energy capabilities.
Colombia is currently exploring the acquisition of advanced anti-drone technology from India, specifically targeting the menacing threat of weaponized unmanned aerial vehicles utilized by drug cartels. With Colombian armed groups increasingly employing drones for both surveillance of coca crops and lethal attacks, the nation's Ministry of Defence has faced a surge in drone-related casualties. To counter this growing crisis, Bogota is considering Bharat Electronics Limited's D4 counter-drone system, which features sophisticated real-time detection, GPS jamming, and laser-directed energy capabilities.
New Delhi's defence footprint could strengthen in South America, as a report said Colombia is exploring getting Indian anti-drone technology to fight the menacing drug cartels.
This comes as Colombian drug cartels are increasing their use of drones—or uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) for their criminal and anti-national activities. The country’s Ministry of Defence reported 8,395 weaponised drone attacks in 2025, Al Jazeera said in a report, which added that, as per official data, 20 people were killed by drones in 2025 and 297 were injured.
Colombian drug cartels turn to drones
Colombia's armed groups use unmanned aerial vehicles primarily for two purposes: attacks and surveillance. "...drones to survey farmland seeded with coca, the key ingredient for cocaine and a key source of revenue for armed groups. There, drones are used to monitor crops and laboratories, replacing oversight conducted on foot or by motorbike," the Al Jazeera report said.
Initially, they used to buy drones online or get them into the country through smuggling networks. These common models then underwent modifications at their warehouses home to become lethal, combat-ready variants. Over time, the cartels got their hands on Chinese DJI models with better range, ceilings, and the ability to carry heavier loads. Then came the FPV drones, very popular among Russian and Ukrainian forces. Most leading cartels now possess drones that can carry loads up to three kilograms at a time, the report said.
Colombia eyes Indian tech: What is BEL's D4 anti-drone system?
Now, Colombia is considering procuring anti-drone technology developed by Indian state-owned Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), The Mint said in a report. Nothing solid, however, has materialised so far, the report added.
As per the official website of BEL, its Counter Drone System (also called the D4 System) is capable of performing real-time search, detection, tracking, and neutralisation (Soft/Hard Kill) of flying drones (Micro/Small UAVs), and will provide object details (Optical/Thermal) and RF spectrum display on a Graphical User Interface (GUI).
D4's Hard Kill refers to terminating an incoming UAV using its laser-directed energy weapon system, while GPS jamming, drone communication channel RF detection, and spoofing are categorised as Soft Kill.