Frontier Infrastructure: Loopholes, Scenarios, etc., and Solutions

[Kunal Biswas]

@arnabmit,

Mules are cheap and reliable and they cannot be replaced from Indian terrain same a men as fighting unit..

 

[DivineHeretic]

@arnabmit,

Mules are cheap and reliable and they cannot be replaced from Indian terrain same a men as fighting unit..

True for now. There is no way the IA can afford to replace the mules or human porters with helis on a large scale.

But 10-15 years down the line, We'd be a powerhouse of a country with a defence Budget of $100-150 Billion facing the new superpower with Defence Budget of $400-500 Billion. The massive budget of the Chinese will allow a disparative force projection capability, both in terms of deployment numbers, as well as in terms of speed of deployment.

Even now, with their rather limited Airlift capability, they hold 3 airborne divisions (under the 15th Airborne Corps), which operate as part of the Rapid Reaction Force of PLA, responsible for fast deployment into hot zones. As of now with their limited ability, they'd struggle to deploy even one airborne division, let alone maintain it by air. In comparison, we fare much better, at the moment we already hold a brigade solely with air supply, while most of NE outposts too are air maintained.

But By 2020-25, the PLAAF and PLA army Aviation will have expanded enough to mobilise much larger numbers and maintain them by air on a sustained basis. This will also definitely lead to an increase in their speed of deployability, and for the IA will necessitate very nimble and swift responses. In such a situation, slow moving supply lines, will cripple our ability to respond to a fast developing situation.

We'd do well to invest in newer, even unconventional means of logistics supply, if it can increase the speed and quantity of logistics supply. Any new initiative taken now will only develop fruits a decade down the line. Else the IA might find itself outflanked by the enemy because it couldn't manuevre quickly enough.

As the saying goes....
"Amateurs think-about-tactics, but professionals-think-about logistics." -- General Robert H. Barrow, USMC (Commandant of the Marine Corps) noted in 1980

 

[ladder]

No, I mean once going North to Tawang, you cross Se La Pass. Then the roads splits into two. One goes straight North to Bomdi La, while the other goes North West towards Bhutan Border.

27.509577° 92.094947° - Google Maps

Not seen on map but
BRO was building a road to Tawang through Bhutan which would have saved quite a lot of time and ride quality better.
But don't know current status but it was reported that under Chinese pressure Bhutan was reluctant.

here is a news on the same
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-24/guwahati/35333205_1_tawang-monastery-monpas-tawang-district

 

[Ray]

On the use of helicopters, we must remember that in an eyeball to eyeball contact, it is not feasible to use helicopters in the front line.

Mules and porters are the answer!

 

[pmaitra]

Not seen on map but
BRO was building a road to Tawang through Bhutan which would have saved quite a lot of time and ride quality better.
But don't know current status but it was reported that under Chinese pressure Bhutan was reluctant.

here is a news on the same
Bhutan king's nod sought to construct Lumla-Tashigang Road - Times Of India

Perhaps this reluctance of Bhutan forced India to build a road along the Indo-Bhutan Border, part of which is seen on the map? If you see the link I have provided and move slightly east, you will see that.

 

[arnabmit]

Dada... I said it figuratively.

@arnabmit,

Mules are cheap and reliable and they cannot be replaced from Indian terrain same a men as fighting unit..

 

[arnabmit]

Different sites cite different figures...

hovering ceiling without payload: 7620m, hovering ceiling with max payload: 2440m, payload: 2720kg

Current Price $ 5.1 million U.S.

Kaman K-MAX helicopter - development history, photos, technical data

kaman K-1200 K-MAX - Helicopter Database

Welcome to Aircraft Compare

Kaman Aerospace K-1200 K-Max - Specifications - Technical Data / Description (english)

What would be its service ceiling?

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Mules will remain major part of transport over mountain terrains over a large area even when we turn into dust in time frame.. !!

Airborne elements even in present supply all the needed goods to posts, But there are minor posts which cannot be supplied with Air, And have to be through narrow mountain passes, MULE brigade is the answer..

 

[SamwiseTheBrave]

India has right to develop border facilities: Antony - The Hindu

 

[Bhadra]

Six advanced landing grounds to be prepared in Arunachal

Six advanced landing grounds to be prepared in Arunachal

Tezpur (Assam): Six advanced landing grounds will be prepared immediately by Indian Air Force in Arunachal Pradesh for emergency landing of defence aircraft and helicopters.

The advanced landing grounds would be set up at

Ziro,

Vijay Nagar,

Mechuka,

Pasighat,

Tuting and

Walong,

defence sources said here Wednesday.

Six advanced landing grounds to be prepared in Arunachal


The Border Road Organisation here under Army's 4 Corps has taken measures to complete surface communication projects within the stipulated period, the sources said.

Union DoNER minister Paban Singh Ghatowar during a visit to the state earlier this week had said Rs 35 crore had been earmarked by his ministry for development of surface communication along the Sino-India border.

Ghatowar had also suggested that the Army and Air Force build up suitable surface and air communication there.

The defence sources said the 417 km long road along the Sino-India border in Arunachal Pradesh is expected to be completed this year.

IAF, the sources said, will develop an air field at Panagar in West Bengal for landing C-130J aircraft.

PTI

 

[Bhadra]

IAF To Upgrade 8 ALG's in Northeast

Defence News - IAF To Upgrade 8 ALG's in Northeast

In the next three years, the IAF will upgrade eight Advanced Landing Grounds (ALG's) in the northeast to strengthen it's capabilities to carry out aircraft operations in that region.

In the next three years, the IAF will upgrade eight Advanced Landing Grounds (ALG's) in the northeast to strengthen it's capabilities to carry out aircraft operations in that region.

