Indian Army Issues RFP for 30 Indigenous Passive Surveillance Suites to Bolster Border Security

New Delhi: In a move highlighting India’s commitment to enhancing indigenous defence manufacturing, the Indian Army recently released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the procurement of 30 Passive Surveillance Suite & Detection Systems. These advanced surveillance systems, sought under the Buy (Indian) category, are designed to provide superior early warning and detection capabilities against aerial, ground, and electronic threats.

Passive surveillance systems differ from active radar by detecting and tracking targets without emitting signals, thus remaining covert and less susceptible to jamming or countermeasures. Their ability to gather intelligence stealthily is crucial for monitoring sensitive border areas and strategic assets.

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The Indian Army’s new procurement drive reflects a broader policy to ramp up self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in defence production, reducing dependence on foreign imports. The RFP emphasizes indigenous design, development, and manufacture (IDDM) to foster domestic defence industrial capacity and innovation.

These Passive Surveillance Suites will likely incorporate a range of sensors including electro-optical, infrared, radio frequency analysis, and acoustic detection to provide multi-spectral situational awareness. They will be deployed along vulnerable borders such as those with China and Pakistan to bolster surveillance network coverage.

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Experts believe the new systems could revolutionize battlefield awareness by offering real-time data to commanders, enhancing threat detection and targeting precision while improving force protection. Electromagnetic silence and passive sensing reduce the risk of detection by adversaries, offering strategic advantages.

This procurement aligns with recent initiatives encouraging startups and public sector enterprises to collaborate on next-generation surveillance equipment to meet modern warfare challenges. India’s persistent investment in indigenous passive surveillance technology is expected to strengthen its border security posture significantly in the coming years.