News Analysis India

Tag: drone

  • BSF intercepts four Pakistani drones, downs three along Punjab border in 24 hours

    By PTI

    JALANDHAR: The Border Security Force (BSF) intercepted four Pakistani drones and shot down three of them along the International Border in Punjab in four different incidents in over 24 hours, a spokesperson of the force said on Saturday.

    While three drones were intercepted by the BSF on Friday night, the fourth one was shot down on Saturday night.

    The first drone, a black quadcopter of “DJI Matrice 300 RTK” make, was recovered from Udhar Dhariwal village in Amritsar district, the spokesperson said.

    BSF troops intercepted this unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) by firing around 9 pm on Friday, he said.

    The second drone, a quadcopter of the same make, was recovered from Rattan Khurd village in Amritsar district after troops fired at it around 9.30 pm.

    Two packets attached to the drone containing 2.6 kg of suspected heroin were also recovered from the UAV that was found in Rattan Khurd village, the spokesperson added.

    A third drone was intercepted on Friday night along this front. However, it could not be recovered as it fell on the Pakistani side, he said.

    CCTV footage showed people collecting this third drone from the Pakistan side, the spokesperson said.

    The fourth drone “violated Indian airspace on Saturday night and was intercepted by firing in the jurisdiction of the Amritsar sector.”

    “The drone and a bag of suspected narcotics have been recovered,” the official said.

    JALANDHAR: The Border Security Force (BSF) intercepted four Pakistani drones and shot down three of them along the International Border in Punjab in four different incidents in over 24 hours, a spokesperson of the force said on Saturday.

    While three drones were intercepted by the BSF on Friday night, the fourth one was shot down on Saturday night.

    The first drone, a black quadcopter of “DJI Matrice 300 RTK” make, was recovered from Udhar Dhariwal village in Amritsar district, the spokesperson said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    BSF troops intercepted this unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) by firing around 9 pm on Friday, he said.

    The second drone, a quadcopter of the same make, was recovered from Rattan Khurd village in Amritsar district after troops fired at it around 9.30 pm.

    Two packets attached to the drone containing 2.6 kg of suspected heroin were also recovered from the UAV that was found in Rattan Khurd village, the spokesperson added.

    A third drone was intercepted on Friday night along this front. However, it could not be recovered as it fell on the Pakistani side, he said.

    CCTV footage showed people collecting this third drone from the Pakistan side, the spokesperson said.

    The fourth drone “violated Indian airspace on Saturday night and was intercepted by firing in the jurisdiction of the Amritsar sector.”

    “The drone and a bag of suspected narcotics have been recovered,” the official said.

  • Drone with 3 kg heroin seized near India-Pakistan border in Punjab’s Tarn Taran 

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: A drone along with three kg of heroin was recovered near the India-Pakistan border in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district, a top officer of the state police said on Sunday. 

    The recovery was made in a joint operation of the Punjab Police and the Border Security Force.

    “Carrying on the special drive against trans-border smuggling networks, Tarn Taran Police and BSF, in a joint operation have recovered a quadcopter drone with 3 kg heroin during a search in an area of PS Valtoha, Tarn Taran,” said Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav in a tweet.

    This comes a day after the Border Security Force recovered about 25 kg of heroin, which was airdropped by a Pakistani drone in the Fazilka district.

    On the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, a drone was found from a field near the India-Pakistan border in the Tarn Taran district along with over 5 kg of heroin, police had said.

    On Monday, two Pakistani drones, carrying around 10 kg of heroin, were gunned down by the BSF along the India-Pakistan border in Amritsar and Tarn Taran.

    On Wednesday, a broken quadcopter drone was recovered from the area of village Van Tara Singh in Khalra in Tarn Taran.

    CHANDIGARH: A drone along with three kg of heroin was recovered near the India-Pakistan border in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district, a top officer of the state police said on Sunday. 

    The recovery was made in a joint operation of the Punjab Police and the Border Security Force.

