Indian Army: News and Discussion

[neo29]

Army plans induction of BrahMos with ’surgical strike’ option

Army is going in for a major induction of BrahMos Block-II land-attack cruise missiles (LACM), which have been designed as “precision strike weapons” capable of hitting small targets in cluttered urban environments.

Sources say the defence ministry will “soon” approach the Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, for the green signal to arm the Army with two regiments of the BrahMos Block-II land-attack cruise missiles (LACM).

Swift induction of BrahMos Block-II is necessary because Pakistan Army is inducting its nuclear-capable Babur LACM, developed with China’s help to have a 500-km strike range, in large numbers. BrahMos-II can potentially be used for “surgical strikes” at terror training camps across the border without causing collateral damage.

One regiment of the 290-km range BrahMos-I variant, which consists of 67 missiles, five mobile autonomous launchers on 12×12 Tatra vehicles and two mobile command posts, among other equipment, is already operational in the Army. It had earlier ordered two BrahMos regiments in the first phase at a cost of Rs 8,352 crore.

The BrahMos Block-II variant has been developed to take out a specific small target, with a low radar cross-section, in a multi-target environment.

The air-breathing missile, which flies at speeds up to 2.8 Mach (almost three times the speed of sound), of course, does not come cheap. With `multi-spectral seekers’ for `target-discriminating capabilities’, each missile costs upwards of Rs 25 crore.

Incidentally, Indian Navy too has inducted BrahMos’s naval variant on some warships, having earlier placed orders worth Rs 711 crore for 49 firing units.

While these missiles are fired from `inclined launchers’, Navy is also gearing up to induct `vertical launchers’.

This is significant since `vertical launchers’ are fitted under the warship’s deck, protecting them from the atmospheric conditions and imparting some stealth to the weapon system. It also allows the missile to be fired in any direction.

Two such modules, with 16 missiles, are to fitted in each of the three Kolkata-class P-15A destroyers being built at Mazagon Docks at a cost of Rs 11,662 crore.

BrahMos will also arm the three more Talwar-class `stealth’ frigates being built at Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad (Russia) under a Rs 5,514-crore project.

But the work on submarine and air-launched versions of BrahMos is still going quite slow. While talks with Russia are now in the final stages for BrahMos’ integration with Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, the missile will be tested for the first time from submersible pontoon launchers this year in preparation for their induction on submarines.

India and Russia have also begun preliminary work on a “hypersonic” BrahMos-2 missile capable of flying at a speed between 5 and 7 Mach, as reported earlier.

The armed forces’ eventual plan, of course, is to have nuclear-tipped LACMs, with strike ranges over 1,500 km. Unlike ballistic missiles like Agni, cruise missiles do not leave the atmosphere and are powered and guided throughout their flight path.

Cruise missiles, which can evade enemy radars and air defence systems since they fly at low altitudes, are also much cheaper as well as more accurate and easier to operate than ballistic missiles.

Army plans induction of BrahMos with ’surgical strike’ option idrw.org

 

[enlightened1]

Army wants more short service officers​

http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/newdelhi/Army-wants-more-short-service-officers/Article1-501841.aspx​

http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/newdelhi/Army-wants-more-short-service-officers/Article1-501841.aspxhttp://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/newdelhi/Army-wants-more-short-service-officers/Article1-501841.aspx

Unable to woo enough officers to join its permanent ranks, the Indian Army has proposed to increase their intake under the Short Service Commission (SSC) cadre. It wants two SSC officers for every permanent officer.

The proposal, now with the defence minister, seeks to increase the proportion of SSC officers with respect to the permanent commissioned officers.

"The army has submitted the proposal to increase the intake of short service commissioned officers by making it more lucrative. The proposal is lying with the defence ministry," a senior armed forces official told IANS, requesting anonymity.

Currently, people who are not certain about committing to permanent positions in the army join under SSC and serve the army for five years. At the end of the period the officer is allowed to either opt for permanent commission, choose another five years of service or retire.

In contrast, an officer under permanent commission has to serve for 20 years.

