Indian Land Forces equipment

Indian Land Forces equipment evolution

By Paolo Valpolini

Considering the problems given by the Arjun MBT development, India recently ordered a new batch of T-90s part of which will be assembled locally. © Indian DRDO

Since many years jointness has become a mantra in all first tier armed forces around the world, however one of the most numerous forces in the world, that of India, has until now maintained separate services, which led to a lack of coordination, each of the three services tending to structure, equip, plan and prepare for single service operations. India’s military strength exceeds 1.4 million personnel, second only to China and slightly ahead of the United States and North Korea, to which we must add over 1.1 million reserve personnel. The Army is definitely the most numerous of the three services, with 1,129,900 active and 960,000 reserve troops.

IIndia shares over 3,200 km of border with its historical opponent, Pakistan, and nearly 3,500 km with the Asian superpower, China. While recently the relationship with the latter seems to improve, that with Islamabad remains extremely tense, the hostilities of February 2019 having marked a peak in the struggle between the two countries. With border issues still on the table, the northern part of the border along the so-called Line of Control does not constitute a legally recognized international boundary, how much the relationship between the two nuclear-armed countries will evolve remains a question mark even for local political analysts. What is absolutely certain is that New Delhi needs an effective military force to maintain its strength towards its neighbour.

To do so, last August the Indian Government announced the decision of appointing a Chief of Defence, who will head a staff that will be one step higher than his Army, Navy and Air Force, a move towards a joint stance that was awaited since quite a long time. Not only, more recently the Indian Government also announced a huge investment in the coming 5-7 years, in order to improve the armed forces preparedness to allow the country to be confronted with a war on two different fronts, one in the west and one in the north, although analysts argue that structuring forces for such a worst-case scenario might prove wrong. Some also contest the recent increase in manpower, stating that it would be better saving on manpower and investing in better equipment. That said, the recently announced investment announced is worth 130 billion US$, however no split between the three services and the nuclear deterrence was announced. Considering the Army, what emerged from the document calls for infantry modernisation, with the acquisition of 2,600 infantry combat vehicles and 1,700 futureready combat vehicles, the latter being aimed at replacing current T-72 Main Battle Tanks (MBTs), of which over 2,400 are in service.

President’s Modi “Make in India” initiative should bring most of that money to be spent locally, although in the past India showed that

its state industry was not yet able to cope with the development of complex systems without a considerable degree of risks, which led to delays in the development and production of many pieces of equipment, some of them having been abandoned since.

One example is the Arjun MBT, which development started in the mid-1970s and is in service in relatively small numbers, slightly more than 300 considering 1A and II models, Indian Army armoured formations being equipped mostly with T-72 Ajeya and T-90S Bhishma MBTs. In late 2019 New Delhi signed a contract with OFB HVF (Ordnance Factory Board Heavy Vehicles Factory), the state-owned company being requested to build 464 T-90S, which is understood to be a further batch of an agreement signed in 2006. The Indian Government has apparently also approved the acquisition of 464 T-90MS, Uralvagonzavod providing kits to OFB HVF to be assembled locally, however the contract signature is still pending. Slightly heavier, 48 versus 46.5 tonnes, the T-90MS has a more powerful engine, 1,130 versus 1,000 hp, linked to an improved transmission, and features new reactive armour tiles as well as a remotely controlled weapon station armed with a 7.62 mm machine gun in place of the pintle mounted MG of the T-90S.

Currently the Indian Army employs as Infantry Fighting Vehicle the BMP-2 Sarath, however the Army is looking for a new IFV to be developed locally, respecting the “Made in India” principle. © USMC

The model of the Whap 8x8 armoured platform under development by India’s DRDO; this platform should be used ad the base for a family of vehicles. © P. Valpolini

The Indian Army started receiving its first M777 from BAE Systems in late 2018. © BAE Systems

The current Indian Army Infantry Combat Vehicle (ICV) is the BMP-2 Sarath, produced in India under license and which is being upgraded. However India is considering a future tracked IFV, the DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) having started the development of a technology demonstrator in the late 1990s-early 2000s, a first vehicle having been shown in 2005. A Future ICV programme was launched in 2009, but nothing seems to have moved since, the 2025 in service date being definitely moving to the right, while New Delhi apparently rejected the Russian proposal for the adoption of the BMP-3.

