In Tekanpur, Madhya Pradesh, the Border Security Force’s Rustamji Institute of Technology (RJIT) just launched a cutting-edge drone lab. This new facility lets students dive into advanced drone technology, helping boost India’s defense preparedness to match powerhouses like China, Turkey, and Israel. The push comes straight from lessons learned in Operation Sindoor, where gaps in India’s drone capabilities stood out.
Officials at RJIT say the lab will let students tackle real-world projects in drone design, weapon systems, jamming tech, and even blending artificial intelligence into modern warfare. It’s all about keeping pace with how drones are reshaping battles, from spotting enemies to delivering precise strikes.
Prashant Jain, the principal at RJIT, shared his excitement this week. “Our institute plays a big role in pushing drone tech and defense readiness forward,” he said. Set up after the Kargil War for a greater purpose, RJIT stands out as the only engineering college run by the BSF. Half of its seats go to kids of BSF and other Central Armed Police Forces members. Under ADG Dr. Shamsher Singh’s guidance, we just opened this drone lab.
Jain pointed to Operation Sindoor as a wake-up call. It highlighted how India’s drone setup lags behind nations like China, Turkey, and Israel. “Warfare isn’t just about foot soldiers anymore—tech rules the field,” he explained. The Russia-Ukraine conflict proved it: Drones handle everything from surveillance to targeted attacks, backed by radar and anti-drone jamming.
Students at the lab are fired up, fueled by their studies and family ties to the forces. The team pulls in data from border drones to feed into training at the BSF School of Drone Warfare, making research more practical and impactful.
Looking ahead, Jain revealed a five-year plan centered on drone and automobile tech, with plans to branch into robotics and AI. “Shifting from car engineering to drones is a fresh challenge,” he said. “We’re grabbing top gear so students can build homegrown drone tech from scratch.”
RJIT holds a special spot as India’s first BSF engineering college. With so many BSF troops posted in remote borders, militant zones, and Naxal areas, families often face tough times getting good education for their kids. That’s why the institute started—to give children of BSF and other forces a shot at quality tech training, plus spots for civilians.
It all kicked off on October 2, 1999, when Padma Vibhushan K.F. Rustamji, BSF’s founding director general, inaugurated it. Rustamji always put his troops first, especially those in far-off posts or who gave their lives for the nation. He believed their families deserved strong education options.
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