VOC Port Becomes First in India to Deploy Advanced Anti-Drone System

VOC Port Becomes First in India to Deploy Advanced Anti-Drone System

Why in News? 

V.O. Chidambaranar (VOC) Port has become the first port in India to install an advanced Anti-Drone System to protect its area from unauthorised drones. The new system uses radar and radio technology to detect, track and block drones, strengthening security and safety at the strategic VOC Port.

VOC Port’s Advanced Anti-Drone System 

• Purpose: The new system is designed to enhance maritime and coastal security by preventing unauthorized drone intrusions, which can threaten infrastructure, personnel, cargo operations, and national strategic assets. 
• Technology Integration: The VOC Port’s system integrates a Radio Frequency (RF) and radar-based architecture tailored for complex port environments. The technology provides 360-degree omnidirectional coverage and an effective operational range of up to 5 km, enabling continuous monitoring of low-flying aerial objects over vast port areas. 
• System Components: The Anti-Drone System comprises three main components: a drone detector, drone detection radar, and a man-pack jammer. These work together to detect, track, classify and neutralise unauthorised drones through electronic jamming techniques.
• Real-Time Surveillance: This system enables real-time detection, tracking and classification of drone threats and supports immediate neutralisation using jamming. The ability to quickly identify hostile UAVs and counter them electronically significantly boosts the operational safety of port zones.
• Agreement: VOC Port signed a project agreement with Central Electronics Limited (CEL) — a Government of India Enterprise under the Department of Scientific & Industrial Research, Ministry of Science & Technology — for implementation of the Anti-Drone System. 
• Project Timeline: The deal was formalised in early February 2026 and is slated for completion within the next three months, meaning the system should become fully operational soon. 

About VOC (V.O. Chidambaranar) Port

• Location: V. O. Chidambaranar Port (VOC Port) is a major artificial seaport located in Thoothukudi (Tuticorin), Tamil Nadu, on the south-eastern coast of the Indian peninsula. The port was formally commissioned in 1974 to serve as a deep-water gateway for trade in South India.
• Operator: It is operated by the V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India. 
• Infrastructure: VOC Port covers a water area of approximately 960 acres and a land area of around 2,150 acres. It has 13 berths, 7 wharfs, and 3 piers, with a navigational channel draft of 14.2 metres, enabling it to handle medium to large vessels.
• Capacity: The port’s container terminals have a combined capacity of about 1.6 million TEUs per year and can accommodate vessels up to 8,000 TEUs, offering competitive efficiency comparable with global standards.
• Cargo: VOC Port handles a diverse cargo mix, including industrial coal, fertilisers, raw materials, petroleum products, rock phosphate, edible oils, building materials, sugar, and granite. 
• Trade: The port handled 3.94 million tonnes of cargo and 75,110 TEUs in October 2025, indicating strong trade momentum. VOC Port reported a 6% increase in cargo handling (35.97 million tonnes) compared to the previous year, with a record 4 million tonnes handled in January 2026. 
• Connectivity: VOC Port offers extensive international shipping connectivity with regular sailings to destinations such as Colombo, Jebel Ali, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and China, boosting its role in global maritime trade and supply chains. The port maintains inland facilities including two Inland Container Depots (ICDs) and 15 Container Freight Stations (CFS) for seamless hinterland logistics. 
• Infrastructure Expansion: The port is actively expanding its infrastructure. In 2025, a new multi-cargo berth (No.10) was launched to support larger vessels up to 125,000 DWT, and broader groundwork has been laid for the Outer Harbour Project, backed by potential financing of up to ₹15,000 crore under a hybrid annuity model.
• Sustainability: VOC Port is also promoting sustainability, being the site of India’s first port-based green hydrogen pilot project and other renewable energy ventures, reinforcing its commitment to clean energy adoption and reduced emissions.

Significance of VOC Port’s Advanced Anti-Drone System

• Pioneering Maritime Security: VOC Port is the first in India to deploy a dedicated anti-drone shield, moving beyond traditional perimeter security to include airspace protection. This sets a national precedent for security innovation across all major Indian gateways.
• Neutralising Emerging Threats: The system is specifically designed to counter unauthorised drones used for espionage, smuggling, or sabotage. By providing real-time detection and classification, it ensures that low-cost aerial technology cannot disrupt multi-billion dollar port operations.
• Indigenous Technological Leap: Aligned with Atmanirbhar Bharat, the system represents a breakthrough in indigenous electronic countermeasure capability. It reduces reliance on foreign tech while boosting domestic defence manufacturing.
• Strengthening Sagarmala Goals: As a core pillar of the Sagarmala Program, the system enhances operational resilience. By securing logistics hubs, it helps reduce potential delays and costs associated with security breaches, supporting India’s aim to become a global maritime leader.
• Maritime India Vision (MIV) 2030: This deployment directly supports the MIV 2030 roadmap by modernising port infrastructure with “smart” security technologies. It facilitates safer trade environments, which is essential for handling the projected increase in cargo volumes.
• Amrit Kaal Vision 2047: The project is a vital component of the Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, aiming to create a self-reliant and technologically superior maritime sector. It ensures that India’s “Wall of Steel” extends to its coastal and port assets for the next century of growth.