Unfortunately, India is not new (or immune) to maritime attacks. Remember the ghastly 26/11 attacks that shook the whole country? The terrorists entered through a heavily populated but unprotected coastline. It was a harsh reminder of our coastline's vulnerabilities.
A lot has changed since the 2008 attacks. Government agencies have increased the surveillance and improved information gathering and sharing among different stakeholders. However, given the sheer length and nature of the coastline, we remain vulnerable to security threats.
AS can be imagined, protecting India's coastline is not an easy task.
India has a 7,516 km long coastline that spreads across nine states and four union territories. Although the seas around this coastline account for 75% of the world's maritime trade, it is susceptible to threats such as terrorist infiltration, narcotics trade, and entry of arms and ammunition. There are no physical barriers to prevent attacks or infiltrations.
"There are no physical boundaries to guard, sea boundaries are vast and therefore difficult to enforce. This will always remain the biggest challenge while securing the coastline," said a maritime security official when asked about maritime security. To add to the woes, the coastlines are closer to countries with whom the equation is not particularly friendly.
Among the many challenges, lack of coordination between the different security agencies, staff shortage, lack of training, and volatile environmental conditions, are cited as reasons for vulnerabilities. Let's also not ignore that terror attacks are getting more sophisticated and technology-driven. That's why there's an urgent need to invest in modern technologies to safeguard the coastlines.
Recently, the honourable Home Minister announced that the Government would prioritize coastal security by making it impenetrable. Advanced technologies have been touted as one of the main drivers for strengthening the security at the coastlines.
Let's look at the technologies that can bolster security.
The Government has been investing heavily in increasing border surveillance. In 2017-2018, the Government allocated Rs 2,335 crore for hi-tech surveillance. They have approved the erection of barbed wire fencing, floodlighting, and mobile check posts on the land adjoining coastal areas to monitor illegal activities and security threats.
Hi-tech surveillance can identify intrusions such as undetected vessels or movements in real-time and alert the security teams immediately to take pre-emptive measures. Advanced surveillance technology can detect small fishing boats and canoes that usually remained undetected when traditional surveillance systems were used.
Right after the 26/11 attacks, the coast guards were mandated to implement radar sensors along the coastline to capture data. The current radar sensors can scan objects in less than a second. Apart from that, more sophisticated multi-sensor options are also available to safeguard the coastlines.
Multi-sensor intrusion detection systems use a combination of sensors to track individuals and objects from a distance. They analyze the data from different sources to aid the maritime police in responding to threats in real-time.
A few multi-sensor detection systems also provide advanced AI capabilities to identify objects accurately. The multi-sensor system comprises LiDAR sensors and management software. While the sensor tracks the objects within the spatial view, the software fuses the data from LiDAR sensors for analysis.
The Indian Navy has already taken initiatives to push the defensive perimeters into the sea and away from the coasts to thwart all attempts of attacks. The perimeter intrusion detection systems further strengthen the security and help secure the perimeters from intrusions.
Most perimeter intrusion detection systems on land use a single-mode OFC cable that's installed on the barbed fences to protect the seaports and other critical assets from intrusions. These systems do not require power. They combine advanced signal processing algorithms and AI to differentiate between genuine intrusions and false alarms and enable the guards to take pre-emptive action at the right time.
The security of the coastline is critical as nuclear stations, defence installations, airports, and oil plants are nearby. Although technology plays a crucial role in security, it's equally important to choose technologies that can differentiate between genuine intrusions and false alarms, such as floating debris in the sea, movement of fishes and animals, or wind movement. The technology should aid the maritime police in safeguarding the coastlines by identifying the genuine threats and not overwhelm them by setting off alarms under the slightest pretext.
That's where Athena's security solutions come to the rescue. Athena provides an array of solutions such as multi-sensor threat detection and perimeter intrusion detection systems to protect high-security infrastructure like the coastline. We combine the best of technology and industry know-how to deliver the projects. Our expert team analyses, plans, and implements tailored solutions to suit the client's requirements.
To know more about our solutions, contact us.