Indian Army to install steel mesh screens against drone threats

The Indian Army is planning to install multi-tier steel mesh screens to protect sensitive military infrastructure and high-value institutions from drone and unmanned aerial system (UAS) attacks. These passive physical barriers will initially be deployed at critical locations, such as command centers and ammunition storage, within the Western Sector.

The proposed structures will measure approximately 37 meters in length and 20 meters in width, utilizing three layers of distinct steel mesh. This design is intended to facilitate staged interception, dissipate kinetic energy, and progressively arrest the movement of incoming drones or kamikaze UAVs. To maintain stealth, the outer layers will feature non-reflective coatings and multi-spectral camouflage paint to minimize visual and thermal signatures.

This defensive measure follows a significant increase in cross-border drone activity. According to Ministry of Defence reports for 2025–26, there were 863 drone intrusions along the India-Pakistan border, with the majority occurring in Punjab and Rajasthan. The mesh screens are intended to complement existing active countermeasures, including lasers, jammers, and guns, specifically to address small, low-flying drones that are difficult to detect via radar.