IAF to deploy UAVs to combat insurgency in North-East

Shillong, May 21: Indian Air Force will deploy for the first time unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to combat insurgency in Northeast India.

"At least one squadron of UAVs would be deployed by the year-end in the Northeast," Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief in Eastern Air Command (EAC) Air Marshal S K Bhan said.

"The aircraft, called 'bird' by the force, can survey up to 250 km from its station. Sensors and cameras fitted to the aircraft can detect developments and movements on ground. It would be handy in the deep jungles of Arunachal Pradesh and other inaccessible areas," Bhan said.

The move assumes significance in the wake of reports about regrouping of militants in the jungles of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and North Cachar Hills and Karbi Anglong districts of Assam.

Rough terrains have given an edge to the militants, with security forces facing difficulties in controlling their activities which led to a spate of violence in the region in the last few week.

An UAV aircraft has two teams of pilots, one external and another internal. The external pilot controls the flight of the aircraft while the internal one controls the sensors and cameras to spot movements on the ground.

The Air Marshal said the aircraft would increase intelligence inputs of the security forces and help deal with the insurgents efficiently.