NSG raising modern counter-terror commandos

NSG is in the process of raising counter-terrorism and counter-hijack commandos.

The elite NSG is in the process of raising specialised counter-terrorism and counter-hijack commandos by 2015-16. They will be independent to operate in a hostile environment with the help of artificial intelligence gadgets being developed for them indigenously by DRDO and other premier institutions.

Speaking at the 27th Raising Day of NSG at Manesar,DG R K Medhekar said,NSG is now on the verge of a quantum jump. We have set our plans to prepare a modern commando. A five-year plan has been activated. It primarily concentrates on the commando8230;a commando who will be independent to operate. The plan has been made keeping in mind that a commando should be independent when he operates8230;his weapon,his body armour,communication devices,body wearable computer. Water and food should be with him on his body.

The cost of each commando prepared for the job will vary between Rs 3-4 crore and a single commando will carry a weight of 15 kg at any given time. He will be equipped with digital maps where he can receive instruction through text.

The NSG chief said two battalions 2000 commandos will emerge out once the trials and tests are complete and they will be able to operate from air,water and land. Medhekar said the modern commando will be on par with the men of other elite special forces of the world as terrorists and their designs are advancing with time.

This developing of modern commando requires a lot of work and developing of data8230;we are doing it in collaboration with DRDO and artificial intelligence institutes. We have to depend on indigenous methods for this as no one shares their expertise in this field, Medhekar said. The NSG DG said the new age commando would be able to transmit real-time images of a crucial operation like the one that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistans Abbottabad early this year.

Our sanction for manpower has been approved keeping in mind our expansion because of four new hubs and two regional centres that were announced in the aftermath of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. The permanent structure facilities will soon be inaugurated in all the hubs. The NSG has also begun training its commandos deployed as Sky Marshals and on VIP security in a new form of Philippines martial art which teaches only offensive action leading to immediate neutralisation of the opponent, he added.

Meanwhile,the NSG also received a Jammer SUV developed to secure VIPs which can insulate the protectee and his cavalcade from any remote-controlled IED explosion within 100 metres. The Jammer Vehicle has been developed indigenously by Bharat Electronics Limited BEL for exclusive use by the NSG mobile security teams.