The situation was particularly alarming in central and peninsular India since most of the existing surveillance systems were tasked to monitor the borders with Pakistan and China due to the higher level of "perceived threat" from there....

"But much more needs to be done. For instance, there are many gaps in airspace surveillance at 10,000-feet all over the country. While surveillance along the western and northern borders is just about okay, it’s inadequate around many vital areas in the mainland," says a senior defence official....

The IAF, for instance, requires 107 low-level surveillance radars but is making do with only around 40 full-operational ones at present. Similarly, it has just over 30 medium-level radars when around 50 are required.

"We also want at least a dozen Aerostat radars (sensors on blimp-like large balloons tethered to ground) but have got only two Israeli ones so far," says an IAF officer.

Doubts are already been raised whether the SBS system, a Rs 1,050 crore joint project between ISRO and DRDO to augment surveillance over the country’s airspace, will be able to meet its already extended deadline of January 2007. Besides, the forces are still equipped with aging air-defence weapons....

Times of India

good at least we are getting to know all this information, esp with Right To Information (RTI) Act under doubt.

rgds

VT-ASJ