Security of Himalayan frontiers: Role of science and technology, modern air surveillance, remote sensing

The mighty Himalayas stand as a sentinel to dissuade would-be aggressors into India. The difficult terrain, rarified atmosphere, and extreme cold present unforgiving challenges. Our experience in Siachen has shown that the environment is probably more deadly than the enemy. The psychological effects and other illnesses degrade soldiers’ ability. The accuracy and performance of weapons also suffer. For instance, at an elevation of only 3,100 metres, a round fired at a range of 1,000 m will impact as much as 180 cm higher than at sea level.