Indian Army: News and Discussion

[K Factor]

Sun 4th Oct 2009

New Delhi, October 4: Army is planning to acquire 300 light tanks for deployment in the mountainous regions of the border with China and Pakistan, a move seen as part of efforts to beef up capabilities on the frontiers.

Process for acquisition of the tanks has been initiated with the Request for Information (RFI) being issued for the same.

The tanks are intended to be deployed in the mountainous region of Jammu and Kashmir in the north and Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in the north-east, army sources told PTI.

The tanks are expected to weigh around 22 tonnes and be capable of operating at heights of over 3,000 metres in hilly terrain, they said.

The light tanks are being considered for deployment as part of mechanised force in the high altitude regions as heavy tanks cannot reach there, they said.

The army wants the tanks to be able to penetrate highly protected armoured vehicles and Main Battle Tanks of the enemy from a distance of more than two kilometres and also be able to fire high explosive anti-tank shells and guided missiles.Conventionally, tanks are deployed only in plains and it is very rare to station such armoured detachments in mountainous areas.

Heavy tanks face problems in mobility as narrow and spiralling roads make their movement very slow and the bridges there are also not built to bear those heavy loads of above 40-45 tonnes, they said.

Indian army mulls light tank deployment on China border

India does not have any light tanks as of now have in the 20 ton category that this article is talking about. Also, this article is talking about acquiring them in the future, and that means still 4-5 years more years to go, at the very least. What are the tanks short-listed for this acquisition?

 

[bhramos]

India does not have any light tanks as of now have in the 20 ton category that this article is talking about. Also, this article is talking about acquiring them in the future, and that means still 4-5 years more years to go, at the very least. What are the tanks short-listed for this acquisition?

their are so many ways to make Light Tanks, like puting a heavy gun turret on BMP's or BTR-90.
would make good solution.
even Arjun's turret + BTR-90 would be lethally best option for us .

 

[RPK]

Tawang (Arunachal Pradesh), Oct. 3 (ANI): On the occasion of China’s 60th National Day, Indian and Chinese army personnel jointly participated in celebrations at the Bum La border check post, located in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang District.

Indian army personnel were invited along with their families by the Chinese army to join them in the celebrations.

The Indian side led by Brigadier C P Mohanty, was given a warm welcome by the Chinese.

A cultural programme was also put together by the Chinese on the occasion.

Army personnel from both India and China keep on meeting at regular intervals at Bum La and these meetings are considered important for resolving local issues to enhance peace between the two countries.

These meetings were started initially as flag meetings and were later converted into regular event. (ANI)


Indian Army joins Chinese military in their national day celebrations.

 

[RPK]

8 soldiers killed in Himachal accident :: Samay Live

Shimla: Eight Indian Army personnel were killed in a road accident in Himachal Pradesh's Shimla district on Sunday evening, police said.

"Eight Army personnel were killed this (Sunday) evening when the vehicle in which they were travelling fell into the Satluj river near Tattapani in Shimla district," Superintendent of Police R.M. Sharma told.

Seven bodies have been fished out and operations are on to trace the remaining body, the police officer said.

Sharma said the army personnel could be from Shimla-based Army Training Command (ARTRAC) but it is yet to be confirmed. He said the cause of the accident is being ascertained.

Army authorities here refused to comment on the accident.

The accident spot is located 55 km from here

 

[nitesh]

India does not have any light tanks as of now have in the 20 ton category that this article is talking about. Also, this article is talking about acquiring them in the future, and that means still 4-5 years more years to go, at the very least. What are the tanks short-listed for this acquisition?

What's your take on this buddy

DRDO Tech Focus

 

[bhramos]

What's your take on this buddy

DRDO Tech Focus

nice article boss.
how would this be seeing in focus on wheeled chassis, rather then tracke chassis.

 

[Sridhar]

Light tanks to be deployed on China border

Press Trust Of India
New Delhi, October 04, 2009
First Published: 16:09 IST(4/10/2009)
Last Updated: 16:17 IST(4/10/2009)

Army is planning to acquire 300 light tanks for deployment in the mountainous regions of the border with China and Pakistan, a move seen as part of efforts to beef up capabilities on the frontiers.
Process for acquisition of the tanks has been initiated with the Request for Information (RFI) being issued for the same. The tanks are intended to be deployed in the mountainous region of Jammu and Kashmir in the north and Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in the north-east, army sources said.
The tanks are expected to weigh around 22 tonnes and be capable of operating at heights of over 3,000 metres in hilly terrain, they said. The light tanks are being considered for deployment as part of mechanised force in the high altitude regions as heavy tanks cannot reach there, they said.
The army wants the tanks to be able to penetrate highly protected armoured vehicles and Main Battle Tanks of the enemy from a distance of more than two kilometres and also be able to fire high explosive anti-tank shells and guided missiles.
Conventionally, tanks are deployed only in plains and it is very rare to station such armoured detachments in mountainous areas. Heavy tanks face problems in mobility as narrow and spiralling roads make their movement very slow and the bridges there are also not built to bear those heavy loads of above 40-45 tonnes, they said.


