To tackle the growing threat from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), the Indian Air Force (IAF) has deployed counter-drone systems at its bases, an official said on Sunday.
"With the proliferation of many small models of drones…there is an increased risk to aircraft, more so in the vicinity of the airfield areas. Additionally, drone strikes have emerged as major threats to military installations and must be detected early enough to protect assets and troops," Air Commodore Shekhar Yadav, who serves as the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) of the Air Force Station (AFS), Pune said.
"To address this, the Air Force has installed counter-drone systems at its bases which involve soft kill as well as hard kill on unidentified flying objects. Therefore, the public or any organisation is requested to seek clearance from the closest airport or Air Force Station before undertaking any drone flying,” the officer said," he added.
Drones have already become a cause of concern for the Indian Armed Forces at the country's northwestern borders with Pakistan, where the neighboring nation is allegedly using UAVs to smuggle arms and narcotics into India.
The latest episode of a drone being shot down by India's Border Security Force (BSF) came in the Ferozepur district of Punjab on Friday.