Unmanned aerial vehicle base to be shifted to closer to Red corridor in Bhilai
By Josy Joseph, TNN
NEW DELHI: The government has decided to move unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) base foranti-Naxal operations from Hyderabad to Bhilai in Chhattisgarh, closer to the red corridor where security forces are engaged in a bloody battle with the Left Wing Extremists (LWEs). It would also be setting up a couple of more UAV bases to improve surveillance of the insurgency area, sources said.
The move comes even as the government is looking at taking a final call on which all security and intelligence agencies should be operating strategic UAVs that have long endurance and need elaborate infrastructure to operate. Presently, the three services — Army, Navy and Air Force — and the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) operate strategic UAVs.
According to sources, the UAVs of NTRO, presently based in Begumpet (Hyderabad), would be shifted to Bhilai airport. The airport is part of the Bhiali steel plant of the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) .
Sources said NTRO has completed identification of land and other facilities and the relocation is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
NTRO is also tasked to identify two to three new bases for strategic UAVs that can be used for both Naxal operations as well as manage border surveillance.
The move comes in the face of complaints from CRPF, the lead force for anti-naxal operations, about the inadequacies of UAV coverage provided by NTRO. CRPF has been demanding that it be allowed to acquire its own fleet of strategic UAVs. It is already in the process of acquiring mini-drones, which can be launched from soldier’s shoulders, from a truck etc.
The Union home ministry has recently asked CRPF to prepare qualitative requirements for procurement of the bigger UAVs.
According to sources, the government may initiate a process of adopting a formal policy decision about which all forces should operate strategic UAVs, in the face of various requirements, complaints and the difficulties of operating a fleet. The requirements for trained personnel, runways, hangars etc for operating strategic UAVs are the reason why the government would be designating agencies that would operate these unmanned aircraft.
Sources said UAVs have been effective on many occasions in Naxal operations. Last month, when an IAF helicopter was force landed in Naxal area, and it was abandoned along with an injured cop by the IAF commandos, a UAV kept surveillance through most of the night until security personnel arrived to secure the area.
In May, 2012, when Sukma collector Alex Paul Menon was kidnapped by the Naxals, UAV surveillance had spotted the collector and his kidnappers. However, the government withdrew the UAV, when the negotiations gained momentum.
