The Center is working to set up modern air raid warning systems across vulnerable areas in India under the Air Raid Warning System (ARWS) project, and has begun recruiting former Indian Air Force (IAF) officers with experience in air defense operations to lead the initiative, according to officials familiar with the matter.
When completed, the project will ensure that all 244 vulnerable areas (mostly near the border) have a standard, modern and fully operational warning network to alert civilians in the event of aerial threats, including drones, missiles and aircraft.
“The project will ensure a standard air warning system on the ground as stated by the Civil Defense Manual. The initiative to set up a new warning system was proposed after Operation Sindoor last year. The use of drones in war requires air defense warning systems for civilians. Once this is established, the training of civilian volunteers will also be modified in line with changes over the years and learning from Operation Sindoor,” said an official familiar with the matter.
HT reported on 14 July 2025 that following the completion of exercises conducted on 7 May, 22 April and 30 June against the backdrop of a looming war with Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam attack, an internal assessment found most air raid warning systems faulty; The existing ones were out of order and had to be replaced with temporary sirens. “An old, outdated review that needs reviewing and is being done in a reckless manner.”
Documents seen by HT showed that the Directorate General (Fire Service, Civil Defense and Home Guard), a federal agency under the Home Ministry, is leading the project and employing experts from the Indian Air Force who have worked extensively on air defense operations, radar systems and air raid warning procedures.
The experts leading the project will be former Israeli Air Force officers with a rank not lower than Wing Commander (equivalent to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the army).
