The Indian Army has ramped up its surveillance grid with the induction of long-distance surveillance drones, radars and night vision capabilities. The enhanced surveillance platforms give the Indian Army an accurate picture of Chinese activities across the LAC. Feed from drones, satellite imagery, radars and ground cameras are being assessed and collated in an integrated manner for a robust and accurate assessment of the ground situation on the Chinese side.

Day and night surveillance capabilities have witnessed a major upgrade, with feeds from satellites, a wide array of radars and Israeli Heron Mark-II drones being sent to integrated surveillance and communication hubs to keep tabs on the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) across the border. There has been a major concerted push to use technology, with fusion of air and ground-based surveillance assets, to bring in transparency.

Officials pointed out that the army has deployed 140 AI-based surveillance systems, which include high-resolution cameras, sensors, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) feed and radar feed.[9] These are then collected and applied through AI, all in the name of detecting intrusions at borders while classifying targets.[9] Early this year, at Aero India, an AI-based surveillance software called AGNI-D was unveiled for surveillance and thwarting transgression; it is deployed in the eastern Ladakh sector and can recognize any movement, weapons, vehicles, tanks, or missiles captured by army surveillance cameras, both live and recorded, analysing video footage and identifying movement along the border and alerting soldiers of suspicious activity.[9]

The article notes that "efforts include the enhancement of technical surveillance infrastructure established over the past five years to monitor the LAC continuously." It adds that "a comprehensive surveillance network has been set up to monitor the LAC and nearby areas around the clock," indicating an integrated, always-on monitoring system along the India–China LAC, especially in eastern Ladakh.

According to sources, since 2020 when the military standoff began in eastern Ladakh, India has established a comprehensive surveillance network to extensively monitor the LAC and surrounding areas round the clock. This is being further upgraded and strengthened, with the long-term aim of reducing additional patrolling effort.

To take advantage of the developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Army has, in the last several years, developed in-house algorithms to analyse in real-time the inputs coming from various sensors in the field, according to sources in the security establishment.[10] Over 145 such assets, based on these solutions, have been deployed so far.[10] “The Army has deployed several units of AI-powered smart surveillance systems in the northern and western borders. The system is capable of handling heterogeneous inputs from devices such as pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras and handheld thermal imagers. This has considerably reduced the requirement of manual monitoring,” a source said.[10]

The technology push by the Army has seen the deployment of a wide range of cameras, sensors, radars, motion detectors, satellite imagery, drones — which are all backed by an indigenous Artificial Intelligence software — to keep a track of the movement of the People‘s Liberation Army (PLA), not just along the LAC but also well within the enemy territory.

India has introduced a cutting-edge battlefield surveillance system dubbed the “Sanjay,” designed to significantly enhance the operational capabilities of the Indian Army.[2] Developed in collaboration with state-owned Bharat Electronics Limited, the system integrates data from a range of ground and aerial sensors to create a unified “common surveillance picture” of the battlefield.[2] With its state-of-the-art sensors and analytics, Sanjay is capable of effectively monitoring vast land borders, including the strategically sensitive Line of Actual Control with China, and is equipped with artificial intelligence to assess battlefield scenarios in real time, providing vital surveillance for troop placements, precise targeting, and other tactical decisions.[2]

India has significantly cranked up its day and night surveillance at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Arunachal Pradesh sector using a fleet of remotely piloted aircraft and other assets as part of a broad strategy to strengthen overall military preparedness to deal with any Chinese misadventure. A sizeable fleet of Israeli-made Heron medium-altitude long-endurance drones is carrying out round-the-clock surveillance over the LAC in the mountainous terrain and sending crucial data and images to command and control centres.

Citing defence officials, the article says that China has a three-tier surveillance system at border posts, and that "India, too, has a similar surveillance mechanism in place." It specifies that "India has deployed a range of drones, alongside radars, electro-optical equipment, and other surveillance devices to keep track of PLA movement along the entire LAC." It also mentions that the Indian Army has deployed indigenous systems such as "face recognition software and homegrown thermal imagers" to track movement across the borders, indicating use of advanced sensing and analytics.

India is going in for a major upgrade of surveillance capabilities along the northern borders with China through an array of drones, sensors, reconnaissance and electronic warfare equipment to keep tabs on the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in real-time and strengthen measures to detect intrusions. The acquisition and induction plans range from mini-drones for high-altitude areas and ultra-long-range surveillance cameras to MALE and HALE remotely-piloted aircraft systems. There is also a project simultaneously underway to lease three to four satellite communication-enabled Heron UAVs from Israel through an inter-governmental agreement for the Army.