Light tanks to be deployed on China border- Hindustan Times

 

[bhramos]

hi sridhar,
could u mention what Light tanks?

 

[natarajan]

tanks with less weight suitable for rough terrains and also can be used in ships like jalashwa or lpd

 

[BLACK_COBRA]

Armed forces save over 1,300 flood-hit people

Engaged in rescue and relief operations in flood-hit Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, the armed forces have, so far, rescued about 1,336 people, including a family of four stranded on a tree without food for a few days.

The tri-services personnel have been working round-the-clock to save marooned people and provide them with food, a Defence Ministry release said here on Monday.

The Army deployed 14 columns in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh along with life jackets, boats and medical teams.

Following an improvement in the flood situation in Mahabubnagar district of Andhra Pradesh, three columns of Army personnel were de-requisitioned from Monday.

The Air Force pressed into service 29 aircraft and helicopters, including seven Chetaks and 10 MI-8. These aircraft carried out 255 sorties and dropped huge quantity of food packets.

On Monday, the IAF said it carried out a dramatic rescue operation at Vamipenta village in Nandyal district of Andhra Pradesh. Using a helicopter, they saved a family of four, including a four-year-old girl and five-year-old boy. The family had been stranded on a tree branch since flood waters entered their area. The entire village had been evacuated earlier but for these four and a dog.

An IAF spokesperson said since the helicopter could not send the cable of winch through the tree, it dangled it close to the tree and swung it for the family head to latch on to the cable. He was to send them one by one. The spokesperson said the emaciated persons were given medical help.

The Navy also deployed 15 teams of its divers and experts to rescue marooned people. Of these, five teams are at Vijayawada; three each at Mahabubnagar and Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh; two each at Karwar and Gadag districts in Karnataka. These teams have rescued more than 500 people, the release said
:icon_salut:

 

[RPK]

Australia Army India news-Australian Army chief in India

New Delhi: In a bid to strengthen Indo-Australian defence cooperation, Australian Army Chief General K J Gillespie arrived here on a five-day visit starting today.

During the visit, the Australian Army Chief will meet senior officials including Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar, Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor, Navy Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma and Air Chief Marshal P V Naik.


At the meetings, the two sides will hold discussions on enhancing cooperation in the fields of training, UN peacekeeping and sports and adventure activities, Army officials said here.

Gillespie will visit a number of army installations across the country including Northern Command headquarters in Udhampur, Infantry School in Mhow, South-western Command headquarters in Jaipur and Agra-based 50 Para Brigade before returning home on October 9.

Defence cooperation between the Indian and Australian armed forces has increased after the two countries signed a Defence Cooperation Agreement in 2006, army officials said.

 

[RPK]

Australian Army chief receives Indian guard of honour

New Delhi, Oct. 5 - ANI: Australian Army chief, Lieutenant-General, K. J. Gillespie, on Monday received a guard of honour at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The ceremony, held early in the day, was accompanied by light showers.

Indian Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor was present during the ceremony.

Lieutenant-General K. J. Gillespie is on a short Indian visit.

His visit comes close on the heels of Victoria Premier John Brumby's visit to India.

Brumby was in the country on a damage control and public relations exercise after a series of incidents of racial attacks on Indian students in Australia. - ANI

 

[RPK]

fullstory

Threat of women as PoW reason for their non-combat role: Army

New Delhi, Oct 6 (PTI) The threat of women officers being taken Prisoner of War is one of the reasons why they have not be given any combat roles in the Army, Chief of Army Staff General Deepak Kapoor has said.

"Certain issues that we may have to consider include the fact that they can become a prisoner of war which is an undeniable hazard of combat," he said in an interview to the first edition of 'Defence Yearbook 2009-2010' brought out by Manas Publications.

Kapoor said that living conditions can be harsh without basic amenities, which is another reason why they have not been assigned any combat roles.

"Notwithstanding the above, the Government did meet the aspirations of the women officers (WOs) seeking Permanent Commission in the Army, albeit in a defined area," Kapoor said.

"There has been progressive expansion in the profile of women in the Army...

