>> technology / republic day delayed schedule too was considered possible only if there were no further hurdles. In February 2015, the EoI for BMS was finally issued to 14 domestic companies. However, only two consortiums, Tata Power SED-Larsen & Toubro, and Bharat Electronics-Rolta India, qualified the bids. In February 2016, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signalled these two Indian consortia, one led by Tata Power (Strategic Engineering Division) and the other led by Bharat Electronics (BEL), to develop a BMS prototype for the Indian Army, which could eventually generate about `40,000-50,000 crore worth of procurement for the Army. As per media reports, MoD informed BEL and Tata Power SED in writing that the consortia they respectively lead had been selected out of four that had given proposals in response to the MoD’s tender. MoD has instructed both consortia, one consisting of BEL and Rolta India, and the other comprising of Tata Power SED and Larsen & Toubro (L&T), to register “special purpose companies” for this project. Each of these development agencies will separately develop a working BMS. Each BMS prototype is to have four variants: one, for the infantry battalion group; two, for combat group (armour); three, for combat group (mechanised infantry); and, four, for Special Forces. Technologies to be included in each prototype include a geographical information system, multi-sensor data fusion system, rugged computing devices, and a software defined radio-based communication system for soldiers. Under ‘Make in India’, the government funds 80 per cent of the prototype development cost and the development agencies cover the
Photograph: PIB
real time information simultaneously with the commanders up the chain. It will be a critical element of the Army’s NCW capacity building as part of the Tac C3I. A project like the BMS is a multi-disciplinary process. It is, therefore, imperative that critical issues are addressed at the inception stage. For this, the test-bed must be in full, not truncated as has been the case in testing other operational information systems because of the void of the Tactical Communication System (TCS). A full test-bed would ensure that deficiencies do not crop up later at the fielding stage necessitating upgrades.
Conclusion
ICV BMP-2K tanks
rest. Prototype development is estimated at about $300 million, according to an executive of a domestic company participating in the consortium. Media quotes a senior executive from one of the consortia stating, “The challenge in developing a BMS is not on the hardware. With Indian vendors capable of manufacturing the latest state-of-the-art electronics, hardware will not be a challenge, but the challenge will be in deploying such a system. Considering the size of the Indian Army, an efficient command-andcontrol system is the heart of the system and the biggest stumbling block.”
The development agencies are free to choose overseas partners for technical assistance but the eventual tender will only be awarded to the domestic companies under the ‘Make in India’ category. The BMS prototypes will be developed and tested in the next 40 months; a final order of 600 plus such systems would then be placed for more than $5.8 billion. Once fully developed and proved, the BMS will be able to receive and transmit data, voice and images from multiple sources, including radar, cameras, laser range-finders and ground sensors, allowing the soldier on the battlefield access to
BMS for the Indian Army is an essential force multiplier that has been long overdue. It is good that this is being developed indigenously under ‘Make in India’, like the TCS. The biggest challenge naturally will be deployment on ground suiting every need of the Indian Army in varying terrain and environment conditions. Therefore, developing appropriate system would demand a great amount of flexibility without compromising on speed and security. The requirement no doubt will be colossal considering it will be fielded pan-Army at the battalion/regiment level, but similar system will eventually be required by the paramilitary forces (PMF) and even the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and state police forces involved in anti-terrorist and counterinsurgency operations if we are to achieve national net-centricity to counter the increasing irregular threats from terrorists, non-state actors and state-sponsored nonstate actors. SP
India Celebrates Republic Day
T
he Nation’s military prowess and achievements in different fields, state-of-the-art defence platforms, its diverse cultural and social traditions, and the government’s emphasis on self-reliance and indigenisation were showcased before the public at the historic Rajpath when the country celebrated its 68th Republic Day on January 26, 2017. The parade ceremony commenced at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate where the Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to the martyrs by laying a wreath. As per
tradition, after unfurling the national flag, the national anthem played with a 21-gun salute. The parade then commenced and the President Pranab Mukherjee took the salute. This year’s chief guest at the parade was Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Armed Forces. The highlights of this year’s parade were a 149-member UAE Presidential Guard, the Air Force, the Navy and Army contingent. For the first time a contingent of the
National Security Guard (NSG), popularly known as the Black Cat Commandoes, marched, past the Rajpath. The parade also saw the fly-past of three LCA Tejas aircraft and the Airborne Early Warning & Control System (AEW&C) developed by DRDO. The Indian Army’s missile firing capability, T-90 ‘Bhishma’ tank, infantry combat vehicle BMP-2K, mobile autonomous launcher of the BrahMos missile system, weapon locating radar ‘Swathi’, Akash weapon system, CBRN reconnnaisance vehicle and Dhanush gun system were the main draw in the mecha-
nised columns. The marching contingents of Army included horse-mounted columns of the 61st Cavalry, the Machanised Infantry Regiment, the Bihar Regiment, the 39 Gorkha Training Centre, 58 Gorkha Training Centre, the Madras Engineering Group and Centre and 103 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) Sikh LI. The parade was commanded by Lt General Manoj Mukund Naravane, General Officer Commanding of Delhi Area. Major General Rajesh Sahai, Chief of Staff, Headquarters, Delhi Area, was the parade second-in-command. SP
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Photographs: MoD
From left to right (clockwise): Various contingents marching down Rajpath; contingent of the UAE Armed Forces; T-90 Bhishma tank; Akash launcher systems; and the National Security Guard (NSG) marching contingent debut at the Republic Day parade.
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SP’s Land Forces 1/2017