India has stepped up surveillance and anti-drone preparedness after warnings of possible drone attacks on strategic installations near land and maritime borders.

New Delhi, June 16: Security agencies across India have intensified protective measures at critical infrastructure and strategic locations following a government alert regarding potential drone threats along the country's land and coastal borders.

The warning, issued through the Maritime Security Division of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, has prompted the deployment and evaluation of anti-drone systems at several sensitive sites. Authorities are focusing on installations located near border regions and coastal assets considered vital to national security.

Warning Triggers Action

According to officials familiar with the development, the alert highlighted the growing threat posed by hostile drones and stressed the need for immediate protective measures.

The communication called for urgent steps to safeguard key facilities, particularly those situated near international borders. It noted that hostile unmanned aerial systems have the potential to disrupt operations at critical infrastructure and strategic establishments.

The advisory comes at a time when drone warfare and cross-border aerial threats have become increasingly prominent in regional and global security discussions.

Anti-Drone Systems Planned

Following the alert, multiple agencies have accelerated efforts to identify and deploy suitable anti-drone technologies.

Sources indicated that installations considered vulnerable are being assessed for surveillance upgrades and electronic countermeasure systems capable of detecting, tracking and neutralising unauthorized drones.

The focus remains on creating layered protection around facilities that could be targeted by hostile aerial platforms.

BSF Leading Evaluation

The Ministry of Home Affairs has constituted a specialised committee under the supervision of the Border Security Force (BSF) to evaluate available anti-drone technologies.

The committee has been tasked with testing and recommending systems best suited for India's operational requirements. Initial trials have reportedly begun in border areas of Punjab, where security agencies have been monitoring drone-related activities for several years.

Officials said the outcome of these evaluations will guide future procurement and deployment decisions.

Multi-Agency Coordination

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has also formed a dedicated team to assess security requirements at important locations.

The team includes representatives from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Intelligence Bureau (IB), Airports Authority of India (AAI) and BSF. Officials involved in the exercise are conducting inspections at key sites across the country to determine vulnerability levels and recommend appropriate counter-drone solutions.

A final decision on deployment locations is expected after technical assessments are completed and approved by the Home Ministry.

Tamil Nadu Port Sets Example

One of the most significant developments in India's anti-drone strategy has been the installation of an advanced anti-drone system at the port facility in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu.

The system was commissioned earlier this year at the V.O. Chidambaranar Port, making it the first Indian port to adopt such technology for operational security. Developed in partnership with government-owned Central Electronics Limited, the system combines radar and radio-frequency technologies to identify, track and disable hostile drones.

Officials say the platform provides 360-degree surveillance coverage and has been designed specifically for maritime environments.

Lessons From Operation Sindoor

The renewed focus on anti-drone preparedness follows security experiences from Operation Sindoor in May 2025, when Indian air defence systems responded to aerial threats during military tensions with Pakistan.

Defence sources have previously stated that radar networks and air defence assets successfully intercepted hostile drones and aerial platforms during the operation. The episode reinforced concerns about the growing role of drones in modern conflict and highlighted the need for stronger protective infrastructure.

As drone technology becomes more accessible and sophisticated, security planners are increasingly treating counter-drone capabilities as a critical component of national defence.

Kuala Lumpur Airways Flight Receives Bomb Threat, Hyderabad Airport on High Alert

Third Such Scare in Four Days

A Kuala Lumpur Airways flight arriving at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport from the Netherlands landed safely on Saturday after authorities received a bomb threat via email. The message claimed an explosive device was onboard and could detonate at any time.

The aircraft, which originated from Amsterdam, was already in Indian airspace when the alert was triggered. Airport security was immediately placed on high alert, with personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and local police mobilised across the terminal and cargo areas.

Officials confirmed the plane touched down without incident. All passengers were disembarked safely, and the aircraft has been moved to an isolation bay for a thorough inspection.

Growing Pattern of Hoax Warnings

This marks the third bomb threat targeting flights to or from Hyderabad in just four days. On Friday evening around 6:30 pm, an email warned that an AirAsia flight arriving from Malaysia would be blown up before landing. Security teams swept the aircraft and the airport premises but found nothing suspicious.

Earlier on Thursday, a similar threat was logged against a Lufthansa flight coming from Frankfurt, Germany. In that instance too, the warning turned out to be false.

Authorities are now examining whether the same individual or group is behind the recent emails. Investigators are tracing IP addresses and email metadata, though preliminary indications suggest the senders may have used anonymising tools.

Previous Incidents This Year

The spate of hoax calls is not entirely new to Hyderabad’s aviation hub. In January this year, an email to airport customer support claimed a bomb was onboard IndiGo flight 6E 1422 arriving from Sharjah. That flight also landed safely.

Beyond Hyderabad, at least three other bomb scare incidents have been reported across Indian airports in recent months. On November 12, an Air India Express flight from Mumbai to Varanasi made an emergency landing after receiving a threat. On September 19, a note found in the toilet of an Indigo flight from Mumbai to Phuket forced an emergency landing in Chennai. And on June 12, Air India flight AI-379 from Phuket to Delhi made an emergency landing in Thailand following a bomb alert.

Security Protocol and Cost Implications

Once a bomb threat is received, standard procedure requires the aircraft to be landed at the nearest airport, rather than continuing to its scheduled destination. The plane is then isolated, passengers evacuated, and a full sweep conducted by bomb disposal and sniffer dog squads.

Sources familiar with emergency response operations say each such incident can cost airlines and airports upwards of ₹3 crore. This includes additional fuel burn from unscheduled landings, rebooking passengers into hotels, fresh security screening, and potential flight cancellations.

For now, security has been heightened across all entry points at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. Patrolling has been increased around the perimeter, and flyers have been advised to arrive earlier than usual for check-in.

What Happens Next

Investigators have registered a case under relevant aviation security laws. While no arrests have been made yet, authorities are reviewing CCTV footage and access logs from the past 72 hours. Officials have not ruled out the possibility of coordinated hoax attempts aimed at disrupting operations.

Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur Airways has not issued an official statement, but ground staff confirmed that cooperation with security agencies remains ongoing. Passengers on the affected flight were provided transportation and refreshments before being processed for exit.

With three threats in four days, aviation security experts are calling for stricter monitoring of anonymous email platforms and faster international coordination to trace the origin of such messages.