The need to protect military personnel, infrastructure, and assets has increased to rising lethality of weapons and acts of terrorism. Advanced materials and technologies, unmanned systems, and artificial intelligence-based surveillance and detection systems are driving modernisation requirements.

The subject will be discussed at the Force Protection India 2023 seminar being organised on 9 May 2023.

Perimeter Protection

Perimeter protection is provided by various types of fences made of barbed wire of chain link or both, (galvanized or zinc coated) made of steel or Aluminum.

The terrorist attacks at Pathankot Air Base (2 Jan 2016), Uri Brigade HQ (18 Sep 2016) and Nagrota Corps HQ (29 Nov 2016) prompted the Armed Forces to draw up elaborate plans for protection of their assets.

The traditional perimeter security platforms have been replaced by advanced perimeter security platforms with the use of advanced technologies, such as AI, ML, computer vision and facial recognition.

Intruder Detection

Intruder Detection at installations and bases requires a number of measures. These include camouflage and concealment, physical security measures using security cameras, motion sensors and alarms. Access control measures for important buildings include such as keycard systems and biometric scanners.

Implementing physical security measures such as barriers, roadblocks, and checkpoints can help prevent intruders into a secure area.

Smart fences are used in conjunction with different detection systems to suit terrains and conditions, with drones, thermal cameras and night vision equipment to detect and respond swiftly deliver effective results.

Border Infiltration

Infiltration by terrorists across land borders can be reduced by installing surveillance equipment such as cameras and sensors to detect and deter terrorist infiltration.

Border fencing erected by India along its borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh primarily consists of concertina wire, barbed wire, steel pickets, concrete walls with floodlighting and high-tech surveillance (through drones, cameras and motion sensors).

Personnel and Platform Protection

Soldiers need to be provided high-quality body armour, helmets, and gas masks can help protect them from physical and chemical threats. New technologies are required to upgrade protection against high velocity bullets with greater penetration power.

Composite materials are often used in bullet-proofing applications because they can provide a high level of protection while remaining lightweight and flexible.

Some common types of composites used for bullet-proof vests, helmets, and other body armor. These include ceramic composites such as Aramid fibres such as Kevlar and Twaron, polyethylene fibres such as Spectra and Dyneema, Glass composites and metal matrix composites.

The level of protection provided depends on the type of ammunition, velocity, and angle of impact.

Since 2016, the armed forces began to protect soldiers with bullet proof jackets and ballistic helmets to save lives. 12 Indian companies have been issued industrial licenses for the manufacture of BPJs. In latest developments, terrorists have begun to use armour-piercing bullets which have found their way from Afghanistan, where the Americans left vast quantities of war-like material at the time of their hurried withdrawal in August 2021. This has necessitated the replacement of some of the Level-3 BPJs with Level-4 BPJs, which is the highest grade of body protection armour vailable in the market today.

Procurement of ballistic helmets started in 2017 with an order for 1,58,279 light-weight ballistic helmets. With modern trends, helmets also act as a platform for mounting cameras, video cameras and VAS Shrouds for the mounting of Night Vision Goggles (NVG) and monocular Night Vision Devices (NVD), helmet mounted display system (HMDS)/ Helmet Pointing System (HPS).

Anti-tank threats

Advanced protection offers smart, lightweight ballistic protection solutions for land vehicles, land platforms and objects.

Using advanced armour materials such as ceramics, composites, and reactive materials can help protect tanks from penetration by newer anti-tank weapons. Active protection systems (APS) such as radar, sensors and jamming can detect and neutralize incoming anti-tank threats.

Smoke screen, camouflage and concealment, mobility and electronic warfare measures can be used to advantage. Network-enabled systems such as sensors and communication systems can help improve situational awareness and coordination with other tanks in combination with other methods.

Suicide Bombers

Besides Intelligence, search and detect operations, surveillance using cameras, drones, and other equipment can help identify and track individuals or groups involved in planning or transporting explosives and other weapons.

Training personnel on how to recognize, report and respond to suicide bombing threats can help them identify and respond to potential threats.

Neutralising Snipers

Visual detection with binoculars or telescopes, Audio detection through sound of gunfire or the report of a rifle, use of microphones or acoustic sensors to pinpoint the location of a sniper are some of the basic methods for detecting snipers. Radar or thermal imaging can detect heat signatures of potential snipers. In some situations, jamming equipment can disrupt the sniper’s communications and targeting equipment.

IEDs and Mines

Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) can be detected using metal detectors, X-ray scanners, and other detection equipment before they can be detonated. Surveillance using cameras, drones, and other surveillance equipment can help identify and track individuals or groups involved in the planning or transportation of IEDs.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) personnel with equipment and techniques can help locate, disarm, and safely dispose of IEDs. Dozens of detection techniques commensurate with weight, size, power, range and accuracy are available today. EOD and disarming IEDs is safer and effective with robots and unattended ground vehicles (UGVs). Electronic counter-measures and ECM are also available.

There is a need for faster sanitization over wider areas with lesser false positive identification. Robots, ground and foliage penetration radars, specialized clearing vehicles and jammers are proving effective.

A mine protected vehicle provides immunity against small arms fire and mine blasts. It enables protected mobility on/off road. Also, the tactical manoeuvrability ensures area domination by the forces.

Drone Threats

The threat from drones can be countered by detection, jamming, hijacking the drone, or by kinetic force. Kinetic systems include bullets, nets, or other physical means to bring the drone down.

Drones can be prevented by entering secure areas by geofencing and physical barriers.

Radars, cameras, and other detection equipment can help identify and locate drones. Radio frequency jamming equipment can disrupt the communication link between a drone and its operator, causing the drone to lose control or return to its launch point.