"We are planning to upgrade eight ALGs in the northeast. By August, we are expected to sign the contract and in next three years, our capabilities would be improved in that region," Air Chief marshal P V Naik told reporters here.

The IAF chief said the upgrading of the ALGs along with the upgrade of the airfields there was the focus area for the force and more such fields were planned under the 12th Plan.

The IAF is strengthening it's capabilities in the northeastern sector in view of the increased military presence of China along it's border with India.

IAF has already based Sukhoi-30MKI fighters at airbases like Tezpur and Chabua.

ALGs in areas including Pasighat, Mechuka, Walong, Tuting, Ziro, Along and Vijaynagar as well as several helipads in Arunachal Pradesh are also being upgraded now, much like the western sector ALG's like Daulat Beg Oldi, Fukche and Nyoma in eastern Ladakh.

An empowered committee (on North-East infrastructure development) under the Chief of Air Staff-designate Air Marshal NAK Browne is continuously monitoring upgradation of the facilities, creation of new infrastructure and induction of assets in this region.

Asked about the gaps in intelligence set up, the IAF chief said, "Gaps in intelligence will exist in many countries as you would want more and more of it.

"There have been lot of moves by the Home Ministry in terms of combining the intelligence inputs of various agencies and it is paying dividends. Things have improved from what they were earlier."

 

[Bhadra]

 

[pmaitra]

@Bhadra, thanks for the article.

Here are the details:

Ziro (27.566389N, 93.831389E)
Vijaynagar (27.1920445N, 96.9999218E)
Mechuka (28.6053215N, 94.1281128E)
Pasighat (28.07N, 95.33E)
Tuting (28.9887722N, 94.899044E)
Walong (28.128576N, 97.0190835E)

 

[Bhadra]

 

[Bhadra]

@Bhadra, thanks for the article.

You are welcome..

The district map also shows those places and your map further gives clarity..
The district map gives roads which are fantastic by any standards...

well done BRO

 

[Bhadra]

Border Roads Organisation developing 82 roads in North East: AK Antony

http://articles.timesofindia.indiat...lly-important-roads-border-roads-organisation

Itanagar: The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is developing 82 strategically important roads in the northeast to double lane and class IX (enhanced specification under various central projects, according to Union defence minister A K Antony.

The BRO maintains a road network length of 1,1672km in the region, the minister said in reply to a written question raised in Lok Sabha on Monday by Congress member from Arunachal Pradesh, Takam Sanjoy.
Antony informed that the roads constructed under various projects include 13 roads under the Special Accelerated Road Development Programme in NE (SARDP - NE) with a total length of 1,106km, 30 strategic roads (1,901km), five roads under Arunachal Pradesh packages (812km) and 34 roads under the General Staff Long-Term Perspective Plan (priority-l) (GSLTPP-I) covering a distance of 1,159km.

To another question, the minister replied that the 317.5-km-long stretch of road from Balipara in Assam to Tawang in Arunachal is under development and is being upgrade to double-lane specifications.

"Of this, work on 88km has been completed (both formation and surfacing) and is in progress in the remaining stretches," he added.

Antony said that the delay in execution of the said road was caused by the delay in forest and wildlife department clearances and land acquisition, available contractors not being keen on working in far-flung areas, frequent local bandhs, damages caused due to prolonged monsoon and a shorter working season due to high altitude and adverse climate.

"The project will be completed by 2016, sources added, quoting the defence minister.

 

[Bhadra]

A NOTE ON TRANS-ARUNACHAL HIGHWAY

http://www.arunachalpwd.org/pdf/Tra...- Note submitted to Secretary to Governor.pdf

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Roads are nice, But they should also work on Rail connectivity..

From broad gauge to Narrow gauge..

 

[arnabmit]

Rail Budget 2013: China proximity spurs first train link to Arunachal - Times Of India

Rail Budget 2013: Arunachal to get first rail line this year, says Pawan Kumar Bansal - The Economic Times

"For the first time the state of Arunachal has been brought into the rail network and we shall commission the Harmuti-Naharlagun line this year," Bansal said presenting the Railway Budget in the Lok Sabha.

He said the national project of Udhampur-Srinagar- Baramulla and other projects of strategic importance would be taken up on top priority.

"Providing need based rail connectivity to border areas is uppermost on railways' agenda," Bansal said.

He said works on the new line railway project to connect the state of Manipur were also in full swing.

The railways were also fast tracking gauge conversion works on Lumding-Silchar and Rangia-Murkongselek, he said.

Bansal said he would also pursue for the approval of projects identified as being of national importance including the Bilaspur-Manali-Leh, Jammu-Poonch via Akhnoor, Tanakpur-Bageshwar and Parsuramkund-Rupai.

"I also propose to take up a new line between Firozpur and Patti for providing direct rail link between border areas of Firozpur and Amritsar-Attari," he said.

Roads are nice, But they should also work on Rail connectivity..

From broad gauge to Narrow gauge..

 

[Kunal Biswas]

My Point was inter-connectivity within the state..

tawang to Tezpur ( Narrow-Meter gauge )
tawang to Bomdila ( Narrow-Meter gauge )
tawang to seppa ( Narrow-Meter gauge )

And so on connecting every major city within the state, This will boost tourism and will boost urbanization and so does good for Military, Good for Locals, Over flat terrain this is not needed but over mountain areas this enhance connectivity..

------------------------------------------------------

Terrain

Meter Gauge ( 1st Choice )

Narrow Gauge ( Extreme terrain )

Rail Budget 2013: China proximity spurs first train link to Arunachal - Times Of India

Rail Budget 2013: Arunachal to get first rail line this year, says Pawan Kumar Bansal - The Economic Times