DRDO is developing a full range of indigenous sensors, AI systems and laser weapons to build an integrated, technology-driven national border shield.

The push moves India away from relying mainly on physical fences and posts toward a networked system that can detect, track and respond to threats quickly.

BK Das, Director General of DRDO’s Electronics and Communication Systems cluster, laid out this vision at the India Fence Expo 2026 in New Delhi.

He said the goal is what DRDO calls sensor to shooter, cutting the time between spotting a threat and neutralising it down to seconds. The sensor technology being developed is layered and wide ranging.

It includes fibre optic systems that detect movement along fence lines, high resolution cameras with infrared tracking for round the clock monitoring, and hyperspectral imaging that can spot camouflaged objects.

Radar systems, including synthetic aperture radar, add all weather coverage across difficult terrain like deserts, mountains and forests.

None of this works without strong communication links. DRDO is also building next generation networks to carry sensor data securely and quickly to commanders and response teams on the ground.

Counter-drone technology is a major focus area, given how much of a challenge small drones now pose.

DRDO’s first generation counter-drone systems have already moved into production and are deployed at sensitive locations.

These systems detect drones using radar and electro-optical sensors, then respond either through soft kill methods like jamming, or hard kill options such as laser weapons.

DRDO has already built lasers at multiple power levels, including systems up to 30 kW, and continues to work on more powerful versions.

Artificial intelligence sits at the centre of this shift. DRDO is building AI engines that can distinguish between genuine threats, wildlife and ordinary civilian movement, reducing false alarms and helping commanders make faster calls.

A key challenge that remains is reducing dependence on imported components, particularly detectors used in infrared cameras, which India still largely sources from overseas.

Das said building indigenous detector technology and strong AI processing will be crucial to closing this gap and giving India full control over its border security systems.

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