Coming to wheeled vehicles, the DRDO has developed the Wheeled Armoured Platform 8x8, WhAP 8x8 in short, the programme aiming at producing a family of vehicles ranging from armoured personnel carrier, to reconnaissance, light tank, CBRN reconnaissance, etc. The declared GVW for amphibious operations is 24 tonnes, which might increase if no floating capability is required. The models seen at various exhibitions showed an infantry fighting vehicle version fitted with the BMP-2 turret, armed with the 2A42 30 mm automatic cannon, which would provide commonality with the tracked ICVs. Although no details were provided on protection, the double V-shaped hull and the shock resistant seats fitted with food pads to decouple legs from the floor show well that the WhAP 8x8 is designed to ensure high protection against mines. According to DRDO officials the engine can be rated at three different power outputs, which would allow trimming it to the GVW of the different versions in order to maintain similar power-to-weight ratio. The vehicle has concluded company testing, including ballistic and blast, and is ready to be considered by the Indian Army, which should soon launch an acquisition programme for a family of armoured wheeled vehicles.

Artillery is a key capability, especially along the border with Pakistan, where shooting over the border is quite common. To cope with its opponent new assets the Indian Army needs to modernise its indirect fire systems, heavily based

on outdated gun-howltzers mostly in the 105 and 122 mm calibres. In late 2018 the service took delivery of the first M777 produced by BAE Systems in the US and of the first K9 Vajra selfpropelled howitzer, all in the 155 mm calibre, the latter being a variant of the South Korean K9 Thunder developed and produced by Hanwha Techwin. The 52-calibre K9 Vajra is produced in India by Larsen & Toubro, a total of 100 howitzers having been ordered, while the production of the 145 39-calibre M777 on order sees the heavy involvement of Mahindra; for those howitzers

Larsen & Toubro is producing in India the K9 Varja, a variant of the South Korean K-9 Thunder designed by Hanwha Techwin. © Indian MoD

A model of the Pinaka 214 mm multiple racket launcher, in service with the Indian Army; it was developed by the DRDO and produced by the Ordnance Factories Board, Larsen & Toubro and Tata. © P. Valpolini With the “Made in India” in mind, the country is trying to acquire some degree of autonomy also in the artillery field, the Ordnance Factory Board producing an improved version of BAE Systems’ FH-77B. © Indian DRDO

India is requesting through the FMS channel the M982 Excalibur guided ammunition produced by Raytheon. India is however aiming at some independence on artillery, the Ordnance Factory Board having started the production of an improved version of BAE Systems’ FH-77B 155/39 mm towed howitzer known as Dhanush. The first six of 114 howitzers on order were delivered in April 2019, the contract to be fulfilled by 2022, while a further order for 300 systems might follow.

As for multiple rocket launchers, the DRDO developed the Pinaka 214 mm calibre system, which is produced by the Ordnance Factories Board and Larsen & Toubro, Tata providing the 8x8 truck. Currently the Indian Army fields the Pinaka with the Mk-I rocket, which has minimum and maximum ranges respectively of 12.6 and 37.5 km. An Mk-II rocket has been developed, its production being due to start in 2020; its ranges are respectively 16 and 60 km, and it features the same Pre-Formed Fragment or Submunition warheads, which have a weight of around 100 kg. Although longer than the Mk-I, the MK-II can be fired by the same launcher, and according to DRDO sources it is mostly considered an export item. The Mk-II was used as the base to develop the Guided Pinaka Rocket, which features a canard aerodynamic control kit and a GPS/INS guidance unit. According to DRDO its maximum range is of 75 km, thanks to some aerodynamic lift provided by the canard wings, the warhead being of the PFF type. It should also go into production in 2020, following the successful trial that took place on 19 December 2019 at DRDO’s Chandipur Integrated Test Range. For long

To improve the performances of its Pinaka 214 mm MLRS India’s DRDO is developing new rockets, among which the Guided Pinaka Rocket which production should start in 2020. © P. Valpolini