The SSC acts as the support cadre to the regular cadre, which is twice its strength. The proposal seeks to reverse the proportion.

"According to an internal report the shortfall of 11,000 army officers would be bridged in 20 years. The proposal is to take two short service officers for every permanently commissioned officer. This will help make up the shortfall in due course without affecting the promotion aspects caused by the pyramidal structure of the army.

"In short the proposal is to increase the proportion of short service commissioned officers from the current one-third," the officer told IANS.

The army's sanctioned strength is 46,615 officers, but it has been facing a shortage of 11,238. For the world's fourth largest army middle-rung officers leaving for better-paying corporate sector jobs has been a constant problem.

The problem has been aggravated because the army is unable to get enough numbers to join its officer rank. The defence forces need 2,100 officers every year.

The army is now opening a second Officers Training Academy (OTA) at Gaya in Bihar. Set to house 500 cadets, the academy is scheduled to start functioning by the middle of the year.

However, in the existent OTA at Chennai the cadet intake has come down from 407 in 2008 to 315 in 2009, against an authorised strength of 700.

"The army has sought to make SSC more lucrative by increasing the number of serving years from five to 10. Another proposal is to give them a two-year study leave at the end of their service to help them find a better second career option," said the officer.

Now, the army is hoping the financial crisis in the corporate sector and the Sixth Pay Commission -- which has increased their salaries -- will help bring in many more officers to the armed forces.

 

[NSG_Blackcats]

Sukna land scam: Antony recommends court martial of Gen Prakash

NEW DELHI: A top military official, Lt Gen Awadesh Prakash, allegedly involved in the Sukna land scam, faces court martial with the defence minister A K Antony asking army chief General Deepak Kapoor to initiate disciplinary action against the officer.

"The defence minister has advised the army chief to initiate disciplinary action against Lt Gen Prakash (Military Secretary in the army)," highly-placed defence ministry sources said today. Disciplinary action could lead to a court martial against Lt Gen Prakash, who is in the dock in the scam along with two other Lieutenant Generals and a Major General.

The army chief had earlier ordered administrative action against Gen Prakash wherein the court martial was not a requirement. Prakash was issued a show-cause notice to which he has replied. Lt Gen Prakash, considered close to the army chief, would be retiring on January 31.

 

[enlightened1]

Army motorcycle rally reaches Thiruvananthapuram​

http://www.ptinews.com/news/486586_5-cops-wounded-during-stone-pelting-in-Tamil-Nadu​

http://www.ptinews.com/news/486586_5-cops-wounded-during-stone-pelting-in-Tamil-Naduhttp://www.ptinews.com/news/486586_5-cops-wounded-during-stone-pelting-in-Tamil-Nadu

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 27 (PTI) The motorcycle expedition team (Gunners Heritage Expedition) of Indian Army for promoting national integration reached here this evening.

The team is part of the national motorcycle expedition, which was flagged off on January 22 from four centres -- Chandigarh, Poonch, Hyderabad and Kohima.

The four independent expeditions would meet at Nasik on February 5, an official press release here said.

The southern leg of the expedition, comprising 20 Bison Gunners of the Bison Division, was flagged off from Hyderabad.

After six days on the road, the 20 member-team reached the city for a night halt.

They would be proceeding to Kochi tomorrow, interacting with civilians on their way, the release said.

 

[enlightened1]

23 students from J&K visit Kerala​

http://www.ptinews.com/news/488707_23-students-from-J-K-visit-Kerala​

http://www.ptinews.com/news/488707_23-students-from-J-K-visit-Keralahttp://www.ptinews.com/news/488707_23-students-from-J-K-visit-Kerala

Kochi, Jan 29 (PTI) Over 20 students from Jammu and Kashmir visited the Southern Naval Command as part of national educational tour being conducted by the Indian Army under "Operation Sadbhavana."

The 23 students, hailing from Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir, study at the Iqbal Islamia Model High school there.

They will also visit a warship here, a naval press release said.

Their two teachers and personnel from 322 Air Defence Regiment of the Indian Army are accompanying the students.

