The widespread use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), particularly inexpensive kamikaze drones and coordinated drone swarms, has drastically shifted the landscape of modern warfare.
Militaries across the globe are actively searching for cost-effective ways to neutralise these aerial threats, as using traditional, high-end surface-to-air missiles is financially unsustainable.
Consequently, a prominent global trend has emerged: deploying laser-guided rockets from manned aircraft to affordably counter drone incursions.
The Global Shift in Anti-Drone Tactics
The United States Air Force offers a prime example of this strategy, having successfully integrated the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) into its fleet.This system, which modifies standard 70mm rockets with laser guidance, is now utilised on combat aircraft such as the F-16, F-15E Strike Eagle, and the A-10 Warthog.
These modified munitions deliver exceptional accuracy at a fraction of the cost—typically around $20,000 per launch. Because a single aircraft can carry dozens of rockets, it becomes highly practical to eliminate low-cost drones without wasting multi-million-dollar interceptor missiles.
Why Subsonic Jets Are the Perfect Fit
For the Indian Air Force (IAF), this counter-drone strategy presents a unique opportunity to leverage existing assets.While they may lack supersonic capabilities, older platforms like the SEPECAT Jaguar and the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) built BAE Systems Hawk Mk 132 are remarkably well-suited for this specific mission.
Their ability to sustain low-level flight at subsonic speeds, combined with their built-in capacity to carry rocket pods, makes them potentially revolutionary tools in the nation's aerial defence grid when armed with precision rockets.
Both aircraft bring distinct, yet complementary, advantages to the table:
- SEPECAT Jaguar: Originally engineered for ground attack and deep penetration strikes, it can haul an impressive payload of up to 4,500 kg. Upgraded variants feature modernised avionics and carry advanced systems like LITENING targeting pods, which are essential for painting targets for laser-guided weapons.
- BAE Hawk Mk 132: While serving primarily as an advanced jet trainer, the Hawk has repeatedly proven its combat viability during exercises and weapon integration tests.
This economic advantage allows for prolonged aerial patrols over critical borders where enemy drone activity is a persistent threat.
The Mechanics of an Aerial Shield
Combining these legacy airframes with precision rockets would establish a highly effective, layered shield against UAVs.In practice, a Hawk or Jaguar could loiter above the battlefield, using onboard sensors or linked radar networks to identify incoming drones.
The aircraft would then use a laser to designate the target, allowing the pilot to destroy multiple drones in a single flight.
Interestingly, while modern supersonic jets often struggle to engage small, slow-moving drones due to their high speeds and wide turning radiuses, slower aircraft excel at maintaining the necessary proximity and visual tracking required for such engagements.
A Boost for Indigenous Manufacturing
Implementing this tactic would directly address the vulnerabilities along India’s contested borders, where low-flying hostile drones frequently attempt to bypass ground-based radar systems.By upgrading its current inventory, the IAF can build a robust anti-drone shield without the need to purchase entirely new fleets of aircraft, strongly supporting the government's Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Indian defence manufacturers, including HAL and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), are well-equipped to spearhead these modifications.
In fact, the domestic production of 70mm laser-guided munitions is already gaining significant momentum.
Companies like Adani Defence and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), in collaboration with Thales, are currently setting up manufacturing facilities in India for the FZ275 Laser Guided Rocket to equip existing helicopter fleets.
Adapting these locally manufactured rockets for fixed-wing aircraft would be a logical next step.
While this manned approach would not replace ground-based lasers or dedicated interceptors, it provides a crucial, low-cost surge capacity to rapidly counter large drone swarms.
Maximising the Lifespan of Legacy Fleets
Sceptics may point out that the Jaguar is an ageing platform facing maintenance hurdles.The IAF is currently sourcing spare parts globally—including dismantling retired airframes from Oman and Ecuador—to stabilize maintenance cycles and keep the Jaguar operational until its planned retirement around 2035.
However, assigning these veterans to a specialized counter-drone role ensures the military extracts maximum strategic value from the airframes during their final decade of service.
Meanwhile, the dual-purpose Hawk could easily manage routine peacetime border patrols, simultaneously safeguarding Indian airspace and providing valuable flight hours for the next generation of fighter pilots.
