Delhi sky was battle ready on Republic Day

With gun ships and frontline fighter aircraft, the Indian sky guards were all set to avert any untoward incident on the Republic Day as threat of air strikes post the Mumbai attacks loomed large over the country.u00a0

u00a0According to sources in intelligence agencies, the threat of aerial strike is more from the inside the country than outside. Delhi airspace would be perhaps the most protected zone till January 29 on account of the Beating Retreat ceremony.

According to senior IAF officers, two Mi-17 choppers, two Chetak helicopters and three MiG-29 fighters were put on a higher state of readiness to handle any situation in the Capital. Along with the MiG the choppers were also armed with guns and other arsenal.

"All the forward bases of the IAF including Hindon were asked to maintain Operational Readiness Procedure (ORP). Under ORP the aircraft can take off and scramble within seconds to respond to any emergency," said an officer.

The nearest active airbase to the Capital, Hindon is also undergoing a massive infrastructure modernization.u00a0

"It's difficult for any suspicious aircraft to enter Indian airspace and reach Delhi. But we are more worried about the abandoned airstrips in the neighbouring states, that can be used to fly unmanned aerial objects to target vital installations in the country," the officer said. He also informed that Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recently asked all the states to secure abandoned airstrips in their jurisdiction.

"For example Rajasthan recently identified and deployed its police on about 17 such airstrips under its jurisdiction," he said.