Big Boost For ITBP: Govt Set To Clear Acquisition Of UAVs, Radars, Sensors, ATVs, And Snow Scooters For New BOPs Along LAC

In a big boost for the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the Government is set to approve its proposal for the acquisition of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), advanced long-range reconnaissance and observation systems (LORROS), radars, all-terrain vehicles and snow scooters for the newly sanctioned border outposts (BOPs) along the India-China border, reports Economic Times.

While the high-tech surveillance cameras will help ITBP see 25-30 kilometres inside the Chinese territory, drones will help in monitoring the activities of Chinese forces at high altitude. LORROS sensor systems will meanwhile enable long-range day-time and night-time surveillance with the ability to detect human as well as vehicular movements even in bad weather.

The acquisition is aimed at an extensive overhaul of the ITBP's surveillance equipment and gadgets amid the ongoing tension with China in Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Gogra Posts and Depsang Plains.

ITBP is responsible for guarding the 3,488 kilometre-long Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China that runs along Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh.

The ITBP currently has a total of 180 BOPs along the LAC with around 100 soldiers deployed in each of them.

Earlier in January, the Home Ministry gave the approval for creation of 47 additional ITBP BOPs and 12 “staging camps”. The staging camps are reportedly being set up to act as temporary BoPs for ITBP jawans out on patrol along the Himalayan frontier.