The students, who arrived here on January 26, also interacted with Vice Admiral K N Sushil, Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Southern Naval Command.

"The tour takes the students to Agra, Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Bangalore, Delhi and Udhampur and is intended to expose them to the diversity and progress the nation has achieved," the release said.

 

[enlightened1]

Two Armymen killed in encounter with terrorists in J&K​

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Two-Armymen-killed-in-encounter-with-terrorists-in-J-amp-K/H1-Article1-502936.aspx​

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Two-Armymen-killed-in-encounter-with-terrorists-in-J-amp-K/H1-Article1-502936.aspxhttp://www.hindustantimes.com/Two-Armymen-killed-in-encounter-with-terrorists-in-J-amp-K/H1-Article1-502936.aspx

Two Indian Army soldiers were killed early on Friday in an ambush by terrorists in Tandar village in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, an official in Jammu said.

The militants attacked an army patrol that was on its way to a suspected militant hideout in Tandar in the Dachhan area, about 240 km northeast of Jammu, the official said requesting anonymity.

The army have sent reinforcements and launched massive search operations in the forested area, where they were attacked.

The identity of the soldiers was not immediately known.

 

[enlightened1]

Antony’s dictat​

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/49424/antonys-dictat.html​

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/49424/antonys-dictat.htmlhttp://www.deccanherald.com/content/49424/antonys-dictat.html

This is the time to clean up the armed forces.'

The recommendation by defence minister A K Antony to court martial two Army generals and to punish two other generals for their alleged involvement in a land scam is clearly aimed at taking the sting out of a corruption case that could potentially prove embarrassing for the UPA government.

But Antony’s act of deliverance may not in itself redeem the Army from a growing public perception that all is not well with the institution. The virus of corruption has crept deep into the institution and superior officers have come under the corruption cloud from time to time, including in contracts for hardware acquisitions. The land scam, for which three lieutenant generals and a major general will face disciplinary and administrative actions, is a rare opportunity for the UPA government to clean up the armed forces which are extremely reluctant to make any earnest commitment to free themselves from corrupt practices.

The barren stretch of land spread over an area of 72 acres in Sukna in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district was in the process of being handed over to the Army by the state government. Technically, therefore, the Army had a say in any privately-driven development project on the land in question. The generals, primarily Lt Gen Avadesh Prakash, allegedly bent rules and procedures to ensure that a realtor, believed to be his relative, got possession of the land close to the headquarters of the 33rd Corps. They also allegedly lobbied hard for the Mayo college brand name for a school which the realtor wanted to set up. On the face of it, this might appear to be a chicken-feed scam when compared to some of the highly controversial deals made during the Kargil war and sundry other tainted acquisitions the three defence services have made in the past. These have tarnished the image of a fighting force, reputed to be one of the meanest on the battlefield.

A minister of impeccable integrity, Antony’s attempt to clean up the Augean stables is a signal to the three armed services that the government will not allow corruption to wreck the defence forces, especially a bloated Army, which must have competent and professional leadership. India’s military management has a poor track record. Successive governments have erred on the side of caution over the desirability of seeking transparency and accountability in the armed forces. Time has come to address these issues.

 

[enlightened1]

Army chief orders court martial of military secretary​

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Army-chief-orders-court-martial-of-military-secretary/articleshow/5512924.cms​

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Army-chief-orders-court-martial-of-military-secretary/articleshow/5512924.cmshttp://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Army-chief-orders-court-martial-of-military-secretary/articleshow/5512924.cms

NEW DELHI: Acting on the ‘advice’ of Defence Minister AK Antony, Indian Army Chief Gen. Deepak Kapoor, on Friday ordered a court martial of his chief aide Lt. Gen. Avadesh Prakash for his involvement in a land scam in West Bengal's Sukhna cantonment, a defence official said Friday.

The army chief's decision has come two days after the defence minister advised a court martial of the military secretary on the issue. Prakash is due to retire on January 31.