    “Carrying on the special drive against trans-border smuggling networks, Tarn Taran Police and BSF, in a joint operation have recovered a quadcopter drone with 3 kg heroin during a search in an area of PS Valtoha, Tarn Taran,” said Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav in a tweet.

    This comes a day after the Border Security Force recovered about 25 kg of heroin, which was airdropped by a Pakistani drone in the Fazilka district.

    On the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, a drone was found from a field near the India-Pakistan border in the Tarn Taran district along with over 5 kg of heroin, police had said.

    On Monday, two Pakistani drones, carrying around 10 kg of heroin, were gunned down by the BSF along the India-Pakistan border in Amritsar and Tarn Taran.

    On Wednesday, a broken quadcopter drone was recovered from the area of village Van Tara Singh in Khalra in Tarn Taran.

  • Pak drone spotted close to international border in Punjab, returns after BSF troops open fire 

    By PTI

    FEROZEPUR: A drone from Pakistan was spotted close to the international border here, said officials on Saturday.

    The unmanned aerial vehicle flew back to Pakistan after the Border Security Force troops fired at it, they said.

    The BSF personnel fired at least 18 rounds towards the drone, they said.

    A search operation is underway, they said.

    On the night of October 27, the BSF had recovered a huge cache of firearms and ammunition in the Ferozepur sector.

    The BSF troops had recovered a bag along the Indo-Pakistan border and had found six AK-47 assault rifles, three pistols and 200 live rounds from it.  

    FEROZEPUR: A drone from Pakistan was spotted close to the international border here, said officials on Saturday.

    The unmanned aerial vehicle flew back to Pakistan after the Border Security Force troops fired at it, they said.

    The BSF personnel fired at least 18 rounds towards the drone, they said.

    A search operation is underway, they said.

    On the night of October 27, the BSF had recovered a huge cache of firearms and ammunition in the Ferozepur sector.

    The BSF troops had recovered a bag along the Indo-Pakistan border and had found six AK-47 assault rifles, three pistols and 200 live rounds from it.  

  • Indian Army to get high and medium-altitude logistics drones

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: In a bid to strengthen the logistics capabilities in high-altitude areas the Indian Army has floated a Request For Proposal (RFP) to procure drones through the emergency procurement route through fast track procedure. As per the plan, the Indian Army is looking for 163 drones to be operable at the high altitude while the remaining 200 at medium altitudes with accessories. 

    The Ministry of Defence (MoD), intends to procure quantity 163 Logistic Drones (High Altitude) and 200 Logistic Drones (Medium Altitude) along with Accessories under Buy (Indian) category and seeks participation in the procurement process from prospective Bidders subject to requirements in succeeding paragraphs.

    As per the Defence Ministry, the mandate is to have 60 per cent indigenous content.

    The responses have been sought from Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) or Authorised Vendors or Government Sponsored Export Agencies (applicable in the case of countries where domestic laws do not permit direct export by OEM) subject to the condition that in cases where the same equipment is offered by more than one of the aforementioned parties, preference would be given to the OEM.

    As per the brief, the drones should be compatible with Defence Series Map and Shape file format with a mission range of not less than 10 km. Also, 163 drones with an operational altitude of not less than 4000m AMSL (Approx 13,000ft) and 200 drones should be compatible to operate from 3000m AGL (Approx 9800ft).

    The drones should consist of one audiovisual per system, one MPGCS, one colour day video camera, a Monochromatic night Thermal Sensor, a container for carriage of stores and one set of a spare battery.

    Weight of the drones should not be more than 100 Kg (+10%) but suitable to withstand high altitude strong wind currents/ gusts.

    The endurance of both the drones should be minimum of 40 minutes with a payload capacity of about 15 Kg for High Altitude drone and not less than 20kg for the medium altitude drone. In medium altitude, the operational altitude should be 3000m AMSL and 1000m AGL (above ground level).

    The drones will have multiple use including ferrying ammunition, food, fuel and even medicines, said a source.

