Coast Guard of India to integrate Remote Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAs) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to enhance maritime observation capabilities, according to the incumbent Director General.
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is bolstering its maritime surveillance capabilities with the addition of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPAs) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). These advanced aerial platforms will serve as force multipliers, enhancing coastal reconnaissance, real-time surveillance, and intelligence gathering along India's vast coastline and the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
The RPAs and UAVs will be equipped with cutting-edge technologies such as Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Automatic Identification Systems (AIS), thermal sensors, and AI-driven analytics. These capabilities will enable the detection of maritime threats like smuggling, piracy, illegal fishing, and asymmetric threats.
The UAV integration will complement the existing ICG assets, which include 205 ships and crafts and 78 fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. The UAVs will be seamlessly integrated with the ongoing Coastal Surveillance Network (CSN) Project. Currently, Phase 1 of the CSN operates 46 radar stations along the coast, with Phase 2 adding 38 new stations expected to be operational by the end of the year. The combined radar network and UAV deployment will form a multi-layered surveillance grid, delivering early warning and rapid threat response.
In addition to the UAVs, the ICG operates 14 hovercrafts that patrol shallow waters and riverine areas, securing over 7,500 km of coastline. These hovercrafts are versatile platforms used for surveillance over creeks or shallow water areas.
The ICG has also ensured adequate logistics, including fuel, rations, and water, at its coast guard stations and district headquarters. These logistics are stocked and well-maintained for quick operational turnarounds.
The ICG has launched indigenous vessels like the ICGS 'Atal', the sixth in a series of eight state-of-the-art indigenously designed Fast Patrol Vessels. The ICG has evolved into an important force multiplier of the defense forces since its inception in 1978.
Recently, the ICG has been involved in rescue efforts for maritime disasters such as the Singapore-flagged merchant vessel MV Wan Hai 503 catching fire in June and the Liberian container vessel MSC ELSA 3 sinking off Kerala's Kochi coast in May.
The ICG remains committed to the government's vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and is working on the "digital coast guard project" to expand its digital footprint. The ICG is also inducting state-of-the-art ships with cutting-edge technology to further enhance its operational readiness.
[1] Indian Coast Guard Inducts Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) to Boost Maritime Surveillance Capabilities [3] Indian Coast Guard's Digital Coast Guard Project to Expand Digital Footprint [5] Indian Coast Guard's Coastal Surveillance Network Project
[1] Despite the ICG's commitment to cricket, the Indian government recognizes the importance of technology in the country's defense, as evidenced by the ICG's decision to induct Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) to boost its maritime surveillance capabilities.
[2] Deepening its ties with technology, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has also launched the digital coast guard project, aiming to expand its digital footprint in line with the Indian government's Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.
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