Using equipment that can hijack the communication link between a drone and its operator and take control of the drone, allowing it to be safely landed or redirect it to a safe location.

Underwater Threats

Underwater threats to naval assets in ports and harbours, like submarines, mines, and sea-borne IEDs, can be detected through active or passive sonar systems, Underwater drones, divers and underwater cameras to visually inspect the underwater area.

Underwater barriers, such as nets or booms, can physically block underwater threats from approaching naval assets.

Air Platforms

Smart and modular ballistic protection solutions for rotary and fixed-wing aircraft exist today. These solutions use precision engineered composite armour panels, which are retrofitted onto the aircraft with patented aero grade attachment systems. Their smart designs allow them to be integrated into the aircraft without modifying or requiring any structural changes to the aerodynamics of the platform. Keeping in mind the multi-role nature of rotary winged platforms, the armour panels and kits can be easily removed in full, or in part and re-mounted onto the platform with minimum hassles.

Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety

Increased security threats and incidents of fire in ammunition depots in the past have made it imperative to upgrade of the infrastructure including redesigning buildings and storage structures, inspection and testing facilities, automation, installation of contemporary warning and fire-fighting systems. The Ordnance Services Dte have initiated a project to modernize the arrangements at 16 major ammunition depots.

Chemical Warfare Threats

Protection against chemical warfare threats requires detection using chemical sensors and detection equipment, Protective gear such as gas masks, gloves, and protective suits, special shelters which can prevent exposure to chemical agents.

After contamination or use of the chemical agents, decontamination is required involving the use of decontamination methods.

For treatment, evacuation of casualties and medical treatment with antidotes and supportive care, are required.

Biological Warfare Threats

Protection against biological agents requires detection with biological sensors and detection equipment, vaccination, personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks, gloves, and protective suits, specialised decontamination to remove biological agents from the skin and clothing and administering antibiotics or providing supportive care.

Nuclear Weapon Effects

To minimize the effects of a nuclear weapon, fallout shelters, protective gear, decontamination and medical treatment and, above all, training of all affected personnel, is required.

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The ministry of home affairs has told parliament about the project on different occasions. New projects have also been initiated from a particular fund for border infrastructure.

In 2020, the central government approved the construction of 32 India-China Border Roads (ICBR)-II, measuring 683.12 km, at an estimated cost of Rs 12,434.90 crore. Work has started on eight roads and land acquisition and other statutory clearances have been obtained for 18 other roads while work is on for 14.

Similarly, for the development of critical infrastructure in border areas of Arunachal Pradesh, the government in 2020 approved the construction of 18 foot tracks (including requisite number of foot suspension bridges, log bridges and staging camps), measuring 598.27 km at an estimated cost of Rs 1,162.19 crore. Land acquisition and other statutory clearances are on.

INDO-CHINA BORDER

The government initiated a project under which 25 ICBR-I roads will be constructed. These roads will connect border areas from other parts of the state making the border more accessible. Similarly, construction of 32 ICBR-II roads are also on. The project is to build a total of 177 roads of 10,000 km along the China border. Similarly, a critical road on the Indo-China border is also being constructed.

The MHA has undertaken the construction of 25 ICBR-I roads measuring 751.58 km along the Indo-China border at an estimated cost of Rs 3,482.52 crore. Out of 751.58 km, formation of 721.02 km (95 per cent) and surfacing of 545.05 km (74 per cent) has been completed. As many as 18 roads measuring 475.29 km have been completed and are operational. Work on seven roads is on.

A standalone project for roads is underway with an upgrade for 32 helipads in Ladakh. The construction of 18 foot tracks in Arunachal Pradesh are on the list of infrastructure projects of the government.

Another project is that of 47 new ITBP border outposts (BOPs) and 12 staging camps, which will boost ITBP that guards the Indo-China border.

INDO-PAKISTAN BORDER

The most important border due to infiltration and terrorism, the government has planned massive development work at the Indo-Pak border. The government plans to increase fencing and road works in the next two years.

The MHA is also monitoring the work of installing flood lights so that troops can keep an eye on suspicious movement at night. A large area has already been covered.

Another important development project is construction of lateral and axial roads in Punjab and Rajasthan. The home ministry is also involved in deployment of technological solutions like anti-drone technology, thermal imaging, movement sensors among others.

The MHA is also supervising the work of border outposts to keep strict vigil on the Indo-Pak border. The government is constructing marine infrastructure in Gujarat so that smugglers can be traced and intercepted by the forces.

INDO-NEPAL AND INDO-BHUTAN BORDER

The government is constructing a 1,377-km road network along the Indo-Nepal border in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Apart from this, development of infrastructure and land acquisition for SSB BOPs are also on. The government is also installing land ports for smooth flow of supplies and easy clearance at these borders, and both countries are in touch with India.

INDO-MYANMAR BORDER

One of the important borders, it will have a company operating base (COB) of Assam Rifles soon. The MHA is in the process of construction close to the Myanmar border. Similarly, the work is also on for the construction of fence and road along the Indo-Myanmar border.

INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER

In the last few years, the government has expedited work at the Indo-Bangladesh border due to illegal movement. The MHA is supervising various developmental work, which includes fencing and roadworks, construction of Indo-Bangladesh road (Phase II) and bridges from BOP Simna to BOP Harinakhola in Tripura.

The government is also inducting technology solutions to monitor the border apart from construction of BOPs. Just like the Indo-Pak border, the Modi-led government has planned to stall flood lights and watch towers on this border, apart from improving existing infrastructure.

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