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DEFENCE: INTELLIGENCE REVAMP
Upgradation Upshot
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DIA: ALL-IN-ONE
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# A super-spy set-up, Defence Intelligence
Agency (DIA), created, with military, navy and air intelligence
under it.
# No additional funds sanctioned, to manage
with existing resources.
# The Defence Imagery Processing and Analysis
Centre also under DIA. To get high-resolution satellite pictures
of target areas.
# The DIA chief, designated deputy chief
of defence staff, to report to the chief of defence staff.
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While the Cabinet
has sanctioned upgradation of intelligence-gathering capabilities, additional
manpower and equipment for the RAW and IB, the DIA is expected to manage
with the existing resources. The Border Security Force's intelligence
wing, G branch, has also been cleared for equipment upgradation aimed
at strengthening its aviation wing.
In case of the RAW, the Government has already
approved some pending proposals, including increase in the frequency of
border spy missions. Its air surveillance wing, the Aviation Research
Centre (ARC), will have more aircraft fitted with high-resolution cameras
and state-of-the-art communication equipment to pick up stray electromagnetic
emissions and conversations. The RAW has an official budget of nearly
Rs 200 crore, but it also has a large unaccounted discretionary fund at
its disposal. By giving a green signal for additional manpower and equipment,
the Government has in effect injected more funds into the agency.
The IB, which will have K.P. Singh as its new
director, has a budget of Rs 70-80 crore and is slated to become better
equipped to monitor radio communication and intercept signals. This is
aimed at gathering better intelligence in the insurgency-hit areas of
Kashmir and the North-east. Resources will be provided to train IB personnel
for decoding cyber messages and to equip them with better linguistic skills.
During the Kargil war, despite picking up Pakistani intercepts, the agencies
could do little as they did not have interpreters for Pashto, Balti, Shani
and Dari languages spoken in PoK.
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RAW: MORE SPY FLIGHTS
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# Increased spy flights permitted in border
areas.
# More aircraft to be fitted with high
resolution cameras for photo-reconnaissance.
# Hi-tech surveillance equipment sanctioned
to pick up electromagnetic emissions and communication signals.
# More funds sanctioned for gathering
intelligence.
# Additional manpower approved for collecting
intelligence.
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The DIA, with a budget of around Rs 10 crore,
will have to make do with only structural changes for the time being.
Headed by a director-general, it will come under the proposed chief of
defence staff establishment and designated deputy chief of defence staff
(intelligence). He will have the army, navy and air intelligence wings
under him and will give intelligence assessment to the NSA. The Defence
Imagery Processing and Analysis Centre, a satellite-based intelligence
unit, will also come under the DIA. It will obtain and interpret satellite
pictures of target areas from the Department of Space to facilitate military
operations.
For aerial reconnaissance and photography, the
DIA will rely on the Indian Air Force's MiG-25 R, Avros and Canberra aircraft.
The IAF is looking to upgrade its surveillance capabilities with the acquisition
of airborne early warning systems such as the Israeli Phalcon and unmanned
aerial vehicles like the Israeli Searcher II.
While the Government believes the changes will improve intelligence perception
and threat assessment, doubts exist over the quality of inputs as the
agents in the field will remain the same. A section of the intelligence
community feels there won't be much change as only the top spectrum has
been changed. However, making the intelligence heads accountable at least
makes for a good beginning.
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