    “This RFP is being issued with no financial commitment; and the Ministry of Defence reserves the right to withdraw the RFP and change or vary any part thereof or foreclose the procurement case at any stage,” the RFP reads. 

    NEW DELHI: In a bid to strengthen the logistics capabilities in high-altitude areas the Indian Army has floated a Request For Proposal (RFP) to procure drones through the emergency procurement route through fast track procedure. As per the plan, the Indian Army is looking for 163 drones to be operable at the high altitude while the remaining 200 at medium altitudes with accessories. 

    The Ministry of Defence (MoD), intends to procure quantity 163 Logistic Drones (High Altitude) and 200 Logistic Drones (Medium Altitude) along with Accessories under Buy (Indian) category and seeks participation in the procurement process from prospective Bidders subject to requirements in succeeding paragraphs.

    As per the Defence Ministry, the mandate is to have 60 per cent indigenous content.

    The responses have been sought from Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) or Authorised Vendors or Government Sponsored Export Agencies (applicable in the case of countries where domestic laws do not permit direct export by OEM) subject to the condition that in cases where the same equipment is offered by more than one of the aforementioned parties, preference would be given to the OEM.

    As per the brief, the drones should be compatible with Defence Series Map and Shape file format with a mission range of not less than 10 km. Also, 163 drones with an operational altitude of not less than 4000m AMSL (Approx 13,000ft) and 200 drones should be compatible to operate from 3000m AGL (Approx 9800ft).

    The drones should consist of one audiovisual per system, one MPGCS, one colour day video camera, a Monochromatic night Thermal Sensor, a container for carriage of stores and one set of a spare battery.

    Weight of the drones should not be more than 100 Kg (+10%) but suitable to withstand high altitude strong wind currents/ gusts.

    The endurance of both the drones should be minimum of 40 minutes with a payload capacity of about 15 Kg for High Altitude drone and not less than 20kg for the medium altitude drone. In medium altitude, the operational altitude should be 3000m AMSL and 1000m AGL (above ground level).

    The drones will have multiple use including ferrying ammunition, food, fuel and even medicines, said a source.

    “This RFP is being issued with no financial commitment; and the Ministry of Defence reserves the right to withdraw the RFP and change or vary any part thereof or foreclose the procurement case at any stage,” the RFP reads. 

  • BSF shoots down second drone in three days along Pak border in Punjab 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI/ AMRITSAR: The Border Security Force shot down a quad-copter drone on Sunday night along the India-Pakistan international border in the Amritsar region, officials said.

    This is the second such incident in the last three days at this frontier.

    The drone weighing 12 kg had four propellers, intercepted and shot around 9.15 pm near the Rania border post in Amritsar sector by the troops of the 22nd Battalion of the BSF, they said.

    Some consignment that was loaded and being ferried by the drone was also recovered.

    More details are awaited, a BSF spokesperson said.

    In a similar incident that took place on the intervening night of October 13-14 the BSF shot down a large (quad copter) Pakistani drone in the Gurdaspur sector of Punjab.

    NEW DELHI/ AMRITSAR: The Border Security Force shot down a quad-copter drone on Sunday night along the India-Pakistan international border in the Amritsar region, officials said.

    This is the second such incident in the last three days at this frontier.

    The drone weighing 12 kg had four propellers, intercepted and shot around 9.15 pm near the Rania border post in Amritsar sector by the troops of the 22nd Battalion of the BSF, they said.

    Some consignment that was loaded and being ferried by the drone was also recovered.

    More details are awaited, a BSF spokesperson said.

    In a similar incident that took place on the intervening night of October 13-14 the BSF shot down a large (quad copter) Pakistani drone in the Gurdaspur sector of Punjab.

  • Pakistan drone spotted in Punjab’s Gurdaspur sector 

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: BSF troops opened fire at a drone from Pakistan along the International Border in Punjab’s Gurdaspur sector on Tuesday, officials said.

