On May 20, security forces carried out a major joint operation in Manipur and recovered one of the largest caches of weapons and military-grade equipment seized in the state in recent months. The operation resulted in the seizure of more than 60 weapons along with large quantities of ammunition and war-like stores. However, what alarmed security agencies most was the recovery of sophisticated drone jammers from the United National Liberation Front, also known as UNLF(P), marking the first known instance of an Indian militant group possessing advanced Electronic Warfare (EW) capabilities of this kind.
According to reports, the operation was conducted in the Lamdeng area of Imphal West through a joint effort involving the Assam Rifles, the Central Reserve Police Force, and the Manipur Police.
The recovered cache reportedly included a wide range of sophisticated weaponry such as AK-series assault rifles, US-made M-series rifles, German HK-series rifles, carbines, shotguns, mortars, and RPG-7 rocket launchers. Security officials described the scale and variety of the seized weapons as highly concerning because they reflected access to advanced cross-border arms supply networks.
Among the most striking discoveries in the raid were drone jammers, including a backpack-style anti-drone system reportedly manufactured in Taiwan. Authorities also recovered at least two smaller handheld jamming devices resembling walkie-talkies.
Drone jammers are advanced electronic systems designed to interfere with communication between drones and their operators. They work by transmitting electromagnetic signals on the same radio frequencies used to control drones, effectively disrupting the original connection. This can disable video feeds, interrupt remote navigation systems, force drones to crash, or trigger automated “Return-to-Home” protocols.
Security experts noted that such portable EW systems are typically used only by specialised Signal units within the Indian Army. Similar anti-drone backpack systems are currently deployed with Signal units supporting Army and Rashtriya Rifles battalions operating under the Udhampur-based Northern Command, especially in regions facing high drone and IED threats.
Officials stated that each backpack jammer generally costs between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh, depending on configuration and operational range. Smaller handheld devices usually have a jamming capability of around one kilometre, while the larger backpack systems can reportedly disrupt drones operating up to five kilometres away.
The emergence of such technology in the hands of militant groups reflects the growing spread of drone warfare techniques beyond traditional battlefields. Drones and counter-drone technologies witnessed rapid development during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War, where both sides have heavily relied on drones for reconnaissance, targeting, and attacks.
The war accelerated the use of first-person-view drones, portable drone jammers, vehicle-mounted EW systems, and even advanced wire-guided and satellite-controlled drones designed to resist electronic jamming.
Security analysts believe a smaller but similar technological evolution is now taking place in Manipur’s ethnic conflict, which has continued since 2023 between Meitei groups and Kuki-Zo organisations.
Both sides in the violence have reportedly used or encountered commercial drones during clashes. According to reports, Kuki militant groups have used weaponised drones fitted with modified tail kits to drop explosives on villages and even target security personnel.
The recovery of drone jammers from militant groups,s therefore, suggests that insurgent organisations are adapting quickly and attempting to develop counter-drone capabilities. Experts believe such EW systems could potentially be used either to defend against rival militant groups or to disrupt surveillance drones operated by Indian security forces.
Authorities suspect that the jammers were smuggled into Manipur from neighbouring Myanmar, where a violent civil conflict has been ongoing since 2021 following the military coup.
Security officials believe the seizure has wider implications for India’s northeastern security environment because Myanmar’s conflict has increasingly become a major source of arms, drones, and advanced military technology flowing into insurgency-affected border regions.
A January 2026 report published by the London School of Economics reportedly described Myanmar as the world’s “second-biggest drone fight,” citing more than 2,100 separate drone strikes carried out by resistance groups across over 600 locations since 2021.
Myanmar-based rebel groups have extensively used drones against the Myanmar military and, according to reports, have even relied on foreign mercenaries and technical experts to support their operations.
In March this year, Indian authorities arrested seven foreign nationals under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act in connection with activities linked to Myanmar’s conflict.
The arrested individuals reportedly included six Ukrainian nationals and one American citizen who had entered Mizoram without permission and were allegedly returning after meeting Myanmar rebel forces.
The latest seizure has once again highlighted concerns regarding the porous India-Myanmar border, which security agencies increasingly view as a major vulnerability in the Northeast.
Officials believe that many of the small arms recovered during the May 20 operation were trafficked into India through Myanmar-based insurgent networks. Northeast militant groups have historically relied on organisations such as the Arakan Army and the Kachin Independence Army for access to weapons and logistical support.
However, experts now warn that the movement of advanced technologies such as drones and counter-drone EW systems into insurgency-hit regions presents an even more serious challenge for India’s internal security.
The recovery of sophisticated anti-drone equipment from militants in Manipur is therefore being viewed not only as a law-and-order concern but also as a signal of how rapidly evolving battlefield technologies from international conflicts are beginning to influence insurgencies and ethnic violence within India’s border regions.
