In one year, BSF forensically examined 190 drones to determine smuggling hotspots, vulnerable border patches

Over a one-year period, the Border Security Force (BSF) carried out forensic examination of 190 rouge drones recovered along the Indo-Pakistan Border to determine their technical specifications, origin, flight path and destination, which would enable the border guarding force to piece together a larger picture of drone-based smuggling activity.

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“All forensic analysis reports of aforementioned drones have been prepared and shared with the concerned field formations and sister agencies for taking a lead in investigation and mitigating the nefarious activities across the border,” a statement issued by the BSF on the occasion of its 59^th Raising Day said.

The number pertains to analysis drone from November 1, 2023, to October 31, 2024, by the Drone Forensic Laboratory of BSF’s Special Instrument Workshop in New Delhi. This laboratory was especially set up to counter the menace of drones.

Over 260 drones have been shot down or recovered by the BSF along the western borders over the past 12 months. Compared to this, 107 drones were downed last year. Most of the drones are of Chinese origin.

Drones from Pakistan are being used to smuggle narcotics, weapons, ammunition and fake currency. The trend of using drones began in 2018-19 and the usage has since increased consistently since they are difficult to detect because of their small signature, low height and unpredictable flight path.

Through forensic examination, the BSF can determine a drone’s point of launch, flight path, drop point, frequencies used for radio link and the number and route of past flights it has made. There have been instances where drones recovered along the India-Pakistan border had earlier flown in China.

This, according to BSF officers, helps discern trends and pinpoint areas of high drone activity, identify vulnerable spots and enable appropriate counter-measures. Details of past flights can also give useful inputs or clues for investigating cases of smuggling or reveal new occurrences.

Over the past few years, the BSF has been engaged in stepping up its efforts to counter rogue drones. A number of anti-drone systems have been deployed along the border to detect and neutralise drones and new drills and operating procedures have been devised.

The BSF has also launched a project called ‘Electronic Surveillance of Vulnerable Patches’ (ESVP). As many as 635 vulnerable patches, covering 484 km of the Indo-Pakistan and Indo-Bangladesh borders have been identified, which include riverine stretches and other areas that cannot be fenced due to terrain limitations.

These are being covered by Artificial Intelligence-based networks comprising various types of sensors and cameras. These are operated from dedicated command and control centres that receive an integrated feed.