ITBP may get air wing to better guard China border

[IND151]

The paramilitary Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), which guards the border with China, may get an air wing to better patrol the frontier, its director general said Thursday.

“We are in talks with the government and may get our own air wing to guard the border better,” ITBP chief Ranjit Sinha told reporters on the sidelines of the force’s golden jubilee celebrations.

Though there was an increase in Chinese violations of Indian airspace, the “situation is not alarming”, he noted.

“There were some violations by Chinese helicopters in May and June this year… But there is nothing to worry and the situation is not alarming,” Sinha added.

Raised in 1962 in the wake of the Sino-Indian war, the ITBP is deployed from the Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Diphu La in Arunachal Pradesh, manning border outposts across 3,488 km at altitudes ranging from 9,000-18,500 feet in the western, central and eastern sectors of the India-China border.

Sinha further said the word intrusion or violation was itself questionable as the international border between the two countries was disputed in some areas.

“A Chinese helicopter may be flying in an area which they consider is theirs but for us that will be an intrusion… It’s better to call them perceived violations.”

The force, he said, was in a “much better position” with respect to the latest arms and ammunition, as well as gadgets.

ITBP may get air wing to better guard China border | idrw.org

 

[IND151]

a good step by GOI

 

[Gessler]

HAL Dhruv they'll definitely get it for sure.

 

[AADHAAR]

Yes, it should be done.

HAL Dhruv is a good choice to begin with .... but later they should have heavy lifters to move supplies and perhaps LCH units for active defence.

 

[IND151]

^^ i think ITBP May get chinook. jjb

 

[Alphacharlie]

Lancer will be a decent and cost viable Option. All ITBP needs is a Bird which can fire warning shots.

Rudra if IAF isgracious for giving this role.

 

[Lyrical Mockery]

off topic, but ITBP isn't a paramilitary force now

 

[janon]

off topic, but ITBP isn't a paramilitary force now

No, used to be until 2011. Now classified as a "central armed police force".

 

[Abingdonboy]

Yes, it should be done.

HAL Dhruv is a good choice to begin with .... but later they should have heavy lifters to move supplies and perhaps LCH units for active defence.

Giving a police unit an attack helo is completly unessercary. I suspect the air wing is purely for transport and survelinvce hence the ALH Dhruv with a FLIR turret is the ideal machine.

 

[Tshering22]

Yes, it should be done.

HAL Dhruv is a good choice to begin with .... but later they should have heavy lifters to move supplies and perhaps LCH units for active defence.

They're a paramilitary force, dude. Not a heavy combat unit of Army.

Dhruvs and Rudras are the maximum armaments they'd get.

Perhaps some LUHs for scouting, patrolling and airlift would also be an excellent idea. However, I just am curious as to what are their modernization programs and how do they look like.


BTW I don't understand of what's the point of the unit's name anymore as there are hardly any Tibetans in there in any significant quantity.

 

[COLDHEARTED AVIATOR]

They need a light reconnaissance heli and not a attack or heavy lift helicopter.