 

[enlightened1]

India's army orders the court martial of a top general​

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8487244.stm​

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8487244.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8487244.stm

India's army has ordered the court martial of one of its most senior army officers over his alleged involvement in an illegal land deal, officials say.

Lt Gen Avadesh Prakash is the highest ranking officer ever to face a court martial in India.

He holds the rank of military secretary and is one of eight key advisers to India's army chief Gen Deepak Kapoor.

If convicted, he could face a prison term and he could also lose his military rank and pension.

Earlier in the week, Defence Minister AK Antony called for stern action against Lt Gen Prakash who is set to retire from military duties on Sunday, officials said.

"The trial will begin after the army names the judges for the general court martial of Lt Gen Prakash," news agency AFP quoted an unnamed senior defence ministry official as saying.

According to reports, Lt Gen Prakash was among four senior officers who allegedly gave approval for a builder to acquire military land near an army base at a significantly reduced price.

An army inquiry has already indicted him for using his position to help the builder in Siliguri in West Bengal.

 

[Anshu Attri]

http://www.zeenews.com/news600115.html

Indian Army to procure quick reaction surface to air missiles


New Delhi: To secure its skies from enemy fighter aircraft and cruise missiles, the Indian Army is planning to procure more quick reaction surface to air missiles (QR-SAMs) from global vendors.



In a Request for Information (RFI) issued yesterday, without mentioning the number of systems to be procured, the Army has asked the vendors to provide missile systems which have a range of over nine kilometres and are capable of taking on aircraft or missiles at an altitude of up to six kilometres.

The Army is seeking a QR-SAM capable of being launched within six seconds and taking on hovering helicopters also. It wants the new systems to have the ability of firing two missiles at a time and simultaneously guide them to the desired targets.

The Army has reportedly placed orders for four squadrons of SPYDER QR-SAMs from Israel. The DRDO is also working on the development of a home grown QR-SAM system and planning to co-develop it with a foreign partner.

The RFI states the missile system should be capable of operating in the electronic warfare environment and should be provided with Nuclear, Biological and Chemical warfare protection system.

The Army wants its new systems to be highly mobile and capable of being moved on rail-based platforms besides being mobile in desert and semi-desert terrain.

It also wants the vendors to do a transfer of technology to Indian firms so that the missile system can be later on produced in India also. Global missile manufacturers including MBDA of France and Israeli Rafale are expected to offer their systems to the Army.

 

[Agantrope]

CRPF, BSF bhai-bhai: Brothers to head forces

NEW DELHI: For the first time ever, two brothers are set to lead the country's two biggest paramilitary forces -- Central Reserve Police Force and Border Security Force -- with around 370,000 men under their command.

The brothers -- both IPS officers of the 1973 batch -- are set to make history with the government on Friday deciding to appoint the younger one, Vikram Srivastava, as the chief of India's largest paramilitary force, CRPF, at a time when his elder brother Raman Srivastava is heading the country's second largest paramilitary force, BSF.

Though Vikram is currently director general of ITBP, his elevation as CRPF chief will present a unique combination of brothers being heads of the top two paramilitary forces in the country.

Incidentally, both the forces were once seen as `competitors' when they were deployed for counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and northeastern states with BSF claiming to be better equipped and trained to handle insurgency.

The rivalry appeared to end when the government decided to make CRPF the sole counter-insurgency force, leaving BSF to concentrate on the borders. However, BSF is of late being roped in to assist CRPF in some anti-Naxal operations

While Vikram, who earlier served in CRPF at different positions, is from the Uttar Pradesh cadre, Raman is from the Kerala cadre. Raman will retire in October next year while the younger brother has over two years to go before superannuation.

Vikram will take over as CRPF director general on Sunday on the retirement of A S Gill -- a 1972 batch officer who had become the chief of the largest central force in February last year. Vikram was appointed director general of ITBP on May 7, 2008.

Vikram's appointment as CRPF chief comes at a time when the Centre is in the middle of an attritional battle against Naxals across seven states. Besides being the main central paramilitary force which is coordinating anti-Naxal operations across the country, CRPF has been the main counter-insurgency force in J&K and northeastern states.

