New technology to border guards
FSBs Border Guard Service has started tests of a new system for automatic border control and taken unmanned aircrafts into use.
Chief of FSBs Border Guard Service Army General Vladimir Pronichev believes that technical re-equipment is one of the most important steps in creating a modern system for protection of the border. Testing of a new system called “Polosa-71” has started on Russia’s southern borders, Rossiyskaya Gazeta reports.
The system includes signal devices, equipment for video and radar surveillance, infrared, heat and seismic sensors.
The Russian border guards are also receiving new vessels and patrol boats. In course of the last five years 14 new vessels and 47 motor boats have been taken into service. The first vessel in the “Sprut” series was to be delivered to FSB’s coast guard only a week ago, BarentsObserver reported.
According to Pronichev, the border guards’ tasks have changed considerably over the last years. While the main task earlier consisted of protecting the borders from violators, the forces now cooperate with other FSB units in counteracting international terrorism and cross-border crime like drug trafficking, illegal immigration and smuggling.
FSB’s Border Guard Service consists of only professionals. The last conscript was dismissed in 2008.
