logo
BSF raises 'drone squadron' for Indo-Pak border post-Operation Sindoor

BSF raises 'drone squadron' for Indo-Pak border post-Operation Sindoor

The Hindu5 days ago
The Border Security Force (BSF) is raising a maiden "drone squadron" for deployment along the India-Pakistan border even as it has begun "hardening" its defences and posts against lethal UAV attacks in the wake of lessons drawn during Operation Sindoor.
The squadron, to be based in specific border outposts (BoPs) at this front, will comprise an assortment of reconnaissance, surveillance and attack drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and specially-trained personnel who can operate these machines, official sources in the security establishment said.
The squadron will be navigated by a control room based in the western command headquarters of the BSF in Chandigarh, the sources said. The BSF is primarily tasked to guard the India-Pakistan international border (IB).
The decision to raise the unit was taken after a recent review of the strengths, weaknesses and threats facing the force post-Operation Sindoor.
The operation was launched by India to strike at terrorist and defence bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) as a retaliation against the Pahalgam attack of April 22 in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed in the Baisaran meadows.
The BSF actively participated in the operation, launched on May 7, along with the Army.
Pakistan sent thousands of drones, including a swarm of these flying objects, in response to Operation Sindoor to target Indian bases as well as civilian areas along the western front.
On May 10, a bomb-laden Pakistani drone dropped explosives at its border post Kharkola in the RS Pura sector of Jammu. Two BSF personnel and an Army jawan deployed at the post were killed while four troops were critically injured, with one of them undergoing a leg amputation during treatment.
Sources said the BSF drone squadron will be located in a specific number of BOPs located along the more than 2,000-km-long India-Pakistan border running from Jammu in the north to Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat on the western side of the country.
The squadron will be equipped with a variety of small and large surveillance, reconnaissance and attack drones that will be launched during operations or any 'hot war' like situation similar to Operation Sindoor, the sources in the security establishment said.
A small team of about 2-3 personnel each will be deployed in "vulnerable and specified" BOPs. Some drones and gadgetry are being procured for the maiden squadron and the personnel chosen for the task are being trained in batches, they said.
The BSF, learning from the May 10 drone attack, has also begun hardening its defences and bunkers, along the border with Pakistan to fend off attacks in which enemy drones cross over and drop bombs and explosives.
The roofs and walls of the BOP bunkers are being strengthened using alloy sheets. Some more measures are being taken to fortify the posts that are vulnerable to drone attacks, sources said as they refused to elaborate, citing operational confidentiality.
A BSF officer deployed along this front added that the force is in touch with defence research and intelligence agencies to deploy counter-drone machines at select border posts so that "rogue or armed drones" flying in from across the frontier can be neutralised.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said that the BSF destroyed more than 118 Pakistani posts and "completely dismantled" their surveillance system during Operation Sindoor.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Logistics management was deciding factor in success of Op Sindoor: Rajnath Singh
Logistics management was deciding factor in success of Op Sindoor: Rajnath Singh

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

Logistics management was deciding factor in success of Op Sindoor: Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said logistics management by various agencies was a deciding factor in the success of Operation Sindoor launched by the Indian armed forces in May, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan post the Pahalgam attack . Singh was addressing students and faculty members virtually at the 3rd convocation ceremony of Vadodara-based Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, a university under the Ministry of Railways. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category others Management Product Management MCA Data Science CXO Public Policy Others Leadership MBA Healthcare Digital Marketing Operations Management Artificial Intelligence Finance Data Analytics Design Thinking Data Science Technology PGDM Cybersecurity Degree healthcare Project Management Skills you'll gain: Duration: 16 Weeks Indian School of Business CERT - ISB Cybersecurity for Leaders Program India Starts on undefined Get Details "The speed at which the world is changing is both impressive and shocking. The defence sector is also transforming, and major changes are being witnessed in the methods of warfare. In today's era, wars are not won by guns and bullets alone, but by their time-bound delivery," the minister said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Knee Pain? This Morning Trick Helps Wellnee Singh stressed that the handling of logistics decides a country's fate on the battlefield. Victory and defeat are decided by logistics, and the whole world had witnessed this during Operation Sindoor, he said. Live Events "Logistics management was a deciding factor in the success of Operation Sindoor. The way various agencies managed logistics right from mobilisation of our armed forces to delivering the required material at the right place at the right time has proved to be a deciding factor in the success of the operation," Singh said. He said logistics should not be seen only as a process of delivering goods, but must be considered a strategically important sector. "It is logistics that makes a battlefield a battlefield. Without logistics, it will become a confusion zone. There is no meaning if arms and ammunition don't reach the right place at the right time during a war. The stronger our logistics management is, the stronger our borders will be," he said. "Today, we are in a time where power is not measured only by weapons, but by timely resource management. Be it war, disaster or global pandemic, it has been proven that a nation which keeps its logistics chain strong is the most stable, secure and capable," he said. For the Army, logistics means that weapons, fuel, rations and medicines reach remote areas without delay, and for the Navy, it is important to ensure that spare parts and other equipment are available to the ships in time, Singh said. "And, it is important for our Air Force to ensure that the jets continue their flights without any hindrance with the help of ground support and uninterrupted fuel supply. Just imagine, if we have advanced missile systems but the electronics needed to launch them don't arrive in time, then that technology is of no use," the minister said. He said the 'PM Gati Shakti' initiative by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is an extension of the idea of logistics integration. Under this initiative, a multi-modal logistics ecosystem is being created by integrating modes of transport such as roads, railways, waterways and air transport, Singh said. PTI