On the other hand, BSF, which guards the Indo-Pakistan and Indo-Bangladesh borders, too has recently been roped in to assist states in anti-Naxal operations.

Director general of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) R K Bhatia, IPS officer of 1974 batch from UP cadre, will take over from Vikram as the new ITBP chief.

Link

 

[RPK]

Lt Gen GM Nair takes over as Military Secretary


http://www.zeenews.com/news600713.html

New Delhi: Veteran infantry officer, Lt Gen G M Nair on Monday took over as the Military Secretary, succeeding Lt Gen Awadhesh Prakash who is facing disciplinary action for his alleged involvement in the Sukna land case.


A Sainik School alumni, Lt Gen Nair joined NDA, Khadakwasla and was commissioned into 1/11 Gorkha Rifles in 1972.

In his active service in several operational areas, he commanded his battalion in counter insurgency operations in Assam and Manipur, an infantry brigade in western sector during Op Parakram and a mountain division in OP Rakshak in Jammu and Kashmir.

Prior to assuming appointment of the Military Secretary, Nair was heading the 9 Corps.

He has also held several important staff, instructional and foreign assignments including a stint as a Military Observer in UN operations in Namibia and Instructor as a Brigadier in Army War College, Mhow.

Holding a Masters in Defence Studies, he has a MS in Strategic Studies from US Army War College and also attended US Army War College Course in Carlisle.

 

[RPK]

Army looking for foreign carbines


NAGPUR: It’s not that induction of just advanced weaponry is getting delayed in the armed forces. Same is the case with a simple carbine. It is a gun with a holed barrel commonly seen with a VIPs security guard. The Indian Army wants to replace its old 9mm carbine of World War II vintage with a 5.56 one.

After an earlier plan to make this with foreign collaboration fizzled out, the army has begun scouting for the weapon in open market. A request for information (RFI) was lately posted on Indian Army website inviting details on this type of gun from the vendors. Carbine is smaller than rifles and used for close quarter combat. The army in its RFI has left it upon the vendor to specify the weight, length, rate of fire and so on.

While it wants the interested parties to inform whether their carbine has features like laser spot designator, or flash eliminator. Earlier it was planned to make 5.56 carbines in collaboration with Singapore Technologies Kinetic (STK), at local ordnance factories. However, as is becoming the norm, a commission scandal led to the deal with STK being held up. The former chairman of Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) Sudipto Ghosh was arrested in this case. Interestingly, a 5.56 carbine is already being made by two different government agencies in the country. But for some reasons, army is interested in importing it. The one being made by Indian ordnance factory is called ‘Amogh’.

The other one is being developed by the Pune-based Armaments Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), a unit of Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO). The 9 mm carbine currently used by the army and other forces is being made at the ordnance factory in Kanpur. Enquiries at the army spokesperson’s office in New Delhi about the RFI elicited no response. Other sources in the army said a 5.56 carbine is needed so as to achieve standardization of ammunition. Now the army uses rifles and light machine guns of 5.56 calibre so it has to keep 9 mm ammunition just for carbines. “If a5.56 mm carbine is inducted, similar ammunition can be used in different weapons,” said a source in the army.

 

[neo29]

Army to spend billions on outdated T-72 tanks

Foreign upgrade for T-72 chosen over indigenous Arjun tank.The Indian Army chief’s concern that India’s tank fleet was largely incapable of fighting at night highlighted only a part of the problem with the Russian T-72, the army’s main tank. In fact, the T-72 is in far worse shape than General Deepak Kapoor let on last month.

Another signal of the T-72’s obsolescence was its recent withdrawal, by the army’s Directorate General of Mechanised Forces (DGMF), from next month’s comparative trials with the indigenous Arjun tank. An embarrassed DGMF has realised that, without major refurbishing, the T-72 was not in the Arjun’s class.

But in the army’s long-term planning, the T-72 — which the more advanced T-90 will replace only gradually — will continue to equip almost half of the army’s 59 tank regiments as far in the future as 2022.

