Indian Army: News and Discussion

Prashant12

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With eye on China, Army to acquire land in Pantnagar to set up UAV base


DEHRADUN: The Indian Army is in the process of acquiring 60 acres of land in Pantnagar in Kumaon to operate Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) there – a move which is expected to improve surveillance of the India-China border. The district administration of Udham Singh Nagar which is currently evaluating a proposal for acquisition of the land confirmed the development. “We cannot divulge any further details regarding the project except that this is being executed keeping the strategic importance of Uttarakhand with regards to China,” said Neeraj Khairwal, district magistrate, Udham Singh Nagar. Om Prakash, director, Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) said that the request of setting up a base was received from the Army “a few years back.” “Currently, the proposal is in its final stages It will be submitted to the government for approval by May 15.”


This will be the first time that Army UAVs or drones will operate in Uttarakhand. The Army currently has UAV bases in the Northeast in places like Kumbhigram and Lilabari in Assam. Elaborating on the significance of having a UAV base in Uttarakhand, a serving Army officer who is also a UAV instructor, told TOI, ”Once we get a UAV base in Uttarakhand, then we will be able to do better surveillance of China from the state.” The Indian Army currently has two major types of UAVs -- Heron and Searcher Mark-II. The official added that in all likelihood, the Heron series which is used in high-altitude areas will be deployed in Uttarakhand. The Heron drone is capable of flying for well over 24 hours at high altitudes as well as target acquisition and artillery adjustment capabilities.”



According to the official, one UAV specialised unit can have up to eight drones which are overseen by an officer who is a qualified flying instructor (QFI) of UAVs. “We had requested for land way back in 2006 but at that time it could not materialise. Around two years back, it was decided that we would operate on the same base as the civil aviation authority as is being done in Jammu, Leh and places in Northeast where the availability of adequate land is an issue,” he added.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...r-to-set-up-uav-base/articleshow/64044876.cms
 

12arya

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http://defenceden.com/2018/05/11/army-finally-sets-ball-rolling-to-replace-wwii-era-canvas-shoes/

Army finally sets ball rolling to replace WWII era canvas shoes

It’s not just delays in procurement of critical armament that the military is grappling with. It has taken nearly a decade for the Army to finally set the ball rolling to replace the World War II era canvas shoes with new sports footwear.

Sources said that the proposal was mooted in 2009, the first since Independence, but it was shot down after animal rights activist objected to the use of leather shoes. “They insisted the upper part of the shoe that was made of animal skin should be replaced with a synthetic material,” said an army source.

In 2015, the Ministry of Defence gave an approval for procurement of 1.7 lakh shoes after conducting trials. The trials for the first pair of 80,000 shoes will be held in August 2018. On the basis of the trial, procurement of the new sports shoes would be taken up for the entire Indian Army.
Under the new Request for Proposal, 11 companies participated in the process.

Officials said that doing away with the old canvas shoes for new sports footwear was long overdue.
A lot of fractures and sports injuries were reported among the jawans due the poor quality of canvas shoes, said an official on the condition of anonymity. “If it takes something as basic as this to be replaced, imagine the plight when it comes to critical procurement,” said a source.

GETTING A FOOTHOLD
In 2015, the Ministry of Defence gave approval for procurement of 1.7L shoes after conducting trials. The trials for the first pair of 80K shoes will be held in August 2018.
 

12arya

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http://defenceden.com/2018/05/09/fi...r-planes-in-andaman-nicobar-to-counter-china/

First time since WWII, India to station fighter planes in Andaman & Nicobar to counter China

India has decided to station fighter airplanes in the Andaman and Nicober Islands to strengthen India’s hold over the crucial Malacca, Sunda, and Lumbok Strait and the Straits of Ombai Wetar and the eastern Indian Ocean Region, top sources told India Today.

This is the first time fighter airplanes will be positioned in Andaman and Nicobar islands since World War II.
The Malacaa, Sunda and Lumbok straits are narrow ocean passes that connect the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea. About 70 per cent of world’s trade, by volume and energy passes through these narrow straits.
Over the last few years, more and more Chinese warships and submarines including nuclear submarines have been spotted in India’s backyard as the game to dominate the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) hots up.
Recently, the Indian Navy sent a tacit message to Beijing that it will keep an eye over the region by tweeting pictures of Chinese warships entering the Indian Ocean Region.

Leveraging the Andaman Island chain as line of defence against an aggressive China has been in the plans for some time now. The Modi government, however, has put more energy and focus to realise this.
The decision to beef up security at the Andaman and Nicobar island comes at a time when India and China are looking to cool down tempers along the 3,488 km long un-demarcated and disputed Line of Actual Control (LAC) after an informal summit between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping last month.
The India Navy has positioned about 19 capital warships in the area and has built two floating docks to repair and refurbish warships.

