Indian forces are deliberating on preparing a standard operating procedure (SOP) to destroy spy balloons, weeks after the US pricked the one floated by the Chinese on the suspicion that it was eavesdropping from their airspace.

With reports hinting that a surveillance balloon was sighted over the Andamans, which houses the tri-service command of the Indian armed forces, in January, the defence establishment is engaged in deliberations on the need for a detection, interception and response architecture, said government sources. Discussions for a blueprint also cover the kind of weapons that could be used to neutralise balloons which appear to be controlled from a remote location.

Once the three forces put their minds together on the proposal, a presentation would be made to the Defence Ministry top brass, said government sources.

Also read: Chinese spy balloon spotted over US airspace; Beijing says it is looking into reports

The forces are also studying global responses, apart from that of the US, to such an instance, and international and Indian laws on objects flying at above 60,000 feet, government sources said.

The spotting of the suspected spy balloon is a wake-up call for India. The US spotted it over Alaska on January 28, and the Biden administration directed its Air Force to take it down on February 4.

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