 

[RPK]

'We're prepared to counter China' - TIMESNOW.tv - Latest Breaking News, Big News Stories, News Videos

In his first detailed explanation on China, Chief of the Indian Army, General Deepak Kapoor, speaking exclusively to TIMES NOW's Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami, on the Chinese threat said India is more than prepared to counter China.

Talking on the Indian defence, the Army chief said that the Indian army has the capability to defend their territory and that even if it meant the use of force multipliers to ensure defence of our territory, they would employ them.

The Army chief said that Indian territory would be guarded at all costs. Rubbishing the reports of the talk of a repeat 1962, he said such talks are totally incorrect and uncalled for and also not fair to the Indian army.

Speaking on the Chinese transgressions, General Kapoor said that the transgressions that happened in 2008 and at the same level that of 2009.

General Kapoor also said that there is no chance of a Sino-India flare-up. He said that India needs to build its capability since modernisation is also happening on the Chinese side. He further said that India also needed to improve the usage of the space to defend themselves.

General Kapoor also said that India has its own satellites to defend itself.

 

[RPK]

fullstory

CISF men in Islamabad as 'escorts' for Indian HC

New Delhi, Oct 7 (PTI) A batch of about eight CISF personnel are in Islamabad as "escorts" for the Indian High Commission after having undergone special training.

Union Home Ministry sources said the the CISF had shortlisted about 20 personnel for being deputed to Islamabad as "escorts".

All the personnel are below the age of 34 and had been shortlisted after going through extensive screening, the sources said adding that while eight have already reached Islamabad, the rest were currently undergoing training.

While officials said the jawans are there for performing the duty of drivers, sources said they have been trained to act as real-time commandos in case of any emergency.

The move to deploy CISF men as drivers in Islamabad comes at a time when there have been security apprehensions in various Missions in Pakistan including that of India.

 

[youngindian]

US to deploy 17 Stryker combat vehicles for India exercise

Wednesday 7th October, 2009

In what is billed as the largest deployment of Stryker combat vehicles outside of those sent to Iraq and Afghanistan, the US Army plans to deploy 17 Strykers this month to India for a major training exercise.

'It's one of the most important training exercises that we've done with the Indian military to date,' Army Lt. Gen. Benjamin R. Mixon told reporters here Tuesday. Mixon commands all army forces in the US Pacific Command area.

About 200 troops from the 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, based at Hawaii, will train alongside the Indian Army in combat manoeuvres using the Strykers, Mixon said.

An Indian Army unit of about the same size will join the Stryker crews in Babina, about 275 miles southeast of New Delhi, for the two-week exercise starting Oct 12.

The two armies will share tactics for using the Strykers in combat, as well as its integrated computer network system, Mixon said.

The exercise will end with a live-fire demonstration of the Stryker.

'We're very excited about it,' the general said. 'We think it's going to be a good experience for our soldiers, as well as a very important part of our relationship with India.'

This exercise, more than two years in the planning, comes as the Defence Department continues to reach out to India to increase its military collaboration, he said.

The top Pacific Command officer, Navy Adm. Timothy J. Keating, last month travelled to India and said officials there have committed to increasing their military relationship with the US.

Mixon said this exercise will help to build on that relationship and open doors for expanding such training there.

'We view it as a broad effort in our engagement strategy with the Indians that we want to continue to expand. It provides a ... method to get at more engagements,' he said.

Mixon said the Indian Army is anxious to train with the Strykers. Most military exercises in the country, he explained, have been limited to scenario-driven, commander-level exercises in which few troops are involved.

This exercise is unique in that it strictly focuses on combat training and does not include a humanitarian piece. 'It's the full gamut,' Mixon said. 'It's on the high end of fighting.'

US to deploy 17 Stryker combat vehicles for India exercise

 

[BLACK_COBRA]

Indo-US military tango next week

NEW DELHI: Shrugging aside some policy glitches and heartburn, India and US are now all set to launch their largest-ever ground combat exercise,
which incidentally is codenamed ‘Yudh Abhyas’ (preparation for war). But it’s really not conventional war that will be the focus of the 15-day wargames, which kicks off at Babina, near Jhansi, from October 12.

‘‘The focus of Yudh Abhyas is on mechanised infantry operations for counter-insurgency/counter-terrorism in semi-urban terrain. The aim is to further enhance interoperability already built through a series of exercises with US,’’ said a senior Indian officer.

Commander of the army forces under the US Pacific Command, Lt-Gen Benjamin Mixon, in turn, said, ‘‘It will be one of the most important training exercises that we’ve done with the Indian military to date...It’s on the high-end of fighting...We’re very excited.’’

The US, anxious to grab a major chunk of the lucrative Indian arms market, will undertake ‘live-fire ops’ of its high-tech weaponry like the Stryker infantry armoured vehicles and Javelin anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) during the wargames.

