Indian Navy To Boost Surveillance Capabilities Amid Border Standoff With China; To Buy 10 New Shipborne Drones

The Indian Navy as proposed to urgently buy 10 shipborne drones in order to monitor the activities of China, Pakistan or other adversaries.

(File Photo/ AFP)

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing border dispute with neighbouring China along the Line of Actual Control at Eastern Ladakh, the Indian Defence wing is trying to be more active on all three fronts of its national boundaries. From receiving Rafale jets to ordering deadly missiles from Russia, India is making its Defence mechanism prepared to face any sort of threat.  As per the latest development, the country has put in more focus on its oceanic routes and plans to boost surveillance capabilities against enemy warships operating in the Indian Ocean region. According to the reports, the Indian Navy as proposed to urgently buy 10 shipborne drones in order to monitor the activities of China, Pakistan or other adversaries. An ANI report quoted the Government sources saying as"A proposal has been moved in fast track mode by the Indian Navy before the Defence Ministry under which it plans to buy 10 Naval Shipborne Unmanned Aerial Systems for over ₹1,240 crores." The reports mentioned that Navy has planned to deploy the drones on big size warships of the force so that it would help in keeping a close eye on the movement of the Chinese as well as other adversaries in and around Indian territorial waters. As per the plan, India is likely to acquire these drones through an open bid and then deploy them on its warships for surveillance. Moreover, the Indian Navy is also planning to upgrade its existing drones as part of an upgrade programme which was recently taken up for discussion in the Defence Ministry. Last month on July 29, India welcomed first five of the thirty-six French Rafale combat aircraft. The first 4.5 generation aircraft fleet comprises three single-seater- and two twin-seater- combat jets which will have HAMMER missiles, along with beyond visual range missiles like Meteor, SCALP, and MICA.