The Indian Army’s ability to make informed operational decisions based on keeping a real-time watch on the enemy by integrating a vast array of sensors and observers got a boost on Monday, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launching ‘Sanjay’, an indigenously developed Battlefield Surveillance System (BSS).[8] Sanjay effectively links together inputs from thousands of sensors and observation platforms, including satellites, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, air defence radars, battlefield surveillance radars, weapon locating radars, long-range reconnaissance and observation system, thermal imagers as well as recce vehicles and human foot patrols.[8] These are integrated to generate a comprehensive, near real-time surveillance picture for commanders.[8]

The report states that "the central government has approved a Rs 6,000 crore project to install high-power radars along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to monitor the activities of the Chinese Air Force." It adds that these made-in-India radars "are planned to be deployed along the LAC and the Line of Control with Pakistan" and are "meant to monitor Chinese Air Force activities in the Ladakh sector," showing significant radar-based surveillance infrastructure being built along the LAC.

Along with the help of satellites and drones, Indian security forces are also creating a network of surveillance cameras and sensors to keep a close watch on the Chinese Army along the Line of Actual Control. "A number of these new cameras and sensors have been deployed along the Line of Actual Control from Eastern Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh to keep a track of adversary's activities", government sources told ANI here. "The high resolution unattended or remote-controlled cameras help in keeping a close watch on activities in far-flung areas and locations and also give time to ground troops to reach there," they said. The sources said the surveillance network comprising these cameras and sensors is helping the ground commanders respond swiftly to situations there. The Indian Army had highlighted the need for creating this surveillance network in a briefing to a parliamentary committee to keep a close watch on the Chinese actions there.

According to sources, since 2020 when the military standoff began in eastern Ladakh, India has established a comprehensive surveillance network to extensively monitor the LAC and surrounding areas round the clock. This is being further upgraded and strengthened, with the long-term aim of reducing additional patrolling effort. In April this year, The Indian Express reported that India is in the process of geotagging established patrolling points, key features, and landmarks, to help demarcate the LAC clearly, aiding easier identification of disputed areas for future talks aimed at resolution and to enable smoother patrolling by Indian troops while preventing clashes with Chinese soldiers.

Enhancing the use of technology to keep an eye on China and Pakistan, the Army has deployed some 140 artificial intelligence-based surveillance systems to get live feed of the ground situation.[3] The 749-km-long Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan and 3,448-km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China now have world-class surveillance systems.[3] The systems include high-resolution cameras, sensors, UAV feed and radar feed, which are collated and applied through artificial intelligence to arrive at possible scenarios.[3]

Discussing space-based surveillance, the article notes that "India’s border surveillance capabilities and national security are poised to get a game-changing boost with the launch of the all-weather" radar imaging surveillance satellite RISAT-1B (EOS-09). It explains that Phase III of the Space-Based Surveillance (SBS) mission "has already paved the way for the launch of 52 surveillance satellites in low earth and geostationary orbits" and that the surveillance satellite project aims to "improve land and maritime domain awareness" including "monitoring along the disputed Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China." It emphasizes that the project is managed by the National Security Council Secretariat and Defence Space Agency, integrating multiple satellites from ISRO and private companies.

A big surveillance push using latest technology to offset the requirement of deploying extra troops on the contested border with China in Arunachal Pradesh and a massive thrust on building infrastructure to improve connectivity with forward areas for faster mobilisation of soldiers are the top priorities for the Indian Army in the sensitive sector, the commander of a key mountain division in the eastern sector said on Monday. “We are creating more (battlefield) transparency through the use of technology ---the fusion of an array of sensors including ground-based and air-based sensors, a network of radars and unmanned systems. The adversary cannot surprise us,” Minwalla said. The use of latest technology at the mountain division’s hi-tech surveillance centre is playing a critical role in tracking the developments and PLA activities along LAC in Arunachal Pradesh and across it, Minwalla said. The surveillance centre is tasked with collecting, analysing and disseminating critical information to commanders on the ground.

This proactive approach is bolstered by multi-sensor data fusion technology, which consolidates satellite imagery, ground sensor data, and AI-driven analytics into a real-time digital map of potential threats.[5] Developed in collaboration with the Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geoinformatics, SAMA integrates inputs from the Army’s Command and Control Communication System, battlefield surveillance systems, and electronic situational reports to offer a unified, real-time decision-support tool for commanders.[5]

The report says that "India has significantly cranked up its day and night surveillance at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Arunachal Pradesh sector using a fleet of remotely piloted aircraft and other assets as part of a broad strategy to strengthen overall military preparedness." It attributes the information to people familiar with developments, highlighting increased use of drones (remotely piloted aircraft) and other surveillance assets for continuous monitoring in the Arunachal sector of the LAC.