    Border Security Force (BSF) troops heard a buzzing sound of the flying object in the early hours and opened fire, officials said.

    Search operations have been launched in the area to check if any packages were dropped by the drone in Indian territory, they said.

    CHANDIGARH: BSF troops opened fire at a drone from Pakistan along the International Border in Punjab’s Gurdaspur sector on Tuesday, officials said.

    Border Security Force (BSF) troops heard a buzzing sound of the flying object in the early hours and opened fire, officials said.

    Search operations have been launched in the area to check if any packages were dropped by the drone in Indian territory, they said.

  • Garuda Aerospace deploys drones to support rescue efforts in flood-hit Assam

    By PTI

    CHENNAI: Drone start-up Garuda Aerospace has deployed emergency delivery drones in Assam to support the rescue efforts, following heavy floods and landslides in the state, the company said on Friday.

    According to the city-based company, the drones were used to deliver emergency food and medicine packets to people affected by the floods.

    “Garuda Aerospace has deployed White Knight Delivery Drones in Assam to support the state disaster management department’s rescue efforts amid the ongoing floods and landslide situation,” a company statement said.

    According to Garuda Aerospace Founder-CEO Agnishwar Jayaprakash, the White Knight Drones were used extensively during the Covid-19 enforced lockdown to deliver medicines and other emergency supplies in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh and Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

    ALSO READ | Dhoni invests in drone start-up Garuda Aerospace, roped in as brand ambassador

    Recently, food aggregator Swiggy partnered with Garuda Aerospace for taking up delivery of packages for their Instamart Dark stores through drones, the statement added.

    The flood situation in Assam was critical on Friday with 45.34 lakh people reeling under the deluge, officials said, adding that the toll has risen to 108 with seven deaths reported in the last 24 hours.

    The Brahmaputra and Barak rivers along with their tributaries are in spate, even as floodwaters started receding from few areas, they said.

  • Security forces alert to threat of drones from across border: BSF officer

    Threat of drones were present everywhere along the Indo-Pakistan border but security forces are alert to foil any nefarious design from across the border and to ensure the protection of the people.

  • BSF fires at Pakistan drone, foils drugs, weapon smuggling bid in Punjab

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Border Security Force (BSF) on Wednesday claimed to have foiled a narcotics and weapon smuggling bid by a drone along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab.

    A senior official of the force said troops fired at the drone after they heard a “buzzing sound of a suspected flying object coming from the Pakistani side to the Indian side” around 1 am in the Panjgrain area of Gurdaspur sector.

    “During search in the area of village Ghaggar and Singhoke, two packets of yellow colour with suspected contraband have been recovered so far,” the senior officer said. It is suspected that the drone dropped the packets, he added.

    A pistol was also seen wrapped in the packet, and the consignment was found in the field about 2.7 km from the fence, the officer said.

    A search is on to find if the drone too was downed or if it escaped, he added.

  • Maharashtra: Drone used for transportation of COVID vaccines in remote village as part of trial

    By PTI

    PALGHAR: The district administration of Palghar in Maharashtra carried out an experiment, in which it used a drone to deliver COVID-19 vaccine doses in a remote village situated in a rugged terrain, its top official said.

    The experiment, which was successfully carried out on Thursday, is probably the first of its kind in the state, district collector Dr Manik Gursal, who coordinated in the trial, said.

    “As part of the exercise, a batch of 300 vaccines was transported from Jawhar to Zaap village. The task, which would have otherwise taken more than 40 minutes, was completed in just a little over nine minutes. The vaccines were delivered at the local public health centre,” the district administration said in a release issued on Friday.

    The distance between the two points is around 20 kms, an official said.

    District health officer Dr Dayanand Suryavanshi said this could become possible with the help of private entities that came forward to help.

    “This will go a long way in the vaccination drive as the doses can now easily be sent to the doorsteps of those villagers, who find it difficult to reach the inoculation centres. To some extent, it will also help remove the misconceptions related to vaccination from the minds of people,” he said.