NEW DELHI
Following lessons from Operation Sindoor, the Border Security Force (BSF) has made drone warfare a compulsory part of its training curriculum, officials said on Sunday. A dedicated drone school has been launched to enable reliance on indigenous tools for modern combat.
Shamsher Singh, director of the BSF academy, stated that the revised training includes theory, hands-on flying, anti-drone tactics, and technology deployment. The first batch of 45 personnel has completed courses titled ‘Drone Commando’ for jawans and ‘Drone Warriors’ for officers, with the second batch in progress. The target is to train approximately 500 personnel annually. The force Is also raising its first drone squadron, to be stationed across the 2,000-km India-Pakistan border in Jammu, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. Each squadron will consist of 2-3 trained personnel. Around ₹20 crore has been allocated for gadgets, simulators, and advanced equipment.
Officials emphasized that drone training draws on strategies from global conflicts, including the Russia-Ukraine war, and may be integrated with armed forces’ assets during wartime. The BSF has signed MoUs with IITs and government institutes to develop long-term counter-drone strategies. During Operation Sindoor in May, drones and loitering munitions posed significant challenges after the Pahalgam terror attack. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan highlighted the revolutionary potential of UAVs in modern warfare. Eighteen BSF personnel received gallantry medals for their role, including two posthumously, underlining the importance of drone technology for India’s border security.