'Guns don't win wars anymore': Rajnath Singh credits Operation Sindoor's success to logistics; says military strength now depends on timely resource delivery
'Guns don't win wars anymore': Rajnath Singh credits Operation Sindoor's success to logistics; says military strength now depends on timely resource delivery

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

'Guns don't win wars anymore': Rajnath Singh credits Operation Sindoor's success to logistics; says military strength now depends on timely resource delivery

'Operation Sindoor' not just military action but India's attack on terrorism: Rajnath Singh NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said that Operation Sindoor , launched in May as India's response to the Pahalgam terror attack , succeeded not just due to firepower, but because of logistics. 'Victory and defeat are decided by logistics. The whole world witnessed this during Operation Sindoor,' Singh said during a virtual address at the 3rd convocation of Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, a logistics-focused university under the ministry of railways. He said the operation, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan, showcased how the coordination of multiple agencies ensured 'the required material reached the right place at the right time.' Calling it the defining factor in modern warfare, Singh said, 'Wars are not won by guns and bullets alone, but by their time-bound delivery.' He emphasized that logistics must be treated as a strategic asset, not just a supply chain function. 'It is logistics that makes a battlefield a battlefield. Without logistics, it becomes a confusion zone.' Using real-world examples from the armed forces, Singh said logistics meant different things across the Army, Navy and Air Force, 'For the Army, it means weapons, fuel, rations and medicines reaching remote areas. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo For the Navy, it's about spare parts and equipment reaching ships. For the Air Force, uninterrupted ground support and fuel supply is key.' He warned that even advanced technology was futile without timely logistics. 'Just imagine, if we have advanced missile systems but the electronics needed to launch them don't arrive in time, then that technology is of no use.' Singh tied this philosophy to the government's civilian infrastructure vision, praising the PM Gati Shakti initiative. 'It's an extension of the idea of logistics integration, building a multi-modal ecosystem across road, rail, water and air.' His message to the students was clear, 'A nation which keeps its logistics chain strong is the most stable, secure and capable.'

Army veterans laud NCERT's move to include Op Sindoor in school textbooks
Army veterans laud NCERT's move to include Op Sindoor in school textbooks

Hans India

timean hour ago

  • Hans India

Army veterans laud NCERT's move to include Op Sindoor in school textbooks

The National Council of Educational Research and Training's (NCERT) decision to include 'Operation Sindoor' in school textbooks has sparked widespread appreciation among retired military officers, who hailed the move as a milestone in instilling patriotism and awareness about national security in the younger generation. Colonel Rajiv Khakera (Retd.), from the Army's Core of Air Defence, expressed immense pride over the inclusion. 'We all saw how the Army, through precision gunfire and missile systems, carried out a tremendous job during Operation Sindoor. It is a matter of great happiness that every child in the country will now learn about this heroic chapter. It will serve as a strong motivational factor for joining the Army,' he told IANS on Sunday. Lt. Colonel Kapil Dutt (Retd.) echoed similar sentiments, terming the NCERT's decision 'very good'. He added, 'Young students will be highly encouraged. Learning about Operation Sindoor in detail will ignite a sense of service and inspire many to take up careers in the armed forces.' Operation Sindoor, widely regarded as a decisive counter-terrorism operation, has emerged as a defining moment in India's internal security strategy. Its inclusion in school curricula, veterans believe, will ensure that the legacy of those who served with courage is preserved for future generations. General P.S. Malhotra (Retd.) welcomed the move while also appreciating Prime Minister Narendra Modi's outreach initiatives like 'Mann Ki Baat'. 'I hope 'Mann Ki Baat' continues well beyond 200 episodes. The Prime Minister is truly connected with the people. As for Operation Sindoor, its addition to NCERT books is a great decision that strengthens our national identity.' Wing Commander Praful Bakshi (Retd.) highlighted the symbolic importance of the operation. 'It is essential for school children, college students, and the public to understand the impact of Operation Sindoor. It has now become a symbol -- one that marks the beginning of the end of terrorism in India.' The move by NCERT is expected to be implemented in the upcoming academic cycle and is being seen as part of a broader push to integrate military history and national pride into India's education system.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store