Uri attack: Air wing of Border Security Force may be strengthen 

New Delhi: The air wing of the Border Security Force (BSF) is likely to be strengthen in view of Uri attack by terrorists in which as many as 18 army personnel were killed early this month.

Presently it has a fleet of 15 aircrafts and helicopters which are obsolete. The new proposal aims at modernising and expanding the fleet. The number of aircraft to be added to the fleet is not yet known but the number may be substantial as the cross-border infiltration is , lately, on the rise.

According to defence sources, a meeting was held to discuss the proposal which was attended, among others, by Director-general of the BSF and presided by home minister Rajnath Singh here on Tuesday. The meeting also discussed the Madhukar Gupta committee report.

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The committee was appointed following the Pathankot attack by Pakistan infiltrators some time back. It had also recommended modernisation and expansion of the air wing of the organisation.

The BSF air wing at present is almost redundant , the sources said. Until last year it had five aircraft and 11 helicopters out of which five have not been used for some time and the others also need constant repair and high maintenance.

Earlier this year BSF purchased 2 Mi17 helicopters. After Tuesday's crash of the VT-BSA, Superking B200, the fleet has been reduced to 15.