Even as the political and military establishments of India and Pakistan are doing their bit to de-escalate tensions on the borders in the aftermath of Mumbai terrorist strikes, one thing is becoming clear. The days of Indian paramilitary personnel guarding the vast frontiers through conventional means such as constant patrolling, vigilance atop camels or by motorboats in the Kutch region, could be a thing of the past.
Instead, one could see the introduction of an entire gamut of advanced surveillance equipment like hand-held thermal imagers and night vision devices, radars for remote sensing and digital technologies to improve intelligence, curb infiltration and protect sensitive installations. The introduction of biometric technology could also have a significant impact on border control systems.
With its speed and sophistication, new surveillance technology is challenging how national borders have been manned traditionally. Defence analysts are pushing modern gadgetry to secure our borders when a click on a computer screen or a call from a mobile phone can send information round the world instantly. Our response must be as sophisticated as the criminals?. And top echelons in the country?s paramilitary establishment are actively pursuing induction of new technologies for their special forces.
For instance on the equipment side, the central paramilitary forces (CPMF)?BSF, CRPF, CISF, SSB, Assam Rifles and ITBP?are seeking to equip their personnel with Insas rifles and light machine guns, automatic grenade launchers and 81mm mortars. There are at present some 474 active CPMF battalions and this figure is set to rise. In recent times, around 305,000 Insas rifles, 24,000 AK-47s and over 1,000 Carl Gustav?s recoilless rifles have been issued to CPMFs, along with 460 hand-held thermal imagers and other night vision equipment. Though the paramilitary forces operate and fight in darkness as well, basic night vision equipment is not available to them in large numbers. Some of the forces will now be procuring large caliber anti-material rifles.
There is also talk of giving the BSF radars as well. ?The paramilitary force would soon be making use of remote sensing and digital technologies to improve intelligence, curb infiltration and protect sensitive installations,?inform BSF officials .
Security analysts point out that one cannot keep a watchful eye without the introduction of advanced surveillance equipment like automatic identification system, satellite communications, data links etc. Also, there is a need to better equip the local police?both for surveillance and attack and defence operations. Therefore, semi or fully automatics, infrared sensors, better communication equipments, bullet-proof vehicles and vests is the need of the hour.
In addition, some of the paramilitary personnel being trained by Israeli forces for anti-terrorist operations will soon be armed with advanced weaponry and integrated through C4I systems. This is a stand-alone command, control, communications, computers and intelligence (C4I) network developed by Ness Technologies and is already deployed by the Israeli naval commandos. The system is an adaptation of Ness Technologies? Ness control system running on laptop PCs and PDAs, enabling teams to prepare, distribute and receive live videos, images and digital maps from sensors, and between the network?s PCs. The system utilises various types of communication links including tactical HF/VHF radio, WiFi, wireless LAN/WAN, cellular and Ethernet. Future evolution could migrate to include evolving commercial high speed networking standards, including WiMax.
At the same time, the western countries are exploring new technologies for their special forces. The US possesses an impressive arsenal of electronic surveillance devices which are highly effective against conventional troop movements, but likely to prove less useful in tracking down terrorist networks in Afghanistan. Experts say satellites, aircraft and pilotless drones can prepare the ground for bombardments and commando operations, but cannot replace human, on-the-ground spies when the goal is to foresee attacks and terrorist movements. Hidden electronic sensors, about the size of a human hand, are equipped with cameras and other surveillance equipment and can be released or installed by commando forces.
US security personnel along the Canadian and Mexican borders are using a controversial new machine that can ?read? the personal information contained in some government-issued ID cards?such as passports and driver?s licenses?as travelers approach a checkpoint. The US homeland security department says the new practice will tighten security and speed the flow of traffic.
The technology is being used in conjunction with new government passports and drivers? licenses embedded with computer chips that contain the holder?s name, date of birth, nationality and a digitised photo. The personal data can be ?read? by a radio frequency identification machine as the person approaches a border-crossing checkpoint.
Similarly in Europe, a new technology called LocON, sponsored by the European Union and developed by Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits (IIS), aims to greatly facilitate the work of the security personnel in future. LocON is a platform that enables automatic gate-free access control, both for the people who work at the airports and for vehicles and other objects. It permanently locates all persons and objects by radio. ?The security staff watches the entire airfield on a huge monitor,? explains Rene Dunkler, head of marketing at the IIS.
Accordingly, airport employees are required to wear an electronic badge that transmits a radio signal and thus the person?s location and identification to the LocON platform is made possible.
Vehicles, air freight containers and other objects are also equipped with a tag that emits radio signals. At present, LocON is being installed at Portuguese airports as a pilot project.
Fortifying our vital installations and borders by equipping our paramilitary personnel is a strong imperative to thwart any terrorist attacks in future. Technology is part of a wider response to this problem.
