Kandla: The state’s largest seaport, which also happens to be the closest Indian seaport to neighbouring Pakistan, will soon become the first in the country to have an advanced Anti-Drone Surveillance System.

The Deendayal Port Authority (DPA), which manages the port, has floated a tender for the design, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of a Static Anti-Drone Technology System to strengthen surveillance and security across the Kandla Port area. The project, estimated at ₹74.5 crore (excluding GST), will be executed under the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) model, followed by a five-year Comprehensive Annual Maintenance Contract (CAMC).

According to the tender notice, the installation work must be completed within 120 days from the date of the work order, after which the five-year operation and maintenance phase will begin.

Technical Specifications

As per the tender, the selected contractor will be responsible for designing and deploying a comprehensive static anti-drone system integrating radar, radio frequency (RF), electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR), and acoustic detection technologies to ensure 24×7 port security.

The system will comprise multiple advanced technologies, including:

• Radar System: Pulse-Doppler or AESA radar with 360° coverage, a detection range of 5–10 km, and the ability to track at least 20 targets simultaneously.

• RF Detection and Jamming: RF sensors with a detection range of 10–15 km and frequency coverage between 70 MHz and 8 GHz. The jammers must be capable of disrupting drone communication and navigation systems within a 10 km radius.

• EO/IR Systems: Cameras offering 30x optical zoom and a thermal imaging range of up to 1.5 km for day and night monitoring and target confirmation.

• Acoustic Sensors: Devices designed to identify drone-specific sound patterns, ensuring effective performance even in visually obstructed areas.

• Command and Control Centre: A unified, secure, and encrypted control interface enabling real-time monitoring, classification, and response to drone activity.

The system must maintain a minimum annual uptime of 96%, allowing a maximum downtime of 350 hours per year for maintenance and upgrades.

Broad Scope of Work

Key components of the contract include:

• Comprehensive Supply and Installation: The contractor must supply all materials, accessories, and components required for complete installation and integration of the system with DPA’s existing surveillance infrastructure.

• System Integration and Protection: The system will incorporate cybersecurity and data protection measures and will operate using DPA’s power supply. The contractor must provide a minimum four-hour power backup.

• Civil and Structural Works: All associated civil, electrical, and instrumentation works, along with operational platforms and access systems, fall within the contractor’s scope.

• Technical Compliance: The contractor must obtain all necessary statutory approvals, licenses, and certifications for installation and operation. DPA will reimburse statutory fees upon submission of original receipts. DeshGujarat