The article describes that India is upgrading its surveillance tech along the Ladakh border (LAC) so that "India's network—five years in the making—is getting a major upgrade for round-the-clock monitoring, so there's less need for risky foot patrols." It notes that the surveillance upgrade aims to avoid misunderstandings after the 2020 standoff, and points to a networked system for continuous monitoring rather than isolated patrols, indicating an emerging integrated surveillance and early-warning posture in the Ladakh sector.

“ITBP has sought deployment of more high-tech surveillance cameras that can see 25-30 kilometres inside the Chinese territory. At high altitude, drones have been useful in monitoring activities of Chinese forces,” said a senior government official, who did not wish to be identified. LORROS is a sensor system which provides long-range day-time and night-time surveillance. It can detect and track human as well as vehicular movements during day and night as well as bad weather. The ITBP proposal for more UAVs, radars, LORROS and other surveillance equipment is part of a broader push to strengthen monitoring of the LAC and adjacent areas.

The Indian Army is on the cusp of technological transformation and rapidly expanding its use of artificial intelligence (AI) to bolster security along the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan and the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.[1] The Indian Army has deployed AI-driven reconnaissance drones and sensor fusion technologies along the LoC and LAC to enhance threat detection, track movements, and provide early warning capabilities in challenging terrains, according to senior officials.[1] The Army is also operationalising Project Sanjay, a network of AI-enabled surveillance centres that process battlefield intelligence to enhance coordination and response efficiency, with machine-learning algorithms improving object detection along the LoC and LAC where thermal imaging and anomaly detection tools identify enemy fortifications, infiltration attempts, and strategic build-ups.[1]

The Army commander said the enhanced surveillance platforms provide an accurate picture of Chinese activities across the LAC. He added that the Army has inducted long-distance surveillance drones, new radars and platforms for night vision capabilities, and that feeds from drones, satellite imagery, radars and ground cameras are being assessed and collated in an integrated manner.

To enhance the visibility envelope of the soldiers, there should be a chain of manned and unmanned ground surveillance systems based on electro-optical equipment, radars, and unattended ground sensors. Backing up the ground surveillance, there should be an array of aerial and space-based systems. Satellites and aerial photography by air force aircraft would enable a deeper look across the LAC. The complete surveillance architecture must be connected by a communication network that enables high-speed transmission of large amounts of data.

The Indian Army is focusing on round-the-clock surveillance capability and has been installing more cameras and sensors and using satellite imagery on the northern frontiers with China, sources in the defence ministry have said. “The Indian Army has been installing additional surveillance cameras and sensors on a war footing at the sensitive zones prone to Chinese transgressions along the 3,488km border and also using satellite imagery to deal with any Chinese misadventure,” a ministry official told The Telegraph. “The Indian Army has recently procured more advanced Israeli-made Heron drones, which have been carrying out round-the-clock surveillance with real-time images. These drones are capable of operating for nearly 30 hours at a stretch at altitudes up to 30,000ft,” the official said. The army has already deployed additional cameras and has been using satellite imagery to monitor the “aggressive” Chinese troops deployment along the Line of Actual Control in the eastern sector in the wake of the latest transgression by the People’s Liberation Army in Arunachal Pradesh.

From new Artificial Intelligence-enabled software to track movements of Chinese patrols to integrating a range of ground and air-based sensors that look deep across the Line of Actual Control, the Army is stepping up surveillance capabilities in the Eastern Sector in the face of an increasingly aggressive PLA.[4] Central to the response are establishments like the division surveillance centre at Rupa which receive real-time images and inputs of PLA movements along LAC; the inputs – from UAVs, helicopter-based sensors, ground radars and satellite feed – are collated and analysed to formulate a response strategy.[4] “Our focus is the fusion of sensors, our ground and air based sensors are being fused and it’s a constant effort to improve capabilities,” says Maj Gen Zubin Minwalla, noting an AI-enabled software that distinguishes signatures picked up by battlefield surveillance radars and categorises signals (soldiers, vehicles or animals), sending real-time updates to the command centre.[4]

The article reports on the Indian Air Force's "mountain radar project" aimed at countering China's radar network along the LAC. It explains that the project will create "a comprehensive radar network capable of deep surveillance into Chinese territory" and that radars worth Rs 10,000 crore have received approval. It adds that "mountain radars" will be strategically positioned "to cover the entire northern frontier of India," describing a layered radar surveillance architecture along the India–China border.

The plan calls for a comprehensive integrated border management system to be activated at multiple points along the border with China. The report says this would create an electronic surveillance net near the passes along the LAC.

