Indian Army Assumes Role Of Defending Air Littorals Along Pakistan, China Borders
The Indian Army is strengthening air littoral defence along the Pakistan and China borders, taking charge of counter-drone operations to track and neutralise unmanned threats near the LoC and LAC. Image courtesy: AI generated picture via DALL-E
With the threat from enemy drones along the borders growing in recent times, the Indian Army has taken over the responsibility of the air littoral to keep track of unmanned operations in the range of 35 km from the border and an altitude of 3 km.
Drones are now being used by India’s enemies, particularly in the western border, for intelligence gathering, surveillance of Indian military activities near the border areas, and reconnaissance of defence positions.
Why has the Army taken over the air littoral role?
The Army taking over the role along the border came against the backdrop of the May 2025 Operation Sindoor to destroy terror infrastructure and military installations inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied territory.
During the Operation Sindoor, the Army had noticed heightened use of drones for both intelligence gathering and tartetting of civilian areas along the borders in Jammu and Kashmir.
How has Pakistan increased drone use along the border?
Pakistan had deployed unarmed reconnaissance drones, loitering munitions, and armed drones during India’s Operation Sindoor, including Turkish Bayraktar TB2, Songar, Chinese CH-4, Wing Loong II, Burraq, and Shahpar.
Pakistan used these drones for ISR, swarm attacks, radar mapping, and potential strikes on Indian military and civilian sites, Army officials said.
How does China deploy drones along the LAC?
During India’s military standoff with China between 2020 and 2024, China had extensively deployed drones for ISR activities.
The Indian Army also conducted drone operations and counterdrone operations during both the China and Pakistan military conflicts in the last five years.
How is the Indian Army is prepared to defend the air littoral?
The Indian Army has been preparing to take on the role of defending the air littorals along the borders with both Pakistan and China.
It has now the capacity to monitor the drone activities along the Line of Control and Line of Actual Control and to defend India’s territory through counterdrone operations, as was seen during the Ladakh conflict and Operation Sindoor.
The Indian Army was also planning to build capacity and increase capabilities through procurement of 10,000 drones for deployment along the LoC and 20,000 drones along LAC.
