India: BSF Acquires Eight Dhruv Helicopters

India: BSF Acquires Eight Dhruv Helicopters

(NSI News Source Info) April 13, 2009: The Border Security Force (BSF) has embarked on a major expansion of its air wing in a bid to give a thrust to its border patrol and internal security roles in a context of stepped up vigil along the country’s borders. The force intends to add eight helicopters and three fixed-wing medium lift transport aircraft to its existing fleet. Plans afoot to acquire three transport aircraft as well. The fleet now includes six MI-17 helicopters, an Embraer, two King Air and two Avro aircraft.

Deliveries start

“We are acquiring eight Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH). Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) started deliveries in March and our pilots are training in various academies in the country…,” M.L. Kumawat, the BSF Director General, told The Hindu in Chennai during an exclusive interaction recently. The Cabinet has given its nod for the BSF acquiring transport aircraft, and the force is considering its options. “In the meantime, we will hire aircraft from Air India to carry out the job,” said Mr. Kumawat.

Shortages overcome The air wing had hit an air pocket owing to dire shortage of pilots. This brought down the serviceability of its choppers to an all-time low. “Unfortunately, we had a shortage of pilots and were not in a position to fly more than one of our six helicopters at any given time. But things have turned around in the last couple of months and the situation is now looking up,” said Mr. Kumawat. “We have given our helicopters to the naxalite-affected States for surveillance and also to airlift counter-insurgency troops. They have also been used for action against Pakistan intruders, particularly fishermen who ventured into our territory regardless of warning. By means of slithering operations in the Sir Creek area, we have foiled their attempts and caught their assets. From intelligence gathered by the Air Force and the BSF, it is obvious that they are no longer coming into the Sir Creek area,” he said. However, the force continues to carry out aerial surveillance in the region to thwart attempts at seaborne infiltration.

Modernisation Regarding force modernisation, he said the government had granted Rs.3,500 crore over the last four years. “Besides, 20 more battalions, nine more sector headquarters and three more frontier headquarters have also been sanctioned. One frontier will only perform internal security duties, thereby providing our troopers, who remain mostly away from their families, an opportunity for rest and recuperation. Thus, we will have battalions stationed across the country, in Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu and Thrissur in Kerala, to name a few.”

Betterment Among the soldier-friendly measures that are under way is betterment of living conditions in the border out posts (BOPs). “BOPs are to BSF what police stations are to the police. We want to make them congenial, liveable and worker-friendly,” said Mr. Kumawat. To achieve this goal, the force spent Rs.48 crore last year as against Rs.10 crore each in the past four years.