To tackle UAV threat, BSF to buy anti-drone system

FEROZEPUR: In order to combat the threat posed by unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) from across the border, the BSF will soon purchase a ground-based anti-drone system with a 360-degree surveillance mode equipped with radio frequency receiver, electronic-optical sensor and a jammer.

The BSF has started sensitising the border residents about the need to identify drones.

Anirudh Gupta

Ferozepur, October 14

In order to combat the threat posed by unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) from across the border, the BSF will soon purchase a ground-based anti-drone system with a 360-degree surveillance mode equipped with radio frequency receiver, electronic-optical sensor and a jammer.

Sources said the tenders for the system would be floated soon. The easily deployable anti-drone equipment will be able to work day and night and able to detect multiple drones simultaneously.

In addition to procuring the state-of-the-art system, the BSF has also stepped up vigil and devised several other counter measures to deal with air intrusions in future.

“We had fired on the drones when these were sighted last time. Since then, no drone has been seen,” said a BSF official, adding that the troops manning the border had been directed to scan the skies regularly.

Rubbishing recent reports of the force ‘getting a nod’ to bring down the drones, the official said the option of opening fire in any such exigency was already available to them and was being exercised.

The sources said in places like Ferozepur and Amritsar where the cantonment was located close to the border, the drones were also used for tactical surveillance.

Apart from boosting its technological prowess, the BSF has also started sensitising the border residents about the need to identify drones or flying objects.

According to information, the Central and state security and intelligence agencies have also evolved a joint strategy to deal with any such misadventure along the border.

Though there have been no sightings of drones in the past few days, the security agencies are working out a strategy to prevent any possibility of arms and drug smuggling through the UAVs.

Last week, Punjab DGP Dinkar Gupta had also convened a meeting of various security establishments, including the Air Force, Military Intelligence, BSF, Intelligence Bureau, NIA besides other intelligence agencies.

The meeting was called following the seizure of a huge cache of arms, satellite phones and grenades from the modules backed by Pakistan-based handlers of Khalistan Zindabad Force which were dropped by drones.