In a first for the state, Punjab has rolled out an indigenous anti-drone system to tighten security along its sensitive border with Pakistan. Named ‘Baaj Akh’ (meaning Hawk Eye), the high-tech setup was launched by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in Tarn Taran, one of the districts most affected by cross-border drone smuggling.
Over the past few years, drones have emerged as a favoured tool for traffickers smuggling narcotics, arms, and ammunition from across the border. The new system is designed to hunt down these rogue machines before they can drop their illicit payloads.
Understanding the operational framework of the Baaj Akh System
Detection: Advanced radars can trace the entry of a drone into the airspace of Punjab. The system detects the drone's location alongside its ground control station, allowing security agencies a major upper hand. The system’s automated alert functionality notifies relevant personnel without the need for manual surveillance.
Relentless Tracking: A picked up drone is not merely ignored. The system is capable of locking onto the object and tracking it continuously. Security personnel can monitor the object throughout its movement using high powered cameras and tracking software, even during low visibility hours.
Neutralisation: The communication and navigation systems of Baaj Akh can jam the control communication of the drone. The operator’s control is effectively curtailed, and the drone is forced to either descend instantly or retreat to its point of origin.
Multi-Agency Coordination: Police of the state, Border Security Force, the Indian Army, and the Indian Air Force are all jointly involved. Baaj Akh acts as a supporting peripheral “second line of defence” strengthening the first line of the deployed ground forces.
- Strategic Placement: From Pathankot to Fazilka, the system will be installed along the major identified smuggling corridors.
In recent years, the authorities have intercepted multiple drones piloted with the intention of delivering heroin, firearms, and explosives across the border.
Launched under the state’s intensified “War Against Drugs”initiative, the project has been set up at a cost of ₹51.4 crore. Officials believe it will not only protect Punjab’s borders but also strike at the heart of drug trafficking networks that prey on local youth.
With Baaj Akh now in place, Punjab has sent a strong signal: the state is watching the skies just as closely as it guards its land.