AI Generated Summary
- Authorities say the deployment will focus on high-risk zones where drone activity is most frequent, aiming to disrupt the supply chains of cross-border traffickers and safeguard the state’s youth from the drug menace.
- 4 crore, marks the first time a state in India has installed such technology along the international border, complementing the efforts of the country’s armed forces and Border Security Force (BSF).
- The initiative aims to counter the growing use of drones for transporting narcotics and weapons from across the Pakistan border.
In a significant step towards combating cross-border drug smuggling, Punjab has launched an advanced anti-drone system (ADS) — “Baaz Akh” (Hawk Eye) — in Tarn Taran district. The initiative aims to counter the growing use of drones for transporting narcotics and weapons from across the Pakistan border.
Three ADS units have already been deployed, with six more expected to be operational soon. The system, costing ₹51.4 crore, marks the first time a state in India has installed such technology along the international border, complementing the efforts of the country’s armed forces and Border Security Force (BSF).
Punjab shares a 553-km-long border with Pakistan, a region identified as highly sensitive to smuggling activity. Officials revealed that in 2024, 283 drones carrying heroin, weapons, and ammunition were seized, while in 2025, the figure so far stands at 137.
The anti-drone systems will be positioned along the border from Pathankot to Fazilka, forming a “second line of defence” behind BSF checkpoints. These units are equipped to precisely detect the location of drones and their ground-control stations, allowing for rapid neutralisation.
Authorities say the deployment will focus on high-risk zones where drone activity is most frequent, aiming to disrupt the supply chains of cross-border traffickers and safeguard the state’s youth from the drug menace.
