Army plans to create close-to-real battlefield situation for training

[Daredevil]

New Delhi: Seeking to provide a close-to-real battlefield situation for its troops to train, the Indian Army is working on a Rs 40-crore plan towards modernising infrastructure at two of its main field firing ranges in Pokharan in Rajasthan and Babina in Madhya Pradesh.

"Under the plan, we are looking to develop the firing ranges into world class integrated training fields for our troops", Army officials said. The modernisation of the two firing ranges would be a follow-up of the upgradation of infrastructure at the Army's biggest firing range in Mahajan in Rajasthan.

The upgradation of infrastructure at the ranges would make the training there more realistic and provide a "close-to-real battlefield scenario for troops" while practising war-fighting there, they said. The ranges would also be provided with short and long-range firing ranges and also strengthens the road and other infrastructure there.

Army officials said, we are looking to develop the firing ranges into world class integrated training fields for our troops.


The Army has 66 field firing ranges at the moment which is having an impact on its capability to train its soldiers and practice live firing of weapon systems. Recently, Defence Minister AK Antony had said that out of the 104 firing ranges held by the Army in 2009, "38 were deleted from the list due to their not being available for use by the Army and also not being re-notified by state governments concerned in spite of relentless efforts".

Out of the remaining 66 firing ranges of the Army, 15 are currently de-notified by various state governments, he had said.

PTI

 

[W.G.Ewald]

Re: Army plans to create close-to-real battlefield situation for train

An article from 4 months ago:

Million-strong Indian Army short of firing ranges - India - IBNLive

New Delhi: The shortage of land in India is well known but it's also now affecting the army which is running short of firing and manoeuvre ranges to train on. It's not only illegal encroachment, even state governments are reluctant to notify firing ranges given in demands from their own people.

India's million man army is running short of firing ranges to train on and perfect doctrine and tactics as expanding population is putting pressure on land. Firing ranges in sensitive areas like Kashmir are already feeling the heat. People living outside the Toshe Maidan range, 50 km from Srinagar, want it shut down.

"Many youngsters have died, many have been injured. We haven't gained anything out of this. Our Toshe Maidan is very beautiful. We want tourists," says a local. However, the army says Toshe Maidan can't be shut as it sits on traditional infiltration routes into the Kashmir Valley.