Business Standard has accessed a sheaf of technical reports and funding requests that actually quantify the state of the T-72. Exactly 32 years have passed since the first T-72s arrived in India; army guidelines stipulate 32 years as the service life of a tank. The earliest tanks from the army’s 2,418-strong T-72 inventory should have already been retired, making way for a more modern tank, such as the T-90 or the Arjun.

Instead, the DGMF — longstanding advocates of Russian equipment — plans to spend Rs 5 crore per T-72, hoping to add another 15-20 years to that tank’s service life by replacing crucial systems, such as its fire control system, main engine and night vision devices.

The military’s Annual Acquisition Plan for 2008-2010 (AAP 2008-10) lists out the cost of modernising the T-72 fleet as follows:

An auxillary power unit (APU) to generate power for the tank’s electrical systems. Each APU will cost Rs 0.16 crore.The Rs 5-crore cost of upgrading each T-72 knocks out the argument that the T-72 — at Rs 9 crore apiece — is value-for-money. Retrofitting upgraded systems will escalate the cost of the T-72 to Rs 14 crore. In contrast, a new Arjun, with a 1,500 horsepower engine, state-of-the-art integrated electronics, and the indigenous, widely praised Kanchan armour, can be had for a marginally more expensive Rs 16.8 crore.

“It is folly to stick with Russian tanks despite having developed the Arjun, and the design capability to continuously improve it?” says Lt Gen Ajai Singh, who headed the army’s Directorate of Combat Vehicles before becoming Governor of Assam. “India can tailor the Arjun to our specific requirements and continuously upgrade the tank to keep it state-of-the-art. Why upgrade old T-72s? It is time to bring in the Arjun.”

The T-72’s galloping obsolescence is magnified by the MoD’s failure to overhaul tanks on schedule: Some 800 T-72s are years overdue for overhaul. Originally, each T-72 was to be overhauled twice during its service life of 32 years. But as the overhaul agencies — the Heavy Vehicles Factory, Avadi; and 505 Army Base Workshop, Delhi — failed to meet their overhaul targets of 70 and 50 tanks, respectively, the army decided that one overhaul was good enough. And, with even that schedule not implemented, a desperate MoD has approached Indian industry to play a role in overhauling the T-72 fleet.

The total expenditure on the T-72 tank, budgeted for AAP 2008-10, is over Rs 5000 crore. The cost of overhaul has not been accurately determined.

http://idrw.org/?p=368#more-368

 

[RPK]

3 corps 25th Raising day today

DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 3 (MExN): On the eve of the 25th raising day of the 3 corps of the Indian Army Lieutenant General NK Singh, AVSM, VSM, GOC 3 corps interacted with a section of media persons from the north eastern region at Rangapahar Military Station, Dimapur on Wednesday, February 3. The 3 corps raised on February 4, 1985 is headquartered in Dimapur, Nagaland.
The GOC conveyed his appreciation to all ranks of the 3 corps also known as the “Spear Corps” for their commendable achievements during the last 25 years while also conveying his good wishes to the people of the region.
GOC Lt General NK Singh interacts with NE media on the occassion
This formation of the Indian Army was raised to combat insurgency in the north eastern states of Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and Meghalaya with the 8th and 57th Mountain Division under its command in addition to troops of the Assam Rifles.
Lt. General NK Singh in his statement said that the NE region has gained “greater significance in recent times due to changes in strategic dimensions perspective”. The GOC sated that the 3 corps will accomplish its responsibility of guarding the frontiers of the region aside from ensuring congenial political atmosphere in the north-east.
The GOC averred that the security scenario in the north east has made “varying degrees” progress since October 16, 2009 when Singh had a similar interaction with the media in Rangapahar. “Overall…the situation is steadily improving” Singh claimed.
On the scenario in Nagaland the GOC said that aside from the sporadic violations of Ceasefire Ground Rules the situation has been quite congenial. Those violations the GOC claimed are however resolved according to the provisions of law. He stated that the FNR has “gathered greater momentum, the political dialogue… has also been taking place at various levels in several different ways”.

