In the wake of the terrorist attack on the Pathankot airbase, the IAF has planned to strengthen security at 54 airbases of the country by installing “smart fences”, electronic surveillance system, thermal imagers, close circuit television (CCTV) cameras and drones at a cost of Rs 8,000 crore. The IAF has also issued shoot-at-sight orders at all its bases in the Western Air Command after sounding a high alert.
Given the threat perception, more than 15 air stations are directed to adhere to shoot-at-sight if anyone tries to enter the premises in an unauthorised manner. The IAF has prominently displayed this warning at vantage positions.
The civil administration, including the police, has been informed about the latest directive. Outlining the measures taken after conducting a security audit of all the airbases of the country following the Pathankot attack, IAF officials said the shoot-at-sight orders are issued after a high alert is sounded. It is the standard operating procedure followed by the force. Justifying the order, they said in normal times, guards warn intruders against attempt to enter but given the present security situation, the IAF does not want to take any chances. The local administration is helping the IAF in sensitising the inhabitants living close to the sensitive air stations, they added.
Elaborating upon three salient features of the plan to step up security, they said the Government has asked the IAF to fast-track the project to have “smart fences”. At present, three airbases in Jammu & Kashmir have such fences. The coming months will see installations of “smart fences” at most of air stations located close to the border in Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Refraining from giving a timeline for the project, they said work will start as soon as the Government approves the proposal. They also said that revamping the security infrastructure will cost Rs 100 to Rs 150 crore per airbase. Given the fast changing security scenario, the IAF is now shifting its focus from manpower intensive drill to secure perimeter of the airbases to more technology based surveillance. All the airfields in the country have the mandatory ten-feet-high wall with a three-metre-high concertina wire fence atop it. Denying reports that high value targets — including fighter jets, helicopters and planes — are vulnerable to terrorist attack, officials said nearly all the bases have ‘smart fences’ around these assets lodged in an area known as technical zone. Moreover, only authorised personnel wearing uniforms and having special security passes can have access to this zone all over the country, they said.
