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capability through a thermal imager integrated with the tank‘s FCS. Three hundred T-72 tanks of the Army had been fitted with thermal imaging stand-alone sights (TISAS). Later 300 more TISAS were added bringing the total to 600 TISAS. Thus the remaining about 1,000 T-72 tanks will be fitted with more modern integrated fire control systems. However, the overall night fighting capability of India’s armour is currently inadequate and operationally unacceptable. The T-90, the improved T-72 M1 tanks and Arjun tanks, will constitute India’s armour might in the future till a new MBT is chosen or designed indigenously. Meanwhile, light tanks for the Eastern theatre are still being debated.
ment Organisation (DRDO) and Israel for MRSAM for all the three services. Successor to Igla have been shortlisted and trials have been held. However, the results have not been finalised. Shortlisted systems include SAAB RBS-7O, MBDA, Mistral, a Russian SAM system and South Korea’s LIG Nex1. A major weakness in the overall air defence matrix is the lack of a battlefield management system which is also linked with the national air defence network. The Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has now undertaken the development of such a system.
Infantry
Mechanised Infantry The mechanised infantry is currently equipped with the BMP-2 infantry combat vehicle (ICV) named Sarath. The ICVs are being equipped with thermal imaging night sights and image intensifiers. The Army had ordered 198 carrier mortar tracked, which have since been delivered. The ICV BMP-2/2K is being modernised by upgrading its existing NBC System, fire detection and suppression system, ERA panels to provide extra protection and a new power-pack. The scheme to fit environmental control for ICV BMP-2 is in an advanced stage of procurement. Additional battlefield surveillance radar (mediumrange) mounted on high mobility wheeled vehicles are also being procured. The Indian Army has planned for a futuristic infantry combat vehicle (FICV) to replace the BMP-2 with key operational and performance parameters envisaged in the Indian context. A project to build 2,600 FICVs costing approximately `60,000 crore has been approved by the government. This project is a pioneer in ‘Make High-Tech’ category where for the first time the defence industry has invited participation by private established agencies. The project is in an advanced stage for development of a prototype.
Pinaka MBRL
ICV BMP-II K
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Arty Firepower As part of its artillery modernisation plan, the Army is looking at inducting several types of howitzers through inter-governmental pacts and global tenders. The last major acquisition of towed gun-howitzers was that of 400 pieces of 39-calibre 155mm FH-77B howitzers with a range of 30 km from Bofors of Sweden in 1987, which got embroiled in controversy. This gun proved its mettle in the Kargil conflict. After about 25 years of neglect during which the 100mm and 122mm field guns of Russian origin and the indigenously developed and manufactured 75/24 Howitzer joined the long list of obsolete equipment, the Army still awaits the procurement of about 1,580 Howitzers of 155mm 52 calibre. Out of these, 400 are to be procured outright and 1,180 manufactured indigenously with transfer of technology (ToT). Trials of a modified Nexter TRAJAN 155mm/52-calibre TGS and Elbit’s refurbished lighter ATHOS 2052 howitzer were to be held during May 2013 as a part of summer trials in the western Rajasthan desert using Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) manufactured ordnance. These tests will be followed by winter firings and the selection of one system by the Artillery Directorate to proceed to cost negotiations (the estimated budget being $2 billion). These trials constitute the fifth attempt to select a suitable 155mm howitzer for the Indian Army. Nexter is now collaborating with Indian private defence contractor Larsen and Toubro (L&T) while Elbit has partnered with the Kalyani Group, the world’s largest forgings manufacturer headquartered in Pune. The Kalyani Group, better known as Bharat Forge, after one of its more successful subsidiaries has acquired RUAG’s entire artillery manufacturing unit in Switzerland and has set it up in Pune in 2012.
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SP’s Land Forces 6/2013
The 145 ultralight howitzers (M777) are being procured from the US through the foreign military sales (FMS) route from BAE Systems. This deal has been cleared by India’s Cabinet Committee on Security and trials have also been conducted but the deal has still not fructified. On September 13, the Defence Acquisition Council headed by the Defence Minister cleared the deal four days before the arrival of the US Deputy Secretary of Defence, Ashton B. Carter. The Army has inducted the Prithvi and the Agni series of missiles, and the BrahMos missiles in their operational formations. The Prithvi and the Agni series of missiles are nuclear capable missiles also capable of firing conventional warheads. Block III version of the BrahMos missile with the Army is capable of trajectory manoeuvres and steep dive with multiple way points using advance guidance system and software. Multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) Pinaka has a range of 37.5 km, can be brought into action within three minutes and can fire a salvo of 12 rockets in 44 seconds. Pinaka can neutralise a target area of
As part of its Artillery Modernisation Plan, the Army is looking at inducting several types of howitzers through intergovernmental pacts and global tenders
1,000 m x 800 m. Production of rockets is in full swing. Manufacture of 40 launchers, 16 battery command posts, 40 L and 20 replenishment vehicles have been completed and systems have been handed over to the Army. Five lots of restricted high explosive rockets and 23 lots of pre-formed fragmented warhead rockets have been delivered to the Army.
