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QUESTION

GS

Medium

Science & Technology

Prelims 2026

Which of the following statements with regard to drone swarms is/are correct ?

  1. They use Terahertz band of frequency to communicate with the command centre.
  2. Individual drones in the swarm can communicate with other drones in the swarm.
  3. GPS Spoofing is a commonly used technique to counter drone swarm attack.

Select the answer using the code given below :

Select an option to attempt

Explanation

Statement 1 is Incorrect: Drones typically communicate with ground command centres using standard Radio Frequency (RF) bands (e.g., UHF, S-band, L-band) or Satellite Communications (SATCOM) to ensure reliable, long-range connectivity. The Terahertz (THz) band is an emerging, highly experimental frequency envisioned for future 6G networks. Because THz waves suffer from severe atmospheric attenuation and have a very short range, they are currently being researched for high-speed inter-drone (drone-to-drone) communication at close proximity, not for long-range links to a command centre.

Statement 2 is Correct: The defining characteristic of a drone swarm is decentralized collective intelligence. Individual drones actively communicate with one another (often via ad-hoc mesh networks) to coordinate formations, share sensor data, avoid collisions, and adapt to real-time environmental changes without relying on a central controller.

Statement 3 is Correct: Electronic Warfare (EW) is a primary defense against drone swarms. GPS Spoofing is a standard and commonly used countermeasure. It involves broadcasting fake satellite signals to deceive the drones' navigation systems, forcing them off course, causing mid-air collisions, or triggering forced landings.

Therefore, option B is the correct answer.

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