BSF to Establish Drone Squadrons Along Pakistan Border After Operation Sindoor

The Union government has approved the formation of specialized drone squadrons within the Border Security Force (BSF) to counter aerial threats—particularly in response to the large-scale drone swarms witnessed during Operation Sindoor.

Strategic Positioning & Operational Framework
The squadrons will be stationed at carefully chosen Border Outposts (BOPs) along the 3,323-km stretch of the India–Pakistan border, covering areas from Gujarat to Jammu & Kashmir.

Each squadron will include a mix of surveillance drones, reconnaissance platforms, long-range strike drones, and kamikaze UAVs.

Select BSF personnel are undergoing advanced training in drone warfare, including anti-drone tactics, signal disruption, and precision targeting. At each BOP, only 2–3 trained operators will be deployed, with operations coordinated from a central command hub at BSF’s Chandigarh battalion headquarters.

Why the Rapid Rollout?
The plan was accelerated after the May 7–10 cross-border drone incursions during Operation Sindoor, where close to 1,000 hostile UAVs entered Indian airspace—highlighting the urgent need for proactive aerial defense.

Before this upgrade, BSF relied mainly on ground-based countermeasures, such as destroying 118 Pakistani posts in retaliatory strikes near Jammu.

Officials noted that while the Army’s drone programs had been in development for the past 3–4 years, Operation Sindoor placed them on top priority, with funding assured to meet operational needs.

Reinforcing Border Defenses
In addition to aerial countermeasures, BSF is upgrading bunkers and outposts with stronger construction to better withstand drone or missile strikes.

Summary
The BSF is set to roll out its first dedicated drone squadrons to secure the India–Pakistan border, marking a significant leap towards technology-driven border security and airspace defense following the unprecedented drone activity of Operation Sindoor.