Replying to queries the GOC said that coordinated operations are on the plans to flush out militants holed up in the thick jungles on the Myanmar side of the border. The GOC was asked earlier whether any efforts are being made with the Bangladesh and Myanmar authorities to shut down NE rebel camps in the neighbouring countries. Particularly mentioning Paresh Baruah, ‘commander-in-chief’ of the ULFA, the GOC said that the requirement of tracking down the ULFA chief and others have been intimated to the Myanmar and Bangladesh authorities. As of now the GOC said that it is the “discussion stage”.
According information inputs the GOC said that there are around 40-45 NE rebel camps on the Myanmar side of the border. An equal number of camps are also operating inside Bangladesh, the GOC added.
Of the camps inside Myanmar, the GOC said that 25-30 are relatively big and established while the rest are temporary camps. However, these numbers keeps on fluctuating. The GOC indicated there are fairly good information as far as the locations of the camps is concerned, while some camps in Bangladesh are operating in the cover of villages.
With unconfirmed reports of four NSCM (IM) cadres being killed along Indo-Myanmar border as a result of in-fighting two to three days back, the GOC said there have no confirmed reports at present.
Illegal immigration a topic of serious concern in the region the GOC said that a start has been made on border fencing in Manipur, around north of the border town of Moreh. Fencing along the south of the trading centre is expected in a few months, the GOC said. Fencing along the Nagaland stretch of the border with Myanmar, the GOC said the state government is not very keen on it.
Citing “free-move regime” phenomenon as one of the reasons aiding illegal immigration, the GOC said monitoring mechanisms will be put in place to check elements who take advantage of it. It has been the age-old practice of indigenous peoples living on both sides of the Indo-Myanmar and Indo-Bangla borders to indulge in unrestricted barter trade. Underground elements take advantage of this essential system of trade.
The GOC accepted that Dimapur is a hotbed of underground groups from the region, particularly from Manipur, Assam and Nagaland. However, these groups avoid from indulging in major violence aside from extortion activities. The GOC surmised this is because the groups, if they involve in serious violence, it would activate the full force of the army, making it difficult for them to continue with their extortions quite freely. The GOC said steps will be taken up in coordination with the Dimapur police in this direction.

 

[NSG_Blackcats]

India Army's first ever NBC Exercise - Amogh Raksha​

The Bhopal-based 21 Corps, falling under the Southern Command, concluded its five-day war-game based on nuclear biological chemical (NBC) warfare, conducted for the first time ever by the Indian Army in the deserts of Rajasthan, last month. Named 'Amogh Raksha', meaning something that can't be pierced, the exercise mainly had elements from the Sagar-based 36 RAPID Division.

An officer told People's Post, "This will become a regular feature from now on, and this type of war-game will be conducted in all Commands on a yearly basis, for which the result and findings of Amogh Raksha are being recorded, which will be sent to the Army Headquarters." Amogh Raksha validated the army's war-plans in a nuclear backdrop, by simulations, in Pokhran. Unlike a conventional war this NBC war-game had arty shellings, tear gas grenades, smoke candles simulated to depict a chemical attack.

The approximately 1000 troops who participated in the trial exercise, belonged to the various Brigades falling under the Division. There were elements from artillery and armoured regiments as well. Since this is the first time that the Army has conducted an NBC exercise, it was mainly to see how much reaction time do troops take in a warfare of this nature, the magnitude and nature of damage to the equipment and men, movement time from one place to another, the damage control which can be done caused by contamination and how to save troops quickly by giving medical assistance.

A source said that since the tanks have to be kept away from firing range, therefore an area of about two-three kilometers is marked in which there is no firing, but there were offensive and defensive forces as in any other exercise, in this five-day war game. Special IPE (individual protection equipment) or NBC suits were collected from all Commands for the troops for Amogh Raksha, and were tried and tested as in a war-like situation. These suits are indigenously made by Ordnance factories, and include the entire kit of gloves, face-mask, body suit and special boots, all of which are resistant towards chemicals, though weapons used were conventional.