“Warships no longer need to be brought to the docks in mainland India for repairs,” said a senior Navy officer explaining the significance of setting repair and maintenance facilities in the island chain.
Top government sources, who didn’t want to be named, told India Today that air bases in Car Nicobar and on Campbell Bay has been identified as possible bases for the fighter planes.
“The Andamans must emerge as one of India’s top most outposts to project power,” the officer said. While the base at Car Nicobar needs upgrades, the airstrip at Campbell Bay is being extended to accommodate heavier aircraft. As of now the Russian made Mi17V5 helicopters are stationed in Car Nicobar airbase.

Administrative Changes
New Delhi is also likely to issue fresh orders allowing the Commander in Chief of Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN) to exercise direct control of all assets and men including that of the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army soon, top sources told India Today and added that “the issue is being pursued vigorously by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.”

The fresh order is also likely to empower CINCAN to requisition assets that he deems fit to carry out the charter.
As a precursor to empowering the Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar, the government recently notified new “statutory rules and orders” that allows the Andaman and Nicobar Command to “exercise direct command” over personnel from the other two services.

As of now in tri-service organisations men, officers are governed by different acts and rules. The change was brought about especially for the Andaman and Nicobar Command. The ANC command was established in October 2001 but has largely failed to realise its potential because of turf wars among the three services, environmental concerns, fund-crunch and importantly political lethargy.
 

SanjeevM

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http://zeenews.india.com/india/army...anks-to-be-produced-indigenously-2107496.html

Army finalises Rs 15,000 crore project, ammunition for weapons and tanks to be produced indigenously
PTI May 13, 2018, 15:59 PM IST,



  • Army Chief General Bipin Rawat has been pushing for fast-tracking the procurement of weapons and ammunition.

New Delhi: After years of deliberations, the Army has finalised a mega Rs 15,000-crore project under which a range of ammunition for its critical weapons and tanks will be produced indigenously to overcome long delays in imports and address the problem of a dwindling stockpile.


Official sources told PTI that 11 private firms would be involved in the ambitious project, the implementation of which is being monitored by the top brass of the Army and the Defence Ministry.


The immediate aim of the closely guarded project - said to be the biggest ever initiative for the indigenisation of ammunition - is to create an inventory for all major weapons to enable the forces to fight a 30-day war while the long-term objective is to cut dependence on imports.


"The overall cost of the project has been pegged at Rs 15,000 crore and we have set a specific target for the next 10 years in terms of the volume of ammunition to be produced," a senior government official involved in the project said, refusing to elaborate further.


Initially, ammunition for a range of rockets, air defence system, artillery guns, infantry combat vehicles, grenade launchers and various other field weapons would be produced under "strict timelines", a source said.


The production targets would be revised based on the result of the first phase of the implementation of the programme.


The sources indicated the broad contours of the project were discussed at a conference of the Army's top commanders here in April 2018.


The initiative is seen as the first serious attempt by the government to address growing concerns voiced over the last many years by defence forces over the fast dwindling stockpile of key ammunition when China has been significantly ramping up its military capability, an issue that has been discussed by successive governments.


Army Chief General Bipin Rawat has been pushing for fast-tracking the procurement of weapons and ammunition for the world's second-largest standing Army, considering the evolving security threats in the region.



"The indigenisation of the ammunition project will be biggest such programme in decades," said the official.


In July 2017, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), in a report tabled in Parliament, said a stock of only 61 types of ammunition out of 152 varieties was available, and these would only last for 10 days in the event of a war.


According to laid down security protocol, the stockpile should be adequate for a month-long war.


The sources said long delays in negotiations and subsequent procedural hurdles in the import of ammunition had adversely impacted the country's defence preparedness and that was why the indigenisation programme had been initiated.


Last year, the government had empowered the Army to directly procure ammunition and spares for 10 types of weapon systems and equipment after an internal review found the optimum level of "war stores" was not being maintained.


Considering the Army's demand, the government has already finalised one of the biggest procurement plans for infantry modernisation under which large numbers of light machine guns, battle carbines and assault rifles are being purchased at a cost of nearly Rs 40,000 crore.
 

SanjeevM

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http://zeenews.india.com/india/indi...vietnam-war-in-rajasthan-deserts-2107482.html

Indian Army tests `Air Cavalry`, used by US in Vietnam war, in Rajasthan deserts
PTI May 13, 2018, 13:14 PM IST,



  • To enhance its defence capabilities, the Army tested the concept under which weaponised helicopters carry out combined action against the enemy in coordination with tanks and mechanised ground forces.

