India Threatens to Shoot Down Bangladeshi Bayraktar TB2 Drones if They Approach Border

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – India has warned that it may shoot down Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drones operated by the Bangladesh Armed Forces if they fly too close to the border shared by the two neighboring countries.

According to senior Indian military officials quoted by local media, the standard operating procedure (SOP) prohibits any drones from flying within 10 kilometers of the border between the two nations.

“We have the capability to track and shoot down any drone or object violating Indian airspace,” an official said when asked about reports of Bangladeshi Bayraktar TB2 drones flying near the border, believed to be conducting Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions.

India has reportedly tightened security along its border with Bangladesh after a Bayraktar TB2 drone, identified with the transponder code TB2R1071, was spotted near the border areas of Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.

The drone is believed to have taken off from Tejgaon Air Base in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.

It is reportedly operated by the Bangladesh Army’s 67th unit and was conducting routine ISR missions.

The Bangladesh Armed Forces have acquired 12 Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Bayraktar TB2 drones from Turkey, with six currently operational.

This acquisition came a year after Pakistan purchased and deployed Bayraktar TB2 drones at strategic locations. Bangladesh claims these drones are used strictly for defensive purposes.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and have already increased security measures along the border,” a senior Indian security official told local media recently.

Another Indian military source confirmed that the presence of the Bangladeshi drone was detected by radar.

“These drones fly at very high altitudes and cannot be seen with the naked eye,” the security source said, adding that the Bangladeshi Bayraktar drone was tracked by the Indian Air Force (IAF) radar system.

“The IAF will raise this issue with the Bangladeshi authorities,” the source added.

Indian security sources believe this is not an isolated incident, noting that similar drone activity has been detected near the West Bengal border.

This suggests an increasing pattern of drone movements along the international border with Bangladesh.

Amid ongoing political unrest and instability in Bangladesh, Indian security sources highlighted that the detection of Bangladeshi Bayraktar TB2 drones near the border underscores the growing security challenges in the region.

Although the Bangladeshi drones have not violated Indian airspace, their proximity to the international border demands vigilance and proactive measures by New Delhi.

Indian security officials have acknowledged that these developments are a cause for concern. – DSA