Sources told India Today that the Indian Army has installed PTZ cameras and motion sensors in sensitive areas along the LAC in eastern Ladakh to monitor Chinese activity. The Indian Army has now deployed motion-sensitive cameras and sensors to monitor Chinese activity in forward areas along the LAC. The equipment includes PTZ (pan tilt zoom) cameras and sensors, sources told India Today. Such state-of-the-art equipment will not only enable the Indian Army to keep track of the adversary but also send out a timely warning in case of any escalations. The plan to set up a surveillance net along the LAC had been in play for some time but the military standoff in eastern Ladakh has prompted the top brass to fast-track the process, added sources.

In a discussion of technological and diplomatic measures at the LAC, the video describes that since the 2020 military standoff in eastern Ladakh, "India has established a comprehensive surveillance network to extensively monitor the LAC and surrounding areas around the clock." It adds that this network "is being further upgraded and strengthened with a long-term aim of reducing additional patrolling effort," suggesting an integrated, sensor-based system for continuous monitoring and early warning along the LAC.

…Indian Air Force aircraft are now carrying out sorties in new aerial patrolling along the India-China border. India has increased technical drone surveillance as well of the area, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police or the ITBP has inducted more battalions into the sector to support Army along the 3488 kilometre Line of Actual Control. India has also deployed its specialized high-altitude forces along the LAC to repel any transgression in the Western, middle or eastern sectors. The military and the National Technical Research Organisation have been asked to deploy more surveillance groups in that area so that the battle theatre becomes more transparent. This after Indian government gave a clear mandate to the Indian Army to enhance monitoring and situational awareness along the LAC following the Galwan face-off.

Beyond swarm concepts, the urgent requirement today is integrated drone networking, where all drones operating in the TBA, tethered and untethered, feed centralised, synchronised data and live video into an integrated command-and-control centre.[12] By presenting this information on a single, unified screen, supported by AI-assisted analysis and real-time dissemination, commanders at rear and higher echelons gain a faster, clearer understanding of the battlefield, thereby compressing the OODA loop and significantly enhancing operational efficiency.[12]

This earlier report describes an "ambitious project" to install high-resolution surveillance cameras along the China border, noting that a pilot project in 2013 "to monitor the movement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) has failed to give the desired results" and that the government was rethinking its strategy. It explains that cameras were to be put up at 50 locations including Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Sikkim and Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, with live-feed to help plan patrolling, showing previous efforts at a camera-based surveillance network along the LAC that did not succeed and led to reconsideration.

In a major revelation at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Lt Gen Dinesh Singh Rana disclosed how the Indian Army used AI-powered prediction systems to anticipate and foil an unprecedented Chinese move along the Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh. Rana explained how a locally developed, low-cost AI tool detected early signs of military build-up across the border and helped predict the timing of the move, enabling timely force positioning and evacuation planning. He further described efforts to integrate sensors of all three services, cyber and space assets, and external data such as satellite light analysis software to identify emerging hotspots along the border. This presentation indicates ongoing work to apply artificial intelligence and data fusion to multi-source surveillance feeds in the LAC environment.

The Indian Army has been deploying AI-based surveillance systems at the borders to reduce manual monitoring and enhance its capabilities, according to a report based on ANI.[7] The AI-powered systems will help the Army keep watch on real-time media monitoring, pattern recognition and prediction of adversary courses of action along the borders with China and Pakistan.[7]

The PLA has an edge over the Indian Army at the LAC since it is not tasked to maintain a constant physical vigil, rather content with the usage of networked and remotely-controlled surveillance systems. These surveillance capabilities are augmented with strategically built barren flat ground patches along the LAC to serve as helipads for deploying Rapid Reaction Forces whenever required.

Since the 2020 Ladakh standoff, Indian armed forces have pursued a concept of an integrated surveillance and early-warning grid along the LAC, combining inputs from ground sensors, electro-optical systems, drones, reconnaissance aircraft and satellites. Open-source analyses and defence commentaries describe this as moving toward a multilayered, networked "sensor-to-shooter" architecture, with emphasis on real-time data links and AI-driven analytics to reduce reaction time and improve threat detection. While detailed technical specifications and deployment maps are not publicly available, these discussions consistently refer to efforts to achieve continuous monitoring from Ladakh to Arunachal through fused multi-sensor data and secure communications.

China’s PLA is believed to have installed two Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Ranging (ISTAR) sensor systems close to India’s border in Arunachal Pradesh. The systems, called ‘hot eyes’ and ‘golden eyes’, are aimed at ensuring round-the-clock vigil over the strategic region, according to reports. The report notes that Indian forces have responded with their own surveillance build-up, including cameras, sensors and drones, contributing to a technologically dense observation environment on both sides of the LAC.