Jaipur: The Indian Army has tested in the desert terrain of Rajasthan the military concept of 'Air Cavalry' that was used by the US Army to locate and assault enemy ground forces during the Vietnam War.


To enhance its defence capabilities, the Army tested the concept under which weaponised helicopters carry out combined action against the enemy in coordination with tanks and mechanised ground forces.


This being done by the Indian Army, with an eye on the future, which is focusing on strengthening its combative air assets by procuring attack helicopters.


This is a new concept for the Indian Army and it is aimed at reshaping land battle by defeating the enemy by offensive punch from the air in coordination with tanks on the ground.


“In the recently held offensive exercise 'Vijay Prahar' in Mahajan firing ranges near Suratgarh, the concept of 'Air Cavalry' was tried by the South Western command,” defence spokesperson Lt Col Manish Ojha told PTI.


The concept was implemented after a detailed deliberation, sand-model discussions and war gaming.

In normal battle scenario, attack helicopters are called in on requirement basis by forces moving on the ground to launch an attack where the ground forces are not able to neutralise the target due to any reason, including difficult terrain.

Under the 'Air Cavalry' concept, attack helicopters are fully integrated with tanks and mechanised ground forces.

A fleet of armed helicopters simultaneously flies in air and performs a number of tasks, including troop insertion in forward areas, on the spot aerial recce, launching attacks and it proves more powerful and a good speed in the action is achieved.


"This requires a very high degree of precision, coordination and continuous upgradation. It saves time and energy," another senior officer of the SW command said.

"The forces achieve more flexibility and fluidity in an operation and multitasking can be performed more quickly, swiftly and effectively and the ground commanders can act decisively, boldly and offensively,” the officer said.

Under this kind of arrangement, attack helicopters can engage targets in the shortest possible time and the mission can be accomplished in a very flexible and effective manner.

This concept can be executed in different kind of terrains depending upon the feasibility.

While the US used this concept in the jungles of Vietnam during the war from 1954-75, India tested it in scorching heat in desert terrain to sharpen its teeth.

The Army is gradually inducting helicopters equipped with ultra-modern sensors and high-precision weapons and therefore a need was felt to use the ‘Air Cavalry’ concept for increasing capabilities in monitoring and protecting both eastern and western borders of the country.

“The Indian Army is focusing on its own combative air assets so there was a requirement that a concept should be in place for the best utilisation of attack helicopters. The helicopters will be used as force multiplier and will increase the potency of ground forces to engage the targets,” defence sources said.

The Army's combative air assets will be crucial in the land battles in desert along the western front as well as in the eastern front where the terrain is mountainous, the sources said.

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd is developing Light Combat Helicopter for the Army to meet its requirement for an attack helicopter which can operate at high altitude. The Army will also procure multi-role AH-64 'E' Apache attack helicopter manufactured by American aviation giant Boeing.

The Defence Ministry in August last year had approved the procurement of six most advanced Apache helicopters along with weapons systems at a cost of Rs 4,168 crore which will be the Army's first fleet of attack choppers.

Apaches have played a vital role in international conflicts, including in the Gulf, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq.
 

AMCA

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Sapta Shakti Command's Chetak Corps is currently carrying out an exercise "Gandiv Vijay " in the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges of Rajasthan under gruelling weather conditions to validate their operational plans.

 

rkhanna

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The reporter does say that the "Nagas love to decorate their homes with heads of enemies" :p

There are a few specific remote tribes used that do that - I spent about 10 days during my NE "discovery trip" with them many years ago :) .

However today its mainly heads of Animals they have killed. Human heads of old lie more in their "temple" or court of their Clan Chief.
 

rkhanna

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Another thing from the Video - The Soldier with the RCL duties seems to be patroling with it in the fire ready position up the mountain. The same images in the "mock video docu" on the Myanmar raid.

Anybody know if that is just for the camera's or actual Patroling SOP. .
 

Chinmoy

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Another thing from the Video - The Soldier with the RCL duties seems to be patroling with it in the fire ready position up the mountain. The same images in the "mock video docu" on the Myanmar raid.

Anybody know if that is just for the camera's or actual Patroling SOP. .
All the weapons are in ready firing position during any border patrolling. It is SOP.
 

rkhanna

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All the weapons are in ready firing position during any border patrolling. It is SOP.
Thanks. Isnt that a bit Ridiculous.? By the time Contact happens the soldiers hand is already that much closer to exhaustion. Is there no better way to ferry a RCL doing Patrol ? I mean the soldier is not going to Cook off a round the very second Contact happens anyways.
 

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