Overview

• The Tekanpur-based program is the BSF’s first dedicated drone warfare school, with 40 officers completing a week-long orientation and 47 personnel now in a six-week Drone Commando course.
• The school is structured into Flying and Piloting, Tactics, and Research & Development wings, with a tactics-first approach that trains officers and soldiers together.
• Flagship Drone Commando and Drone Warrior courses cover piloting, repairs, rapid assembly in roughly 50 seconds, weaponisation, counter-drone measures, and integration of UAV patrols into border management.
• Field drills such as the 'Drone Vajra' exercise replicate Jammu and Punjab border conditions and factor in electromagnetic interference, wind, and sun-angle effects on surveillance.
• BSF officials say integrated counter-UAV systems with spoofers, jammers, detectors, and soft- and hard-kill options are being developed, with jammers and radar trainers procured and a Rs 20 crore program underway for additional systems.