Air Defence Artillery The Corps of Army Air Defence holds a large variety of guns and missile systems. It has 40mm L/70, Zu-23-2 Twin gun, ZSU-23-4 Schilka, Tanguska, Kvadrat (medium-range missile system), OSA-AK (short-range missile system) and Igla shoulder fired missile system in its inventory. The 40mm L/70 which is about four decades old, needs immediate replacement. Considering the high costs of new weapon systems, the Army is going in for weapon upgrades for L-70, ZU-23-2 Twin gun and ZSU-23-4 Schilka. Meanwhile, the Army is looking for successors to L-70 and the ZU-23-2. Successor to Schilka (ZSU-234) already exists in the form of Tangushka, but in limited numbers. A request for information (RFI) has already been issued to find a replacement for Schilka. In the missile systems, Kvadrat (mediumrange) and OSA-AK (short-range) are also at the end of their life cycle. They were to be replaced by Akash and Trishul surface-to-air (SAM) missiles. Trishul has been foreclosed and Akash is being inducted for semi-mobile roles. For air defence of mechanised units, it has been planned to acquire medium-range SAM (MRSAM) and quick reaction SAM (QRSAM) systems. RFP for QRSAM is being issued and there is a joint development venture of the Defence Research and Develop-
The future infantry soldier as a system (F-INSAS) has been initiated to make the infantryman a weapon platform with situational awareness, increased lethality and sustainability in the digitised battlefield. F-INSAS is to be effected in three phases: Phase I includes weapons, body armour, clothing and individual equipment; Phase II is the target acquisition system and Phase III comprises the computer sub-system, radio sub-system, software and software integration. F-INSAS will be a part of the battlefield management system (BMS) of the Army. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) had approved of a new assault rifle, 5.56mm calibre and a new generation carbine to replace the 9mm carbine which had been weeded out of the Army without getting a replacement. The progress in the field of carbines is that in August 2012 the process of procuring 44,618 5.56mm close quarter battle (CQB) carbines to replace the outdated 9mm model and 33.6 million rounds of ammunition in a contract worth over `2,000 crore was set in motion. The manufacturers in the race were Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) Galil Ace carbine, Italy’s Baretta with its ARX-160 and United States’ Colt and Sig Sauer’s offering the M4 and 516 Patrol models. These weapons have undergone field trials at the Infantry School at Mhow, in Central India, the Thar Desert in Rajasthan and high altitude locations in India’s Northern and Northeast region. Army is also on the lookout for assault rifles (AR) to replace the INSAS 5.56mm rifles with technologically superior weapons and in the race are ARs of the Czech Republic’s Czeca, IWI, Baretta and Colt and Sig Sauer, all weighing around 3.6 kg. The other requirements include the ability to convert from 5.56 x 45mm to 7.62 x 39mm calibres by merely switching the barrel and magazine for employment in counterinsurgency and/or conventional offensive/ defensive operations. They also need to be fitted with detachable under barrel grenade launchers and be capable of firing OFB-produced 5.56mm x w45 (SS109) ammunition rounds. It will also involve transfer of technology to the OFB to licence build the ARs. Army’s immediate requirement is for around 2,18,320 rifles where as India’s AR requirement is estimated at 2-3 million to arm the large Central Paramilitary Forces and the state police. At this scale, India’s AR acquisitions could be one of the world’s largest small arms contracts in recent times worth over $5 billion in due course. Request for proposals (RFPs) for some 1,70,000 modular bulletproof vests weighing around 10.5 kg and an equal number of ballistic helmets have been placed with domestic manufacturers in June and December 2012 respectively. These are also four years behind schedule. Tenders for knee and elbow protection pads await finalisation. Like the F-INSAS project, many other Army modernisation programmes are hardly making any progress, thus negatively affecting the operational preparedness of the Army. It’s a massive task and at the current rate of progress when not even Phase 1 has been completed, it seems it will take exceptionally long to be completed. SP