Faced with intelligence inputs of a possible threat from the skies on the pattern of 9/11, the Indian Air Force has decided to install a highly sophisticated radar in Delhi to detect low-flying aircraft.
The decision to install 'Aerostat' radar in Delhi comes close on the heels of Defence Minister A K Antony saying that the country needs to guard against aerial threats.
"We are planning to deploy a dedicated Aerostat radar to secure the capital from threats from low-flying aircraft," IAF sources said.
These radars would be integrated with units of surface-to-air missiles based in the capital.
After the recent terror strikes in Mumbai, intelligence agencies had warned about a WTC-type terror strikes at important locations across the country.
Antony had chaired a high-level meeting of the tri-services chiefs and his ministry officials to discuss means to counter any such aerial threat after terrorists breached coastal security in Mumbai recently.
In response to the intelligence warnings, Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major had recently said, "We are prepared to tackle any such threat."
The deployment of an Aerostat is one of the steps taken by the IAF to strengthen the aerial security of the capital, sources said.