The ALH (Advanced Light Helicopter) Dhruv Mk III is being armed with MBDA’s Mistral air-to-air missiles. © Indian MoD

to-fire missiles. The Indian Army has in service a plethora of antitank missiles of Western and Russian origin, such as MBDA’s Milan, 9M133 Kornet, 9K114 Shturm, 9M120 Ataka-V, 9M119 Svir, 9M113 Konkurs, as well as Israel Aerospace Industries LAHAT tank-launched 120 mm missiles used on the Arjun tank. Most of those missiles are produced under license in India, however the Indian Army inventory is ageing and the service is looking for new systems to equip its infantry and mechanised infantry battalions. As stopgap systems an undisclosed number of Konkurs were ordered in early 2019 and will be produced locally under license by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL). In November 2019, after a lengthy and contested acquisition process, India has finally ordered a limited number, 12 launchers each with around 20 missiles, of Rafael’s fourth-generation Spike LR (Long Range), to replace some of the older missile systems in service. How much this will lead to a more consistent order of the missile of Israel origin is to be seen, a previous order for 275 launchers and 5,500 missiles having been cancelled.

Equipped with MBDA’s Mistral missiles in the air-to-air configuration, the Light Combat Helicopter is also armed with Thales 70 mm rocket launchers. © Indian MoD

range antitank engagement the Indian Army is acquiring a number of missiles from different sources. The production of the locally designed Nag third-generation missile is planned to start in 2020; a 42 kg system, it has a minimum range of 500 meters and a maximum range of 4 km, with a declared Pk of 0.8. It is fitted with an infrared imaging seeker and with a tandem hollow charge warhead that can defeat 800 mm armour behind ERA. It can strike both in direct mode or can carry top attack in order to hit the least armoured part of the tank. The Nag will be deployed on board a BMP-2 based tank destroyer vehicle that will be fitted with an optronic suite allowing day/ night operations and will carry six Nag ready

The Indian Army employs a wide range of small arms, one of the main contracts recently signed being for a considerable number of Caracal CAR 816 5.56 mm assault rifles. © P. Valpolini

Ties with Russia remain strong, the Indian Army main assault rifle being belonging to the AK family, a 750,000 order for 750,000 AK-203 to be produced locally having been signed recently. © Indian MoD

India already expressed an interest for a fifthgeneration antitank missile. While Rafael developed the latest versions of its Spike with fifth-gen capabilities, the other competitor is MBDA, with its MMP; to this end the European missile company strengthened its partnership with BDL, the company also having established a joint venture with Larsen & Toubro, known as L&T MBDA Missile Systems Limited.

MBDA’s interest is not limited to the land sector, the company having integrated its Mistral in the air-to-air configuration both on Indian Army’s Dhruv light utility helicopters, the first three Mk III aircraft having been delivered in February 2019, and Light Combat Helicopters, the latter being also fitted with Thales 70 mm rocket launchers.

Another contested field is that of small arms, India having launched a number of tenders in the past, most of which were not finalised, this partly because of the decision to provide a national solution. India chose the 5.56 mm NATO calibre, while for the 7.62 mm it remained with that of

Soviet-era rifles. The former is mostly in use by Special Forces and the National Security Guards antiterrorism team, and include M16 and M4A1, Steyr AUG, FN SCAR, IMI Tavor TAR-21 and SIG SG 550, a considerable number of Caracal CAR 816 being on order. The issue Army rifle is the 7.62 mm AKM, paramilitary formations using the AK-103. A joint venture between India and Russia, the latter controlling 49.5% of the shares, has been created, which in Q1 2019 inaugurated a new production plant that will produce 70,000 AK-203 per year in the future, to reach a total of 750,000 rifles, only a few tens of thousands being provided directly from Russia in the initial phase.

While “Make in India” remains a key issue, ties between India and foreign nations and companies remain strong and are even increasing. Beside its historical partner, Russia, New Delhi is increasing its ties in the defence domain with Israel, France, South Africa, as well as the United States, the first land, sea and air exercise in the history of IndiaUS military relationship, “Tiger Triumph”, having taken place in November 2019.

U.S. and Indian troops on patrol during exercise “Tiger Triumph” in Kakinada, India; the exercise, which took place in November 2019, markets a considerable step forward in US-Indian military relationship. © USMC

10 U.S. Marines currently under 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, and members of the Indian Army conduct a patrol during exercise “Tiger Triumph”; while on shore, the forces conducted limited patrolling, moved simulated victims to medical care and produced and distributed drinking water. © USMC