Incidentally, this will be the largest overseas deployment of the Strykers after Iraq and Afghanistan, coming as the over 200 American soldiers are with 17 of the eight-wheeled armoured combat vehicles.

Costing around $1.5 million apiece, the Strykers come equipped with advanced weapons, CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) protection and C4I (command, control, communications, computers and intelligence) systems.

Indian Army, on its part, has also shown interest in acquiring man-portable ATGMs like the Javelin since the indigenous ‘Nag’ ATGM is still to be operationally deployed.

That’s not all in the current phase of the Indo-US military tango. Mid-way through Yudh Abhyas, yet another exercise named ‘‘Cope India-09’’ between IAF and USAF, will begin at Agra on October 19.

In this primarily transport aircraft exercise, the US will showcase its C-17 Globemaster-III giant military aircraft, among other planes. India has already shown interest in acquiring at least 10 C-17 aircraft and 15 Chinook helicopters after inking the $2.1 billion deal for eight P-8i long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft and the $962 million contract for six C-130J heavy-lift aircraft with the US. :tank:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...itary-tango-next-week/articleshow/5099717.cms

 

[RPK]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/News/...s-rail-link-along-border/Article1-462480.aspx

On Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s advice, the Indian Railways has completed a reconnaissance survey of the ambitious 497-km Bilaspur-Manali-Leh rail link stretching from Himachal Pradesh to Jammu and Kashmir. Strategic link

The link has been conceived as a measure to neutralise China’s strategic advantage along the Sino-Indian border. China has completed its 3,900-km Beijing-Lhasa rail link and is pushing ahead with seven other railroad projects adjoining the Indian border.

China has announced plans to extend rail connectivity to its last outpost at Ruili, adjoining its border with Myanmar, news reports from Beijing said.

In next three years, China proposes to build 5,000 km of rail links, with emphasis on establishing connectivity in the Tibetan Autonomous Region. The country has also proposed to build a rail network in Nepal.

The proposal of the Indian Railways, submitted last week, indicates a 10-year construction timeframe for the Bilaspur-Manali-Leh project at an estimated cost of Rs 22,500 crore (Rs 225 billion). Bilaspur and Manali are in Himachal Pradesh while Leh is the capital of Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Railways have spent Rs 72 lakh (Rs 7.2 million) to conduct the five-month-long survey for the project. The exercise was carried out in March this year.

“Last February, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) sent us a reference for conducting the survey. The Railways will forward the survey findings to the PMO and will seek funding of the scheme as a national project,” a senior railway ministry official said on condition of anonymity.

The army top brass has approved of the proposal. “The Bilaspur-Manali-Leh rail link can act as a vital alternative route for combat equipment transit on the eastern borders,” General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Shimla-based Army Training Command, Lt. Gen. A.S. Lamba told mediapersons on October 2.

Chief of the Army Staff General Deepak Kapoor is also reported to have endorsed the scheme for an “all-weather rail link” to India’s eastern frontier.

Trans-Himalayan Railway Private Limited, a subsidiary of the Delhi-based ICC Holdings, has pitched in with an alternative proposal to implement the scheme under the Public-Private Partnership mode at a cost of Rs 1.15 lakh crore (Rs 1.15 trillion) over eight years.

 

[RPK]

Territorial Army, 60, to woo youngsters

New Delhi: The Territorial Army, a reserve force of trained civilians to aid the Indian Army, completed 60 years of existence on Friday and aims to woo more youngsters and working professionals to join its ranks.

"On the 60th anniversary, we are working towards tapping young talent from the corporate, engineering, IT and other fields," said a senior officer of the Territorial Army.


The Territorial Army is a volunteer force of people eager to do their bit for the country's defence. It acts as a reserve for the regular Army in times of need and draws men and women from the age group of 18-42.

The Territorial Army has proposed to make its training schedule more flexible to accommodate the requirements of the working professionals.

"There is a proposal to shorten the training period because if you are taking in an expert then you do not have to give him that much training," said the officer.

Currently, on joining the Territorial Army, officers have to undergo mandatory training of four months followed by two months of training every year. This is now proposed to be cut down to one month and 14 days, respectively.

The Territorial Army has also proposed to raise an all-women's unit in the insurgency-hit northeast region.

"There is a proposal for raising an all women's battalion for the northeast," said the officer.

Presently, women can only join as doctors and nurses in the Territorial Army, which has a strength of 40,000.

In recent times, former India cricket team captain Kapil Dev and Malayalam film super star Mohanlal have joined the Territorial Army.

 

[rakesh]

Why not India develop the rail in north east ?