In a significant step towards modernising India’s border security operations, the Border Security Force (BSF) has inaugurated a School of Drone Warfare at its officers’ training academy in Tekanpur, Madhya Pradesh. The specialised institute will train BSF commandos in drone operations, anti-drone warfare, surveillance, and AI-enabled combat strategies—skills that have become critical in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor.
The BSF, tasked with securing the 2,290 km India-Pakistan International Border (IB), the 4,096 km India-Bangladesh border, and parts of the Line of Control (LoC) under Army command, will now equip its troops with cutting-edge drone warfare capabilities.
Five Specialised Courses for Drone Commandos
BSF Director General Daljit Singh Chawdhary, who inaugurated the institute, said the school will “prepare drone commandos and drone warriors” through five specialised courses covering:
- UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) operations
- Anti-drone warfare
- Surveillance and intelligence gathering
- Payload integration and night operations
- Use of RF (radio frequency) jammers and kinetic interceptors
The Tekanpur centre is equipped with live drone flying zones, simulators, AI and machine learning (ML) tools, and FPV (first-person view) piloting systems for kamikaze drones.
Lessons from Global and Indian Battlefields
Addressing officers after the inauguration, DG Chawdhary highlighted how drone warfare has transformed global conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war, as well as recent Indian operations. He cited Operation Sindoor, India’s precision retaliation against Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack, as a key example of drones’ strategic role in decisive outcomes.
He stressed the growing importance of AI, proactive drone use, and weaponised UAVs in shaping national security policies and future military doctrines.
Strengthening Border Security
With drone threats increasing along the western and eastern frontiers, the establishment of the Drone Warfare School marks a major leap in the BSF’s preparedness for next-generation warfare. Officials said the initiative will not only strengthen India’s border guarding troops but also serve as a model for integrating drone warfare into paramilitary training.
