First Pakistan and now Bangladesh deployed dangerous Turkish Byraktar TB 2 drones, know India’s preparation

New Delhi : With changing times, the weapons that play a decisive role in wars also change. It would not be wrong if today’s era is called the era of combat drones. The strength of an army is measured by conventional weapons like cannons, tanks, missiles, rockets, war planes, warships, submarines, etc. But now drones are very high in this list. The Nagorno-Karabakh war between Azerbaijan and Armenia in 2020 is a witness to this. Then Azerbaijan had defeated the much more powerful Armenian army with the help of Bayraktar TB-2 drone made in Türkiye. Armenia had most of the weapons of modern warfare, such as a large army, Russian T-72 tanks, missiles, rockets, armored vehicles, etc. But if there was no drone and anti-drone system with which Bayraktar could be destroyed. Now the same Bayraktar TB-2 drone of Türkiye has been deployed by Bangladesh on the border of India. At a time when relations between the two countries are going through the most tense phase ever. A year ago, Pakistan had also deployed the same drone at some strategic places. Maldives has also bought it. Let us understand how big a threat Turkey’s deployment of dangerous drones on both sides of India’s neighborhood is for New Delhi and what is India’s preparation to deal with this threat. After the overthrow of Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh, Nobel laureate Mohammad There is a puppet government of fundamentalists under the leadership of Yunus. Yunus’s interim government has failed to control the fundamentalist rioters. In Bangladesh, minorities, especially Hindus, are being selectively targeted. Their religious places are being burnt. Houses are being burnt. Murders are taking place. Lynchings are taking place. All kinds of atrocities are taking place and Yunus’s cowardly government is turning a blind eye. Not only this, the puppet government of fundamentalists has arrested Hindu saint Chinmoy Krishna Das and four ISKCON saints and put them in jail. Officials in the government there are using poisonous language against India. The relations between the two countries are going through a period of great tension. Bangladesh’s deployment of Bayraktar drone on the border amid strained relations with India is a matter of concern for India.

How dangerous is the Bayraktar TB2 drone?
Bayraktar means flag bearer. The Bayraktar TB2 drone is made in Türkiye. It is 8 times lighter than the American MQ-9 Reaper and has a maximum speed of 230 km per hour. These drones can destroy modern tanks with MAM (Smart Micro Munition) laser-guided missiles. A TB2 drone can carry four MAMs in one flight. Its maximum payload capacity is 150 kg. It consists of electro-optical camera, infrared camera, laser designator, laser range finder and laser pointer. Bayraktar TB2 is a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) category drone. It is capable of penetrating deep into enemy territory without being detected by conventional radar.

With a flight time of more than 24 hours and an operational range of approximately 300 kilometers, the TB2 drones can penetrate deep into enemy territory and destroy targets. According to some news reports, these drones make a strange sound while approaching the target which is psychologically disturbing. How Bayraktar TB2 changed the course of the war in the Nagorno-Karabakh war was in front of everyone.

Armenia had Russian T72 tanks, missiles and rockets in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. But Azerbaijan’s small military force gave a crushing defeat to Armenia with the help of Bayraktar TB2 and Israeli Kamikaze drones.

India cannot ignore Bangladesh’s move
Bangladeshi Army is using these drones for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. Bangladesh may be calling it a defense purpose, but India cannot ignore the deployment of such modern drones in sensitive areas.

India has anti-drone technology. Indian Army also has drones like Heron TP. After the deployment of Turkish drones by Bangladesh, it is natural for India to increase surveillance on the border and intensify anti-drone operations in sensitive areas.

Deploying Bayraktar in Bangladesh is a challenge for India
The deployment of Bayraktar TB2 drone on the India-Bangladesh border could be a challenge for India as India shares its longest border with Bangladesh. The terrain of the border, which includes mountains, rivers and dense forests, makes it difficult for the Indian Army to track these small and quiet drones.

Bangladesh is not the only country in the Indian subcontinent to use the Bayraktar TB2 drone. In 2023, Pakistan received the first batch of Bayraktar TB2 drones from Türkiye and deployed them at strategic locations. In October 2022, a team of Pakistan Air Force officers underwent extensive training in operating this drone in Türkiye. In March this year, Maldives also signed a deal to purchase 6 Bayraktar drones from Türkiye.

India in case of drones
India’s drone capability has got a major boost after India signed a deal worth Rs 32,000 crore to buy 31 Predator drones from the US in October this year. Of these, 15 Predators will be given to the Indian Navy while the remaining 16 drones will be divided equally between the Air Force and the Army. Predator drones equipped with advanced weapons like AGM-114R Hellfire missile and laser-guided Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) will prove to be a strength booster for the Indian Army.

The Indian Army has recently inducted four Heron Mark-II drones from Israel. Meanwhile, DRDO is also developing its own MALE-class drone Tapas BH-201 by investing Rs 1,800 crore over the last 13 years. However, the Tapas BH-201 has not yet been inducted into the Indian Armed Forces as it faces a major challenge in getting the drone platform certified. According to DRDO, Tapas has achieved a flight time of about 18 hours at an altitude of 28,000 feet. However, as per the norms and the needs of the Indian Army, a MALE remotely-piloted aircraft must be capable of achieving an altitude of at least 30,000 feet within 24 hours of flight.

India has the technology to do all the work with drones
India also has Swarm drone which is capable of destroying enemy targets. During the Army Day Parade in 2021, the Indian Army also demonstrated the ability to destroy enemy artillery using Swarm drones. India also acquired critical anti-drone technology in March this year by inducting the indigenous laser-based Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction System (IDD&IS). IDD&IS is very important with the ability to shoot down and jam drones using laser technology. It can detect and target drones at a range of 7 to 8 kilometers.