The feedback of the trial exercise is being compiled with the result of the exercise as well as the lessons learnt and improvements to be made so that other formations conducting this exercise would benefit.

Currently undergoing in the deserts of Rajasthan is Dakshin Shakti-II, a conventional war-game of the Strike Corps, again with the Sagar-based 36 Division. Dakshin Shakti-II will conclude in the third week of February. Each Strike Corps has to war-game every three years to validate its war plan. It is a conventional exercise, done with conventional weapons. Elements of artillery and armoured are also part of the exercise.

Source

 

[nitesh]

guys any guessing where it can be used:

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Defa...yId=Ar00903&GZ=T&AppName=1&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T

ARMING UP
BSF develops ‘spy bomb’ vehicle
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: The Border Security Force (BSF) has developed a battery-operated ‘spy bomb’ vehicle — having a night vision camera and a cavity to carry an explosive — which can stealthily enter ‘enemy’ territory for surveillance and explode to eliminate militants.
Developed by the technical wing, the ‘spy bomb’ can be operated by remote control from a distance of 200 meters. “The apparatus has a video camera attached to it for receiving visuals and can function at night also,” said a BSF official. Costing Rs 20,000, it has been developed by the Assam-Meghalaya frontier of the force. The official said that orange-coloured four-wheeler’s signals can be received on a screen by the handler outside an enemy hideout and can be used by troops in operations.
Meanwhile, BSF has got the distinction of being the first paramilitary force to get a patent for its innovation — a jammer called Dhanush — by the government of India. The jammer is used to detect IEDs in terrorist and naxal-infested areas.
The Remote Controlled Improvised Explosive Device (RCIED) jammer was designed and fabricated by the R&D Cell of the Communication Directorate.

 

[s_bman]

Now BSF has 'spy fidayeen bomb' vehicle to blow up militants

New Delhi: The BSF has developed a 'spy fidayeen bomb' vehicle which can stealthily enter into enemy territory for surveillance and explode itself to eliminate a militant.

The force's technical wing has developed a battery operated, four-wheel-enabled vehicle which has a night vision camera and a cavity to carry an explosive to neutralise the enemy.

"The apparatus can be operated by a remote control
at a distance of 200 metre. It has a video camera attached to it for receiving visuals and can function at night also," BSF Inspector Rajendra Prasad said.

The device, costing Rs 20,000 has been developed by the Assam-Meghalaya frontier of the force and the functioning of the apparatus was also demonstrated to BSF Director General Raman Srivastava during an exhibition here.

The orange coloured four-wheeler's signals can be received on a screen by the handler outside an enemy hideout and can be used by troops in operations, Prasad, whose team developed the device, said.

The para-military force has got a full-fledged technical wing which takes up research and development of such gadgets and devices which are useful for the force in it's operational areas.

Other units of the force have also developed equipments like low-cost battery chargers, electronic tracker for stolen weapons and wireless extension for POLNET among others. The force recently got a patent on an Jammer device for IEDs.

http://www.zeenews.com/news601591.html

 

[Dark_Prince]

MOD Annual Report 2008-2009

Latest Annual report Published by MOD India: 2008-2009

http://mod.nic.in/reports/welcome.html

 

[nandu]

Indian Army likely to set up infantry brigade in Orissa's Balasore

Bhubaneswar: Indian Army would set up an infantry brigade in Orissa’s Balasore. The proposal was offered by Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik at the Civil Military Liaison conference here on Thursday. Lt Gen J K Mohanty, the GOC-in-C, Central Command announced this during the conference at the state secretariat here. The brigade, spread over 1600 acres, is slated to come up at Armada Road in Balasore.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik demanded relaxation of physical standard for the tribal youths, mostly from southern districts during recruitment into defence services. Meanwhile, the state government announced to felicitate defence personnel selected for gallantry and distinguished service awards. The state government has also decided to provide land to the Indian Army to set up poly clinics at six different locations in Orissa. For the welfare of defence service holders as well as ex-servicemen, the state government requested the Army to set up four more District Sainik Board (DSB) in the state.