From ground to the skies: How drones are reshaping terror and security operations along India's borders

📌 Summary:

• June 26, 2021: First drone-based terror attack on IAF Jammu station — two blasts via airdropped bombs, marking a paradigm shift in Pakistan-based terror tactics.

• Human infiltration attempts across the LoC fell sharply: from 143 in 2018 to just 34 in 2021 — indicating drones replaced human smuggling routes for arms and narcotics.

• Since 2021, Pakistani drones have been the primary vector for dropping contraband, arms, ammunition, explosives, and Indian currency into J&K.

• Narcotics seizures: J&K Police and agencies seized ~68,000 kg of narcotics valued at ~Rs 30,000 crore; heroin tops the list — over 539 kg (valued at ~Rs 3,200 crore) seized in Jammu region alone over five years.

• Arms seizures: Nearly 1,000 weapons (mostly AK rifles), 28,000+ rounds of ammunition, 252 detonators seized between 2021 and May 2023 across J&K.

• Jammu region specifically: 247 weapons, 182 IEDs, 409 grenades, 11+ kg explosives, 2 RDX packets, Rs 2.53 crore cash, $15,000 US dollars seized.

• Key incident: BSF shot down a drone near Kathua on June 20, 2020, carrying US-made M4 carbine, Chinese grenades — indicating a multinational supply chain for terror.

• Drones have rendered traditional security measures (land patrols, fencing, tunnel detection) inadequate; security forces are now deploying counter-drone technology, anti-drone guns, and surveillance systems.

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 — Internal Security (Border Management, Terrorism, Organised Crime); drone warfare is a new dimension of cross-border terrorism relevant for both Prelims and Mains.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• First drone attack on IAF: June 26, 2021, Jammu (twin blasts).
• BSF: Border Security Force — primary agency guarding India-Pakistan International Border.
• Anti-drone technology deployed: drone detection radar, RF jammers, laser-based drone killers.
• DRDO has developed counter-drone systems including D4 (Drone Detect, Deter and Destroy) system.

🔑 Key Term: Counter-UAV (C-UAV) systems — technologies designed to detect, track, and neutralise unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) used for surveillance or weapons delivery; India is actively deploying these along borders.