The urgency of this initiative is highlighted by recent incidents, such as the attack on a naval air base in Pakistan by Baloch militants. In India, the imperative to strengthen security infrastructure around military installations has been reinforced by past terrorist strikes, including those at Pathankot, Uri, Nagrota, and Akhnoor
Amidst the persistent threat of terror attacks on military bases, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has initiated a significant plan to bolster the ground perimeter security of 30 more air bases across the nation. This move comes in the wake of escalating concerns over security vulnerabilities following previous incidents.
“The new comprehensive multi-layered, multi-sensor, hi-tech surveillance and intrusion detection systems at the 30 air bases will follow the ongoing installation of a similar integrated perimeter security system (IPSS) at 23 ‘crucial and sensitive’ air bases,” a senior officer stated.
Initially sanctioned after the 2016 Pathankot airbase attack, where terrorists breached security protocols, the IPSS project was piloted at Pathankot before being commissioned in February 2021. Now, with the aim of fortifying security measures, the government has extended the IPSS coverage to an additional 30 air bases.
“The government had approved the IPSS for the first 23 air bases, with Bharat Electronics (BEL) as the lead contractor and several foreign sub-contractors, after JeM terrorists attacked the Pathankot airbase in January 2016 to expose gaping holes in the security set-up of military installations,” the officer explained.
The urgency of this initiative is highlighted by recent incidents, such as the attack on a naval air base in Pakistan by Baloch militants. In India, the imperative to strengthen security infrastructure around military installations has been reinforced by past terrorist strikes, including those at Pathankot, Uri, Nagrota, and Akhnoor.
“These low-cost, high-impact attacks exposed several chinks in the existing set-up, ranging from the lack of proper perimeter security and upgraded standard operating procedures to the absence of regular security audits and seamless coordination between intelligence and security agencies,” noted another officer.
In response to these challenges, the IAF has called upon vendors to submit proposals by June 24, signaling a proactive approach to address security gaps and mitigate potential threats. By prioritizing the enhancement of perimeter security through advanced technology and surveillance systems, the IAF aims to bolster its defensive capabilities and safeguard military personnel and assets against evolving security threats.
