IAF sets radars in TN to track flying Tigers

NEW DELHI: The LTTE air strike on a Lankan army base on Monday has stirred the defence ministry into action. The Indian Air Force has beefed up radar coverage along the Tamil Nadu coast by sending eight of its travelling radar units, though intelligence sources insist the attack does not hold grave implications for India.

The radars have been set up in a jungle near Sundaramudaiyan village in Ramanathapuram district and trials are being held, a senior IAF officer said. A team of 50 IAF personnel will be posted there to monitor the skies, he said. A plan to set up a permanent air base at the spot is also being discussed.

Monday’s attack led to several rounds of discussions at the IAF headquarters and in the defence ministry. The IAF is concerned about the implications of low-flying aircraft capable of dropping bombs, but officers say there is not much to worry since India has a credible radar network comprising military and civilian systems.  Turn to p16

The strike has, however, led the IAF to believe that it needs to beef up its southern radar coverage, where focus has been minimal so far. “Most of our air defence radars are in the north,” an officer said.

India has two powerful surveillance systems — the Israeli-made Aerostat balloon radars as well as an airborne early warning system — to tail low-flying planes.

India has two Aerostat radars, both of which are deployed along the Pakistan border, and which have been giving “excellent” results since their deployment a few months ago. The ‘Phalcon’, an Israeli early warning system mounted on a transport plane, is set to be included in the IAF early next year.

The navy, too, has swung into action and begun round-the-clock patrolling of the seas from the forward observation point near Dhanushkodi since Wednesday. The Coast Guard has been enlisted to patrol the international maritime border in the Palk Straits. Policemen manning check-posts have also been told to inspect every vehicle passing on coastal roads.

Meanwhile, security officials insist that the LTTE’s attack does not have the kind of implications for India that are being projected in certain sections. “It was a morale-booster for the LTTE, which was being badgered by Sri Lankan forces for some time now,” said a long-time watcher of the Tigers. “It’s nothing more than that. They may not even repeat it.”