The Border Security Force (BSF), tasked with safeguarding India’s borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh, has taken a bold leap into modern warfare by inaugurating its cutting-edge ‘School of Drone Warfare’ in Tekanpur, Madhya Pradesh. Launched on Tuesday by BSF Director General Daljit Singh Chawdhary, the facility aims to train specialized “drone commandos” and “drone warriors” to dominate future battlefields using advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This move comes in response to lessons learned from Operation Sindoor, a drone-centric military operation against Pakistan, and the growing threat of aerial incursions along India’s borders.
The School of Drone Warfare, established at the BSF’s officers’ training academy, is designed to equip troops with the skills needed to counter modern strategic challenges. Offering five specialized courses, the institute covers UAV operations, anti-drone warfare, surveillance, intelligence gathering, and the use of cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). The facility boasts state-of-the-art simulators, live drone flying zones, payload integration systems, night operation capabilities, radio frequency (RF) jammers, and kinetic interceptors, ensuring comprehensive training for real-world combat scenarios.
During the inauguration, DG Chawdhary emphasized the transformative role of drones in modern conflicts, drawing insights from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and India’s Operation Sindoor, launched in May 2025 as a retaliatory strike following the Pahalgam terror attack. He highlighted the strategic importance of AI, ML, and first-person view (FPV) systems for kamikaze drones, underscoring their potential to deliver decisive outcomes in combat. “Drones are reshaping warfare, and our troops must be ready to lead in this new era,” Chawdhary told trainee officers, reflecting on the need for proactive and weaponized drone use to secure India’s borders.
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The BSF’s focus on drone warfare follows its successful deployment during Operation Sindoor, where 18 personnel were awarded gallantry medals, including two posthumous Vir Chakras, for their bravery against Pakistani drone swarms. The force’s 2.65 lakh personnel are now prioritizing drone squadrons, with plans to deploy them at key border outposts along the 2,290-km India-Pakistan International Border and the 4,096-km India-Bangladesh front. These squadrons, equipped with reconnaissance, surveillance, and attack drones, aim to counter threats like Chinese-made Pakistani drones used to smuggle drugs, weapons, and ammunition into India.
The school’s establishment marks a pivotal step in modernizing India’s border security strategy, preparing the BSF to tackle evolving threats from hostile UAVs and smugglers. As global warfare increasingly relies on autonomous systems, the BSF’s drone warriors are set to play a critical role in safeguarding the nation, ensuring readiness for future conflicts in an era defined by technology-driven battles.
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