A first-of-its-kind counter-terrorism training was jointly carried out by India and the European Union (EU). The training focused on safeguarding critical infrastructure and soft targets against emerging threats from hostile drones. The three-day training exercise concluded on Wednesday in Gurugram, Haryana.
Senior officers, instructors and technical experts from India's National Security Guard (NSG) and the EU's High Risk Security Network (HRSN) were part of the training. The rapid proliferation of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and their misuse by state and non-state actors pose serious security challenges, an EU readout said.
Commercial drones have advanced rapidly in both technology and accessibility, making them inexpensive and adaptable tools, it said, adding that violent extremists have exploited these devices for purposes ranging from surveillance to carrying out attacks. The India-EU counter-terror training focused on the use of advanced UAS and counter-UAS (C-UAS) capabilities.
EU Ambassador to India Herve Delphin said the joint training showed how the EU and India are turning commitment into action, "working side-by-side to keep our citizens safe".
"Like India, the EU and its member states have been directly exposed to direct and deliberate drone-related threats. Such threats evolve rapidly, as part of hybrid tactics. Only swift and coordinated responses will keep us ahead. Hence, the importance of such a joint training seminar."
HRSN is a specialised European platform of 28 units from 21 European Union member states. The EU brought an HRSN team of UAS and C-UAS instructors and technical experts to Manesar, Gurugram, for the training exercise.
India's elite counterterrorism force — NSG headed the training with its extensive operational experience in detecting, tracking, and neutralising hostile drones. Special forces training on UAS counter-terrorism tactics in urban environments, combined with a joint tactical simulation exercise, allowed NSG and HRSN units to test and strengthen real-world response capabilities, the EU readout said.
"The peer-to-peer activity blended tactical and technological training, culminating in a joint exercise designed to strengthen interoperability and set the foundation for future collaboration. It also strengthened mitigation skills and familiarised participants with deployment models for major events," the readout said.
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