Chile has reinforced its national security capabilities with the deployment of Indra’s CROW counter-drone system to protect the presidential inauguration of José Antonio Kast. Operating under the direction of the Chilean Air Force on March 11, 2026, the system secured the airspace above the National Congress in Valparaíso against sophisticated unmanned threats, ensuring the safety of assembled global leaders and delegations.
The CROW system is a highly adaptable, modular platform engineered for continuous, 24/7 protection of both static installations and moving convoys. For the inauguration, its vehicle-mounted configuration utilized an integrated suite of 3D radar, radiofrequency sensors, and AI-driven electro-optical cameras. This setup allows security forces to establish dynamic no-fly zones and deploy appropriate soft or hard-kill responses to neutralize hostile drones automatically.
This operation builds on a robust legacy of real-world effectiveness. CROW has successfully secured numerous high-profile events, including the NATO Summit in Madrid and the COP16 in Colombia. At the APEC 2024 summit in Lima, it showcased its precision by automatically classifying 94 drone intrusions and neutralizing 61 that entered the innermost protected zone. Beyond events, it is an active asset in military theaters, protecting European naval forces in Operation Atalanta and ground troops in Mali.
The timing of this deployment, just weeks before FIDAE 2026, underscores Indra’s strategic commitment to the Latin American market. At the exhibition, Indra will present a unified vision for airspace and critical infrastructure protection, combining CROW with its radar technologies, space capabilities via Hispasat, and advanced maintenance services.
Indra’s core differentiator is its focus on technological sovereignty. By integrating electronic warfare and air-defense systems into comprehensive command-and-control networks—and facilitating technology transfer to local industry—Indra allows nations to retain autonomous control over their security infrastructure. This is paramount in countering the rapidly evolving drone threat, where systems must be continuously updated. CROW’s inherent flexibility, supported by a local partner, provides a sustainable and sovereign solution to safeguard borders, military assets, and critical national events against the next generation of aerial threats.
