Army assumes responsibility for monitoring drones along borders with China and Pakistan

The Indian Army has taken charge of monitoring flying objects within 35 km of India’s borders and up to a height of three kilometres to counter enemy drone intrusions, amid the growing use of surveillance and armed drones along the western and northern frontiers, as per a HT report. The move follows Pakistan’s use of armed drones against Indian Army and Air Force formations during Operation Sindoor.

The Army now conducts 97% of drone and anti-drone activity within the 35 km land and three km air envelope. To support this, air command and control centres are being established along the borders with China and Pakistan to monitor cross-border drone activity, launch Indian drones and neutralise hostile platforms. Area Corps Commanders will coordinate closely with area Indian Air Force commanders and other agencies, the report said.

Army is working to acquire the capacity to operate around 10,000 drones along the western theatre and more than 20,000 drones along the 3,488-km Line of Actual Control. The expanded monitoring regime was introduced after Pakistan deployed Turkish and Chinese-origin armed drones to target Indian Army and Air Force formations during Operation Sindoor. The People’s Liberation Army also deploys drones extensively across the eastern theatre to monitor Indian Army activity along the LAC, according to the report.

In addition, the Army has already deployed two rocket force units, two combined arms brigades known as Rudra brigades, and 21 Bhairav battalions. The effective range of Indian artillery brigades has been increased from 150 km to 1,000 km across borders. The raising of rocket forces followed China’s deployment of rocket regiments across the LAC in eastern Ladakh after its May 2020 transgressions and Pakistan’s use of Fatah-1 and Fatah-2 rockets during Operation Sindoor, the report added.

India launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of May 7, striking terror and military installations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir before a ceasefire came into effect on May 10. The conflict involved fighter jets, missiles, armed drones and intense artillery exchanges, the report said.

Bilateral relations between India and China deteriorated sharply after the deadly clash in the Galwan Valley in 2020. The prolonged face-off effectively ended after the completion of the disengagement process at Demchok and Depsang, the last two friction points, under an agreement finalised on October 21, 2024.

The introduction of Bhairav battalions is aimed at ensuring that Special Forces are used for strategic operations deep inside enemy territory with armed and surveillance drones and loitering ammunition, while Bhairavs are assigned tactical roles along the border, the report said. The changes in deployment strategy and the emphasis on additional weaponry come at a time when Pakistan has acquired armed drones, radars, missiles and rockets in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor.