Indian Army: News and Discussion

[nandu]

Indian Army Scouts For Medium Range Loitering Missile

The Indian Army has said it is interested in procuring unspecified numbers of a new medium range Loitering Missile (LM) system, and has sent out Requests for Information to firms in Israel (IAI Malat), France (MBDA) and the US (Raytheon). A glance through the RFI shows the Army is interested in a system with capabilities that include top-attack and the ability to abort an attack after target lock (and re-designate). The Army wants a system where the launcher can be mounted on a Tatra truck.

Source:livefist

 

[nandu]

Army’s Capability Accretion

The challenges that the army is expected to face in the next decade are not likely to be any less formidable. An appraisal of the emerging threats in fact indicates an increasing complexity of the missions that the army may be expected to execute.
The basic character of the Army’s responsibilities is unlikely to witness significant changes. Till the boundary disputes with China and Pakistan remain unresolved, Army’s most important role of ensuring the nation’s territorial integrity will retain primacy. Concurrently, as in the past, the Army will continue to remain embroiled in combating militancy, insurgency and terrorism. With the prevailing instability in the immediate and near neighborhood, and the growing regional and global role of our country, the Army must also be prepared to undertake missions beyond our borders. It may be added that however much the Army may want to resist, it will continue to be drawn to tackle internal law and order situations and national manmade or natural calamities.
How has the Army fared in the last two decades in the discharge of its responsibilities? At considerable cost to itself it has barely managed to keep the lid on. Given the serious shortage of junior officers, and the indifferent and insufficient weaponry at its disposal, the Army it can be contended, has done exceedingly well. Regrettably the problems of the Army, and the stresses it is subjected to, are understood only by those who are in it. The MOD and the political leadership, or for that matter also the strategic community have a vague awareness, nowhere close to the ground realities. This explains the decades of inertia.
Exploiting the progressive decline of our conventional military capability all through the decade of the eighties, Pakistan launched a well orchestrated offensive through irregulars in Kashmir from about the beginning of 1990. When the momentum of this offensive seemed to be petering out Pakistan did not hesitate to gamble for higher stakes by resorting to Kargil. The Kargil fiasco and the growing domestic instability, however, did not dampen Pakistan’s appetite for fomenting trouble for us. The terror attack on our Parliament in 2001 and 26 Nov 2008 - Mumbai is still fresh in our memory.
Over the last few years China too has begun to demonstrate bellicosity, tinged with arrogance, against us. Border intrusions with the purpose of intimidation coupled with force accretions in Tibet and along the LAC, portend problems for us. Its aggressive posturing on other fronts compounds the basket of our concerns.
Viewed from the national security perspective it emerges that our concept of military deterrence has failed or is failing. Clearly then, the Army’s conventional war fighting capabilities must be brought to levels that promise if not absolute, sufficient deterrence.
So how do we go about building a credible dissuasive conventional military deterrence? For the past two to three decades the three services have been unsuccessfully trying to drive the process. It would be mindless to persist with the same approach. The responsibility must shift to the PM and his Cabinet Committee on Security. This is not going to happen without some precipitate action. How this is to be brought about is a matter that the services must address?
The Army could do with a totally fresh appraisal to cover its overall strength, its structure and equipment profile, the quality of its man power, its leadership and its training. Such a review could perhaps be relevant and necessary for the Navy and the Air Force as well.
In this article I propose to dwell on the subject of equipment and weaponry for the Army. Technological advancements are taking place rapidly. Correspondingly the rate of obsolescence is also increasing. It is therefore imperative that we manage change with much greater sophistication so as to ensure available funds are utilized optimally. It follows that individuals charged with formulating qualitative requirements, induction plans and evaluation of systems must be competent and have the requisite grooming and experience. Even though this issue has been debated before no concrete remedial steps have yet been taken.
As regards weapons and equipment, the focus will essentially be on the combat arms i.e. infantry, artillery and armor (listed in what I believe should be the order of priority). Force multipliers and a few other support systems will also be discussed.
Infantry
The Infantry is the largest arm of our Army and the only arm which has perhaps never had a respite from combat from the time the Naga insurgency began in the fifties. Matters worsened when we sent the expeditionary force to Sri Lanka for Operation Pawan. Ever since, the Infantry has continued, without break, to climb the stress ladder.
Considering the Infantry’s constant engagement in battle I am aware that all Army Chiefs from the early nineties have sought to give the Infantry the highest priority in terms of equipping and modernizing it. But if we were to carry out a critical appraisal of the Infantry in 2010 the report card of twenty years effort would be quite dismal. How ironical, especially when costs are lower and the systems involved are relatively not so complex? The story is eloquent testimony to the manner in which the country’s higher defense management works.
Almost everything that a soldier needs, from the clothes and boots to the weapon he carries, is at present well below par.
Consider the 5.56 family of weapons that the Army is currently equipped. The Army was virtually bulldozed into accepting these weapons. It was told that indigenous R&D must be encouraged. Promises were made that in the production models the user will get a much improved and more reliable version and that a superior Mark 2 will follow. The DRDO also hinted that high volume orders from many foreign customers would be placed soon after the Indian Army accepted the induction and placed orders for delivery. The Army had no choice but to accept though none of the commitments materialized. It has lived with these weapons for more than a decade and paid an incalculable price. A good and reliable personal weapon we know does wonders to a soldier’s confidence and morale. But we have failed in giving him such a weapon. Shouldn’t there be review and people held accountable?
Conceptually the start point of capability-building and modernization has to be the individual soldier. So we must begin by giving him the best we can. Essentially what the soldier needs is a good and reliable personal weapon, comfortable clothing with stealth and concealment features designed to ergonomically accommodate everything he has to carry, the best protection (body armor) that portable weight permits, stabilized helmet mounted computer screens, sensors and night vision devices for observation and using his weapons, effective communications and position locating/ situational awareness systems. In addition he requires a host of sundry items like eye protection goggles, contemporary light bag pack equipment etc. The approach should be to look at the tactical vest and the helmet (protective gear) as a platform on which the future soldier systems are embedded so that weight reduction and mobility improvements issues are optimally addressed.
The resolve to modernize the infantry soldier has been there for long, but the process has been painfully slow. Ways have to be found to accelerate the process and do it comprehensively. We must therefore begin as of yesterday.
When considering assault rifles we have quite a few options available; each having its unique features. Let us briefly look at the 21st century trends in assault rifles. Essentially they are refinements to the systems developed in the previous decades. Some exciting options that could be considered are:-
Heckler & Koch HK 416 firing the 5.56x 45 or the HK 417 firing the 7.62×51 NATO rounds. Both these weapons have updated features with Picatinny rails, a drop free magazine release, and some other smart features.
Israel’s IMI Tavor TAR-21. It has a compact bull pup design and uses the NATO 5.56x 45 cartridges. It can easily be set up for right or left handed shooters and has several modular variants that come with a standard reflex sight.
XM 8 from the US. This has quite a few modular variants with inbuilt electronics such as a laser sight, round counter and integral infra red and visible sights.
South Korea’s XK11. This is an interesting new rifle that has a ballistic computer, a laser range finder and a digital scope that provides the soldier with combat data and enables night firing through thermal imaging sights. The product is still at a prototype stage but has considerable promise.
The AK Series. The Kalashnikovs family of assault rifles is much too well known.
An important trend in small arms in the 21st century is that sophisticated electronics is now being built into the design of these weapons. Whereas I believe we are currently looking at the weapons and the allied electronics as two separate systems to be procured independent of each other and then integrated. There could be some justification for the approach we have now adopted. A few years ago we had considered integration of night sights in our tender for assault rifles. At that time there weren’t many who were offering such embedded systems. To my mind the idea was right though the timing was wrong. But now, with most weapon manufacturers developing weapons with built in electronics, I am not too sure whether we should be jettisoning a sound concept.
Given the current employment of the Army and looking at the two vital needs of the infantry soldier i.e. his personal weapon and his body armor, it is difficult to decide which merits greater priority. What is but evident that on both counts the establishment has been found wanting.
Today we have all of the Rashtriya Rifles and a significant proportion of the Army deployed in combating militancy, terrorism and insurgencies. Of these how many of their personnel, are equipped with suitable body armor? And what are the constraints to procuring body armor? On both counts we will get answers that are far from convincing, particularly when today we have a host of companies in India manufacturing body armor and combat helmets. With a dynamic and inclusive approach we can harness the capabilities of these companies to give us quality protection suits and helmets at competitive prices. As a matter of fact with some support in terms of investment in R&D and inducements of assured orders, our companies can well become global leaders in protective solutions.
Assessments suggest that in the development of ’small arms protective inserts’ (SAPI), technology today is at only the 40 percent level. Both in the case of X SAPI - silicon carbide and ceramic and E SAPI, and high molecular weight polyethylene (HMW- PE) and aramid fibers, there are possibilities that by improving the quality of resins and making the weave more unidirectional, weight to protection ratios can be substantially improved.
The infantry also needs to acquire better surveillance and target acquisition capabilities as well as more potent fire power at the section level and above. A mission, terrain and adversary based analysis may suggest the induction of special weapons and surveillance systems on a regional basis. It can be assumed that such an exercise would have been undertaken.
Artillery
In my reckoning Artillery modernization has not made any headway because of two reasons. The first is that- blinded by the labels of ’support’ and ’supported’, the Army has not yet grasped the full import of the modern artillery on tomorrow’s battlefield. The second can best be described by just one word: jinxed.
However like the Infantry, modernization of the artillery has also been a matter of concern in the last decade or so. In these years much has apparently been done but unfortunately without any headway. Actually the process began in the early eighties. But other than 400 Bofors guns procured in the mid eighties we have nothing else to show.
The exercise to procure new towed and mounted self propelled tracked and wheeled 155 mm 52 caliber guns are on. We are also planning to induct a specified number of light weight 155 mm guns for certain areas and missions. It is important at this juncture to focus on ensuring that the process of evaluation and induction moves without any hiccups and delays.
As we induct these guns the space of the contact battle at the tactical level will increase to a 30 km envelop thus enhancing our ability to destroy, maneuver, and defeat. Similarly we need to pay more attention to the requirements of the Artillery at the operational and strategic level. In this context even though we have been inducting the Prithvi, the BrahMos and the Agni series, the process has been based on the developmental projects of the DRDO and not on the basis of a well thought through conceptual framework. The subject of rocket and missile artillery thus merits deeper examination. We require more systems that can provide coverage between the 30 to 100 Km ranges. Besides, the liquid propellant based Prithvi imposes certain operational limitations. Admittedly the Smerch rocket system has filled this gap to some extent but much more needs to be done.
Firing platforms like the guns and rocket and missile launchers are just one of the four pillars upon which comprehensive artillery capability is structured. The other pillars are communications to include artillery command and control systems, surveillance systems and the ammunition systems. In the Kargil war our communications and surveillance systems were not adequate. Thus the guns could be exploited to only 30 percent of their potential.
In principle surveillance and target acquisition capabilities must exceed our delivery systems ranges by at least 30 percent. The ideal would be 50 percent. We have been working on this for a while but more needs to be done. We should be able to establish a comprehensive surveillance and target acquisition grid by using a mix of ground and air/ space based sensors to include satellites, aircraft, drones, helicopters and tethered balloons. On the ground besides, electro optical devices and thermal cameras we will also require a sufficient number of weapon locating radars some of which should be employable in the mountains. The surveillance grid must allow for transmission and exchange of data to all shooters and decision makers in real time. The problems of surveillance in the mountains merit special attention.
Advancements in ammunition technology have led to a dramatic enhancement in the lethality and destructiveness of the artillery. With improved conventional munitions (ICM) the kill capacity of the ordinary shell has gone up in multiples. Smart and intelligent munitions now permit pinpoint accuracy enabling the artillery to engage and destroy fortifications and tanks from long ranges. We must induct such sophisticated ammunition speedily. However while doing so the challenge lies in getting the mix right since sensor/seeker based munitions are relatively very expensive.
Armor and Mechanized Infantry
The Armor is the only arm of the Indian Army whose upgradation and modernization has by and large been on track. With the induction of the T 90 tanks our armor is as good as any in the world even though some upgrade programs on the T 72 are a bit behind schedule. With the planned induction of TI based fire control systems and active protection systems our armor is likely to remain contemporary for the foreseeable future.
The BMP 2 inventory merits attention. It is understood that comprehensive plans have been drawn up to improve its fire power mobility and night fighting capabilities. Once implemented the BMP units will have the requisite level of compatibility with our tank fleet.
Supporting Arms
AD Artillery. Traditionally the Army’s approach to air defense has been to look at a family of guns and missiles to provide a tiered air defense umbrella to the tactical battle area (TBA). With the advancements in missile technology there is a case to review this approach. Contemporary medium and short range surface-to-air missiles have hit probabilities that are close to 0.9 and 1 (90 to 100 percent). If backed by sound surveillance, acquisition and tracking systems, the air defense umbrella provided can be reasonably effective. It is for this reason that not many countries/ weapon manufacturers are today in the business of making air defense guns. To my mind the focus should be on procuring adequate numbers of both the short range and the medium range missiles and have them backed up by effective surveillance coverage of the air space impacting the TBA. In this, field coordination with the air force has been lacking in the past. Hopefully the problem has now been addressed.
Engineers. With battle field transparency progressively improving there is a case to review our concepts of laying defensive and tactical minefields. We should instead graduate to the concept of laying reactive/impromptu minefields using mechanical systems to lay mines or have them remotely delivered. Based on the conclusions arrived appropriate capabilities would have to be built up.
Signals. Communications are getting cheaper and better by the day. Advancements are extremely rapid. We must radically change our approach to remain in step. Gone are the days of plans like the AREN and the ASCON. The attitude required is that of the average mobile phone user who changes his phone without much ado. Rapidity of decision making and implementation will now be vital.
Other than the requirements of the arms there are two areas that deserve much greater attention in the future. The first is a subject that we have been grappling with for a while, made some progress, but not enough, and that is simulators. Virtual reality and graphics can today bring enormous realism to training. Most of our section and platoon/troop training should be based on contemporary simulation systems. Again at the unit and formation level we should depend much more on war gaming and simulation to train our officers and commanders.
The second is robots. These are futuristic platforms that will be performing a variety of missions in the battlefields of tomorrow. Some have already been deployed, many more will follow. An executive of a company engaged in the development of robots asked me recently as to why the Indian defense forces were not interested in this subject. My cryptic response was that we have not yet learnt to value human lives sufficiently. However the topic goes beyond lives. It is about doing certain missions more effectively. Besides other things a robot can perform quite a few human tasks without experiencing stress and fear.
The preceding analysis of the possible requirements of the Army is by no means exhaustive. It is just a cursory survey from a given perspective. There could be other differing views on some of the suggestions made. But what perhaps is beyond debate is the imperative of substantive capability accretion if the Army is expected to successfully face the challenges of the coming decades. More importantly, is that the plans for induction of new weapons and equipment and force multipliers must not follow the pattern that we have witnessed in the past two or three decades. Acquisitions have to be urgently undertaken. Following the rigid rigor of the DPP is a prescription for inaction or interminable delays. Important acquisitions must therefore be brought under some fast track procedures. Surely, we have the genius to conceive a policy and a structure that can ensure that within the framework of fiscal and procedural prudence, sound procurement decisions are taken within the desired time frames.
We do not need astrologers to tell us that the security climate for us over the next decade or so is unlikely to be benign. If we do not then prepare to face the potential threats it is possible that we may face humiliation similar to what happened to us in 1962.

Lt Gen Vinay Shankar, former Director General Artillery. on India Defence Review

 

[RPK]

New Delhi, March 15 (IANS) Four Indian Army soldiers were killed and three injured during night firing practice of mortars at the Pokhran range in Rajasthan, an officer said Monday.
“The accident took place due to a barrel burst at around 8.45 p.m. Sunday. Four infantry soldiers operating the 81mm mortar were killed. Three others were injured and admitted to the military hospital in Jodhpur,” the officer told IANS, requesting anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media on the subject.

“A code of inquiry was ordered today (Monday),” he added.

The Indian Army’s field firing range at Pokhran is the biggest and one of the busiest in the country. It is spread over an area of 30-40 km. The effective range of am 81mm mortar is between three-four km.

Two years ago, three soldiers had died in a similar accident at the same firing range.

“Though the inquiry is yet to start, we suspect a defecct in the ammunition, which was manufactured and supplied by one of our ordnance factories,” the officer said.

Indian ordnance factories are the biggest suppliers of 81mm mortar, a lightweight weapon that can fire six to eight rounds per minute.



More at : Barrel burst kills four army soldiers in Rajasthan Barrel burst kills four army soldiers in Rajasthan

 

[RPK]

Army turns to HAL for 20 Cheetals in bid to plug chopper gap - Economy and Politics - livemint.com

Bangalore: After years of delays in finalizing a global tender for 197 new helicopters, the Indian Army has recently decided to buy 20 Cheetal helicopters from Bangalore-based military plane maker Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), three people familiar with the matter said.

The army had first floated a global tender for 197 advanced choppers in 2003 to replace its ageing fleet of Cheetahs and Chetaks, also from HAL and in use for at least three decades.

The Cheetal uses the same platform as the Cheetah, even if it has more powerful engines to take troops and weapons to higher altitude regions in the Himalayas and the North-East.

The purchase is the latest of several ad hoc defence deals India has struck in recent years to tide over delays to the army’s modernization plans, often a result of bureaucratic hurdles, cautious decision-making or corruption charges.

“Ad hoc purchases also means you are spending the money allocated for some other aircraft and not necessarily the full funds,” said Deba Ranjan Mohanty, senior fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, a strategic think tank in New Delhi.

Each Cheetal costs about Rs25 crore. The estimated cost for the 197 choppers is nearly $1 billion (Rs4,500 crore).

A spokesman for the Indian Army did not respond to calls or emails sent early March.

The delay in the purchase of the 197 helicopters is because the army had to scrap the contract it had given to France-based Eurocopter SA after allegations of unfair trials by competitor Bell Helicopter, a division of Textron Inc. It floated a second tender in 2008.

“Delays mean using old aircraft on extended life, including training and operations,” said a defence ministry official, one of the three people mentioned earlier. “This will affect operational capabilities.” The official and the two other people familiar with the matter did not want to be identified because of the sensitive nature of the development.

“These ad hoc purchases will affect the modernization plans of the armed forces,” said Mohanty.

Nearly half the weapons in India’s military inventory are obsolete, accounting firm KPMG and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) said in a report in January. The defence ministry has had to surrender 3-9% of its capital budget in the previous seven fiscal years as it couldn’t spend all the money allocated to it for weapon purchases, said the KPMG-CII report. India is expected to spend $100 billion (Rs4.5 trillion) by 2022 on buying new aircraft, helicopters, ships, tanks and missiles, it said.

Its most expensive purchase would be that of 126 jet fighters at an estimated $10 billion. Trials are now on for the fighters.

The development of Tejas, the light combat aircraft planned to replace the ageing MiG-21 fleet, has been delayed by at least five years. The government is also yet to finalize the upgradation of 51 Mirage 2000 fighters.

Last week, during Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s visit to New Delhi, India agreed to buy 42 additional Sukhoi 30 MkI fighters. This is to fill gaps and beef up capacity of the Indian Air Force’s fighter squadrons. The air force is operating at least six squadrons below its sanctioned strength of 39.5 squadrons of 18 planes each.

Recently, India opted to buy 145 lightweight towed howitzer guns from BAE Systems Plc. after it had to scrap an earlier tender, in which the front runner Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd was blacklisted on charges of corruption.

When planned procurement processes get delayed and are “fast-tracked through ad-hoc purchases, it also means the model of open competition is also suffering,” said Ratan Shrivastava, director for aerospace and defence at researcher Frost and Sullivan. “You go in for whatever is available, which may not be an optimum solution.”

 

[Sridhar]

Monday, March 15, 2010

Four PBORs Killed In Pokharan Firing Range !!!


Four army PBORs (Personnel Below Officer Rank) got killed yesterday in the Pokharan firing range during a routine exercise. A premature barrel burst while handling a mortar shell is said to be the reason.

 

[Armand2REP]

Condolences for the enlisted killed by the mortar.

Now on to the helos. GoI needs to get off its lazy arse and start filling some contracts. Whose fault is it that the Army is forced to buy 20 more obsolete helicopters. Tender for LUH was already decided and then cancelled, now look at it... pathetic.

 

[nandu]

127 officer-cadets to take the Final Step

March 20 will be a red letter day for parents of 127 officer cadets who will witness a metamorphosis taking place.
Ninety two gentlemen, 26 women cadets and nine foreign cadets will low March to the somber notes of Auld Lang Syne and Pass Out of the portals of the Officers Training Academy as Commissioned Officers of the Army, serving at the pleasure of the President of India, the Supreme Commander of India’s Armed Forces.

Taking the ‘Final Step’ will entail a heavy responsibility as they will now carry on their young shoulders the legacy of great Indian Army. The salute to the National Flag and taking an oath of allegiance are touching moments for any one witnessing the event. They dedicate themselves to serve the nation with utmost sincerity and dedication even at the cost of their life. The grand portals of the Parmeshwaran Parade Ground will bear mute witness to this historical moment at the Officers Training Academy.

The Officers’ Training Academy boldly identifies its address with the “Tank Gate” in St Thomas Mount on the Grand South Trunk road, about 2 kms from Chennai International Airport. Its sprawling campus of 650 acres figures prominently in history dating back to the 18th century when it was an important bastion of the British Army of the Madras Presidency. The Mount was the scene of one of the fiercest battles of the Franco – British War in February 1759, subsequent to which the Cantonment was established in the area in December 1774.

The Vice Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen PC Bhardwaj, a highly decorated soldier, will review the parade and honour the cadets excelling in various disciplines of military training at the end of a grueling course of 11 months. This gradual but thorough preparation will culminate with the shoulders of these young men and women being embellished with five-pointed stars of responsibility - the “President’s Commission”.

http://sify.com/news

 

[nandu]

BSF Buys Thermal Detectors
India’s Border Security Force (BSF) and Paramilitary Forces will soon be equipped with 340 hand-held cooled thermal detector sights, in order to curb illicit arms and ammunition trade that occurs in the sensitive border areas of India.
India has placed an order to the tune of $10 million with the Indo-Israeli joint venture Alpha-ITL Electro-Optics for the supply of these high-tech hand-held cooled thermal detector sights, called “Drushti”. These detectors will be used by various commanders of the BSF and other paramilitary organisations to track movements across the border areas.
“Drushti” is a compact and light-weight night vision binocular for long-range ground observation and can scan an area within the range of 2-8 kilometres. The development of “Drushti” by the Indo-Israeli joint venture was achieved with significant contribution and expertise from both the sides. While the Indian side provided the optics, printed circuit boards, power system, video cards, software, eye piece assembly and outer casing, the Israeli firm Semi-Conductor Devices has contributed with the crucial ‘Coolant Dewar Detector.’
As for the salient features of “Drushti”, it weighs less than 3 kilograms, has a more powerful detector (320X256 InSb FPA) than the present one used by the Indian forces and has a reasonable price tag of only $26000. As for the current monocular devices used by the Indian forces, they have weak detectors, weigh 5 kilograms and came with a price tag of $40000, besides straining the eyes. The “Drushti” thermal imager can perform versatile roles with modifications, like operating as a tank sight, or as an aerial sight for helicopters.
Since India needs these crucial devices to secure border areas, the Indian government will be floating another tender to acquire 750 more thermal imagers. As of now, the “Drushti” thermal imagers are being tested by the BSF soldiers at night to scan in the hilly border areas.
Source:India Defence Online

 

[nandu]

Army sets sight on loitering missile for its soldiers

New Delhi ,The Indian Army is arming its infantry soldiers with a medium range loitering missile that can strike at a target after hovering over it for 30 minutes and sending in critical data on the enemy installation.

The army has issued an open Request for Information (RFI) to major global defence companies seeking to know if they can supply a missile system with such operational characteristics.

"The RFI has been issued earlier this month. The loitering missile is basically an unmanned aerial vehicle which can transmit data after hovering over a target undetected for about half-an-hour and later self-destruct on the target, inflicting damage to the enemy installations," an army officer said here today.

SourceTI

 

[nandu]

ULFA a spent force, cannot regroup, says army

March 17 (IANS) A top Indian army commander Wednesday said the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) in Assam is a spent force and has lost its sting following sustained counter-insurgency operations and people's apathy towards the rebel group now.
'The ULFA today has become weak with a large number of their top leaders either eliminated or captured. The ULFA is in total disarray,' said Lt. Gen. Gyan Bhusan, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 4 Corps.
The GOC was speaking at an army function at the corps headquarters in Tezpur in northern Assam.
'The ULFA is not in a real position to even regroup now. In the last few important occasions like the Republic Day and the Bihu (Assamese harvest festival in January), they simply could not do anything as they are on the run,' the army commander said.
The GOC also said the ULFA's downfall is a direct result of not just military operations, but also due to lack of support from the locals.
'The ULFA's backbone is now broken beyond repair and with the locals developing a revulsion against the militants, there is a double blow to the outfit,' the GOC said.
He said military operations against the ULFA and other rebel groups in Assam were going on in full steam.
'There is no question of any slowing down in operations and we are here t, o ensure that militant groups are not able to create violence and extortion,' the GOC said.
Source:Sifynews

 

[nandu]

CCP asks Army to shift to Bambolim

PANAJI: For the third time in its recent history, the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) passed a resolution asking the Indian Army's establishment to vacate its buildings and shift out of the capital city to Bambolim.

The resolution was passed after the Indian Army officials submitted a letter to the CCP asking it to close certain roads to civilian traffic around its establishments in Panaji.

The army officials asked the CCP to close the parallel roads leading from the Panaji police station to Navtara restaurant and another road from the police station to the Navhind Times office. Both the roads proposed for closure are flanked by the main roads - S V Road and Rua Ismael Gracias.

The military officials said that these measures would "strengthen the security of army installations and make its presence felt as a force to reckon with."

The Indian Army also said that it was its considered view that "closure of these small patches of roads will not pose major inconvenience to the public. Moreover, the security pay-offs will outweigh the minor inconvenience to the people."

When the letter was placed before Thursday's monthly meet, the Indian Army's demand was rejected outright by Panaji's corporators. "Before, we reject this demand as it will cause a major problem to Panaji, we should also ask them to shift to Bambolim where they have been given land," Mala-Fontainhas corporator Rudresh Chodankar said.

Tonca-Caranzalem corporator Regina Almeida said that the buildings occupied by the Indian Army establishments were for civilian use and belonged to the CCP.

"This is our land that they are occupying. They should shift their premises to Bambolim," she said.

Corporator Surendra Furtado said that the CCP should now take up the matter with the union defence minister. Some corporators were skeptic of the CCP's resolution and said that it would not push the matter further and leave it as a piece of paper.

"This is the third council to pass such a resolution. We should follow this matter with the home minister, chief minister and union defence minister," said co-opted corporator Daya Karapurkar.

"No, we will not leave it as a piece of paper," said city mayor Carolina Po, when asked about it later. "We will follow it up this time. We will take the matter up with the government," she said.

Source:The times of India

 

[nandu]

Indian Army goes green on energy consumption

NEW DELHI : Indian armed forces are considering replacing dry and wet batteries with solar power as a part of a major initiative towards adopting energy efficiency and conservation in operations and cantonment complexes.

Disclosing the rationale of the initiative, Air Marshal D. Kukreja, Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, DCIDS (Operations), informed that the day was not far, when the Jawan treading up the Siachen glacier along with his platoon would not need to carry the heavy batteries; instead the Army is planning to replace dry and wet batteries with solar power packs.

In a seminar on ‘renewable energy for defence services’, Air Marshal Kukreja said that the three Services have completed an energy audit of few major installations. “At least one building in each Command would soon meet the GRIHA standards – Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment – A national rating system of India - and the ball has been set rolling by the engineer-in-chief’s branch,” he added.

World events analysis and how they affect Markets
The GRIHA, an acronym for the ‘Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment’, is an energy efficiency classification scale awarded to environment friendly buildings by The Energy Research Institute (TERI). GRIHA is also recognized by the union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) for granting subsidies in registration and various other charges.

Defence Forces around the world being amongst the largest consumers of energy, it is imperative of them to optimize consumption of diesel and conventional energy sources, noted the Minister of State for Defence Dr MM Pallam Raju. “I can foresee that in the future we may have a treaty thrust upon us which may restrict our consumption of fossil fuels and thus put a cap on our growth and development,” said Raju, who is also the Chairman of the Task Force set up by the Headquarters, Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) to monitor the progress of the application of non-conventional and renewable energy in the military environment.

Source:Commodity Online

 

[nandu]

Indian Army faces Massive Shortage of Officers

The approval of the Union Government to open a second Officers' Training Academy (OTA) at Gaya in Bihar marks a major step to solve the problem of shortage of officers in the country.The new academy will function on the similar lines as one that exists in Chennai. Initially the new Officers Training Academy at Gaya will commence the training of 250 cadets, but in due course of time it will be upgraded to its full design capacity to train 750 short-service commission officers annually.At present the Indian Army has two training institutions; one, at the Indian Military Academy ,(IMA) Dehradun that annually churns out permanent commission officers. The other is Short Service Commission officers that are produced at the Officers Training Academy at Chennai. IMA gets its cadets from the tri-Service National Defence Academy (NDA) at Khadakwasla, which is open to youngsters after class XII, as well as through the `direct entry' route open to college graduates.The Officers Training Academy at Chennai is open to college graduates only are also struggling for students. In both the institutions students have to clear a very comprehensive test and this include physical endurance test as well.

Source:Asian Defence

 

[Agantrope]

BEML wins Rs 632 crore order from Army for Tatra variants

Public sector defence equipment manufacturer BEML Limited today said it had bagged an order worth Rs 632 crore from the Ministry of Defence for the supply of BEML Tatra variants.
The order comprises supply of 498 8X8 vehicles, 278 6X6 vehicles without winch and 12 6X6 with winch.
These 788 vehicles have to be delivered to the Indian Army within a period of 18 months, the company said in a press release.
It said the Ministry had already made an advance payment of half the total amount involved, which works out to Rs 315.83 crore.
According to the release, BEML Tatra vehicles are manufactured with unique technology suitable for operations in all kinds of terrains.
The 8X8s are multi-terrain vehicles used for transportation of tanks as well as personnel. These are provided with a winch for self-recovery and leading of dead tanks onto the trailer.
he 6X6s have a capacity of 8000 kgs and can be used for towing trailers of upto 65,000 kgs on public roads and upto 16,000 kgs in terrain conditions. These vehicles are also provided with winch for self-recovery and recovery of other vehicles. (idrw.org)
With this contracts, BEML’s order book has crossed the Rs 5,800 crore mark. A Rs 3000 crore “mini-ratna” public sector company under the Ministry of Defence, BEML operates in three core businesses – mining and construction, rail and metro and defence and aerospace. The company hopes to touch a turnover of Rs 5000 crore in 2013-14, its Golden Jubilee year.

http://idrw.org/?p=746

 

[nandu]

Wheelchair-bound army officer to get promoted as Major General

In a tale befitting to the Indian soldiers grit, determination and resolve to face the challenges of life head on, wheelchair bound Brig S.K. Razdan, a 55 year old Paratrooper, has been cleared by the promotion board to the rank of two-star General or Major General.
He will pick up his two-star rank as and when a vacancy arises. Razdan, then a Lt Col, was involved in an intensive counter-terrorism operation in Damal Kunzipur area of Jammu and Kashmir in October 1994 to save several Muslim women taken hostage by militants. While the women were successfully rescued, the brave officer suffered grave injuries to his spinal cord, leaving him paralyzed below the waist. For his immense show of gallantry, an indebted nation awarded him the Kirti Chakra, the second highest peace time award.
As per Army rules, any injury or disability suffered in war, counter-terrorism or any other operation, which is called a `battle casualty', does not come in the way of any soldier in his promotion boards as long as he is capable of performing his duties. However, if a soldier suffers a `physical casualty', that is, gets disabled in training or an accident, then there is no recourse but to put him in a lower medical category. He is allowed to serve if he can perform his duties but there is a bar on him getting promoted or attending some particular courses. Otherwise, he is boarded out.
This is not the first time a physically challenged soldier has risen to such high ranks. In the past, soldiers such as late Lt-Gen Pankaj Joshi, former Gorkha Rifles soldier, who lost both his legs during a mine-clearing mission in Sikkim in 1967, went on to become a three-star General. He also commanded armoured brigade, an armoured division and a corps before becoming the Army commander of the Lucknow-based Central Command. He finally hung up his uniform after becoming the first-ever chief of the tri-Service integrated defence staff in October 200. In another similar case, Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi, who lost one of his legs during an operation as a young officer, rose to the position of the vice-chief in 2000 after first serving as the director-general of military operations, a strike corps commander and then chief of the Chandimandir-based Western Army Command.
The promotion is an example of the unbiased systems the Indian army follows while considering officers to the next ranks. However, the system has been criticised by officers who have failed to make it to the next grade due to the stringent and narrow rank structure of the forces. A junior officer speaking to 8ak remarked, "The procedures within the army are such that a soldier may occasionally get more than what he deserves, but will never get less than what he deserves."
While this is a very positive development, next week 8ak will interview Col Handa who is in charge of an organisation that represents the Disabled War Veterans and has some shocking stories of government apathy and negligence.

Source:8ak.in

 

[nandu]

Ex-army man in trouble over bid to send sensitive papers abroad

CHENNAI: A retired Indian Army engineer, who wanted to transfer his personal' belongings from his house in Yercaud in Salem district to the US where he now resides, may get booked under the Official Secrets Act after customs officials found some army project documents in the boxes meant to be sent to him. Sources here told The Times Of India that the retired official was not supposed to keep any official documents in his custody.

The Chennai seaport customs on Thursday seized a container booked in the name of 78-year-old Hugh Adrian Marley, now settled in the US. During a routine examination, customs officials stumbled upon five boxes containing project documents, including blueprints of the Naval Dry Dock at Visakhapatnam and Airport Academy Project at Hyderabad, apart from maps and drawings of Meerut and Muzzafarpur.

"The blueprints were done in a professional way. The official was not supposed to keep such documents with him and should have surrender them at the time of his retirement. Export of any of such document is prohibited. While in the Army, he would have worked in several vital installations. Keeping such documents with him and trying to send them abroad is in violation of some sections of the Official Secrets Act," C Rajan, commissioner, seaport customs, told The Times Of India.

Marley, who lived in Yercaud after his retirement, sold his properties there before leaving for the US on February 24 from Bangalore. He had instructed a person called Rahim to send his belongings to the US through the port.

The customs officials recovered from Rahim two letters written by Marley. In one letter, Marley instructed Rahim to send the items to him as he had done earlier and asked him to give the details regarding the charges.

In the other letter, Marley listed out the items in each of the steel boxes packed for shipment. He also mentioned the project papers and other documents like his certificates.

"There is no malafide intention identified so far in the case. However, Marley was not supposed to keep these documents and could be penalised," another official said.

Intelligence bureau officials and the Naval Intelligence Wing co-ordinated with the customs in the investigation. Intelligence Bureau sources said they had not tried to contact Marley so far.

Source: The Times of India.

 

[nandu]

Army's tours open up incredible India to Kashmiris

For 45-year-old Rashid Badana, a nomadic Gujjar in Jammu and Kashmir, a sea was something "slightly bigger than the lakes in our state" - until the Indian Army took him to a whole new world.

"I never imagined the sea to be so vast. I thought it would be slightly bigger than the lakes in our state," said Rashid, still in awe of what he got to see as part of one such trip to southern India last year.

It was part of the Army's educational-cum-motivational tours- started in 1998 to win over people of the terror-ravaged state - that have so far roped in over 30,000 students and elders.

The one Rashid went on was the longest tour organised by the Army so far. The 17-day trip covered Kanyakumari, Thiruvananthapuram and Chennai.

Rashid was overwhelmed with the "love, affection and hospitality of people" wherever he went. "I have realised now that India is as great as it is vast," he said.

He even enjoyed the experience of riding a train. "It is so much fun travelling in a train where so many room-like compartments connected to each other move so fast," he said.

Over 30,000 students and elders have benefited from the educational-cum-motivational tours of the Army under Operation Sadbhavana "to win the hearts and minds of people" in Kashmir, said Col. Sanjay Dikhit of the army's Northern Command.

"In these tours, students of an impressionable age group are taken to various parts of the country, so as to broaden the horizon of the citizens of tomorrow and offer them an opportunity to appreciate the vast natural, historical and cultural heritage of our nation as also to integrate them with the national mainstream," he said.

The first such tour of 40 schoolchildren from remote and militancy-infested Loran Mandi area of Poonch district in the Jammu region was conducted in September 1998.

Later elders, including opinion makers, maulvis and nomadic gujjars, also formed part of such tours.

"The focus of such endeavours is to expose youth to avenues of development and growth available in the country, wean them away from the path of insurgency and consequent self-destruction. People come back with invaluable memories and deconstructed beliefs," Dikhit said.

The Army has organised 81 tours in the current financial year in which over 3,550 people participated, involving a cost of Rs.25.78 million.

http://www.ndtv.com

 

[nandu]

118 men and women from OTA join Indian Army

After completing 11 months of rigorous training at the prestigious Officers Traning Academy in St. Thomas Mount, 118 young men and women from different States joined the Indian Army after a passing out parade on Saturday morning.
After an impeccable drill and march past at the famed Parameshwaran Drill Square, the young men and women, who till now were addressed as Gentlemen and Lady Cadets, walked past ‘The Final Step’, marking their induction into the Indian Army. After changing into their respective regiments’ uniform, the 92 men and 26 women took an oath, sang ‘Roshini’, the OTA song and the national anthem, before bursting into joy.
Their parents, relatives and friends were all present to cheer their induction into the various regiments of the Indian Army. The young officers would head to borders in various locations, some of them experiencing problems of insurgency and proxy wars.
Lieutenant General P.C.Bharadwaj, Vice Chief of Army Staff, was the reviewing officer at the passing out parade and urged the young men and women to develop a global outlook and in-depth understanding of international affairs and security calculus.
He said the present environment was one of unprecedented complexity, ambiguity, information overload and rapid organisational change. “The present battle conditions demand a soldier who is efficient and modern in thinking and functioning,” Lt. Gen. Bharadwaj remarked. So far, nearly 24,000 men and women officers had been trained at OTA.
He also handed over the Sword of Honour and Gold Medal to Gentleman Cadet Bikram Jeet for standing first in the order of merit. The Silver Medal was given to Gentleman Cadet Pankaj Kumar Yadav. The Chief of Army Staff Banner was given to Naushera Company.

http://beta.thehindu.com

 

[NSG_Blackcats]

Force to reckon with

The BSF has raised a massive armed female contingent to guard the country’s borders, and plans to recruit another 35,000 women in the next four years. The country is in safe, strong hands, writes Ajithas Menon

Today Basanti Mondal (20) is a celebrity in her village, Kirnahar, in Birbhum district of West Bengal. She is the chief guest at all village functions, and families ask for her advice on important decisions like which school should children be sent to, which jobs should youth try for, how to find grooms for their daughters, and so on. After all, Basanti carries a gun, wears a uniform and is in the force.

A year ago, Basanti was a rebel. She had left the village almost as an outcast, defying parental and social objections, in response to an ad in the employment gazette asking for women recruits for the Border Security Force (BSF). The villagers were horrified at the very thought of a girl joining the force and doing a man's work, and wearing trousers as well.

"The common reaction was that I would be unable to do it physically. After all, a woman is weaker, frailer than a man. She is not expected to bear the hard training of a soldier," says Basanti, adding: "But I did it. After completion of a 36-week rigorous training, I am finally a constable with the BSF. My hard work and perseverance is paying rich dividends. The villagers revere me now. Not in their wildest dreams had they thought a girl from their village would make it to the force."

The BSF was sanctioned 700 posts for women constables recently. About 8,500 applications were received, indicating the growing interest among women in joining the force. A total of 178 women recruits passed out with flying colours from the BSF's Kharkan training camp, 15 km from Hoshiarpur, as the first batch of the armed women contingent. Of these, 108 were from Punjab, 46 from West Bengal and 24 from Assam. While the women constables from Punjab have been deployed along the Indo-Pak border, those from West Bengal and Assam have been deployed along the Indo-Bangladesh border.

"Anu Tamang from North Bengal led the passing out parade for both men and women. It was a proud moment for us women recruits to see the flag borne gracefully in her hands," recalls Tia Roy (20) from Beliatore village in Bankura. She says the women are fully trained in the use of weapons, "Even the Indian Army does not have an armed women's force yet. We had the same physical training as the men, and I am proud to say that we could undergo the strict regimen confidently."

BSF's 36 Battalion, which has 50.52 km of the Indo-Bangladesh border within its Area of Responsibility (AOR), has to contend with problems like cross-border smuggling of drugs, arms and ammunition and cattle, along with illegal immigration and trafficking in women. "There was dire need of women BSF personnel as, otherwise, it was impossible to frisk or detain women without facing allegations of human rights violation," points out Shrabanti Karmakar (21), who, along with five other women constables, has been deployed with 36 Battalion at the Haridaspur border outpost.

India has a 4,023-km border with Bangladesh through West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya and Mizoram. With 2,216 km, Bengal has the longest stretch to guard. The border is extremely porous with large tracts being completely riverine. "Until now most of the smuggling operations and trafficking were being conducted by women, as it was known that the BSF would be unable to take action without impunity. But now with women constables in Bengal and Assam, criminal and anti-national activities can be tackled better," adds Shrabanti, who also hails from Bankura.

The armed women guards are in themselves a huge deterrent for women indulging in cross-border criminal and extremist activities. The BSF had long felt the need for women personnel, and now that an armed women's force has been raised and deployed, it is hoped that the deployment of women for checking cross-border illegal activities would bring significant results, believes CV Murlidhar, Inspector General, BSF, South-Bengal Frontier.

Constable Putul Murmu (22), with 36 Battalion, says it was the Maoist problem in west Midnapore which had prompted her to join the force. "I hated to feel like a victim all the time. It is true that the area has seen no development over several decades but being anti-national cannot be the solution. Serving the nation is the right thing to do, and joining the force has also improved my economic status considerably with a starting salary of Rs 11,000," she adds.

All the women constables are fully trained for 12-hour shifts of guard and patrol duty along the borders. They are also trained in the handling and use of the 5.56 mm INSAS rifles, 9 mm carbine machine guns and 5.56 light machine guns.

For women living along the border, who cross the gates daily to tend to their fields or graze cattle on their property on one side or the other of the Zero Line, the presence of women constables is a God-sent gift. "Not only has it become easier to be frisked and thoroughly checked, it is also easier to answer questions put by women personnel," says Ayesha Mollah (41), a resident of Jayantipur village under the Haridaspur border outpost.

"Trafficking of women across the border is a big problem. Most of these young girls and women are too scared to protest when touts pass them off as relatives at the check posts. They also fear detention by men constables and remain quiet. Now, it is hoped that the trafficked girls would feel more emboldened to voice their predicament to someone of the same sex," adds Ayesha.

Sharbano Kazi (58), also from Jayantipur village, observes that even local women like herself always felt uncomfortable with male guards. "It was as though we were always under suspicion. Since they could not frisk us, the doubt always remained. I used to feel like a thief every day while crossing through the gates. Now I can boldly pass through, knowing they cannot suspect me any more."

Despite the obvious advantages, one reason why the armed forces are reluctant to recruit women is the possibility of them quitting after marriage or pregnancy. But Purnima Kundu (23) from the Ayodhya village of Bankura, dismisses this apprehension. "There is no question of my quitting ever. If that is a pre-condition to marriage, it will be preferable to remain unmarried," she says. The women constables already have a practical stand on this. "We will try to find boys within the BSF itself as they would be more understanding about our professional compulsions. The force also has a policy of posting couples together. That will bring down such problems significantly," adds Purnima.

These women have made a clear career choice. They are here to stay on the country's international borders. The BSF plans to recruit 35,000 women guards in paramilitary forces over the next four years. Many of these women don bangles but they have certainly broken a stereotype. The country will be in safe, strong hands.

Source - The Tribune

 

[nandu]

Reorientation of security forces being worked out in Jammu & Kashmir

New Delhi: Reorientation of security forces was being worked out in Jammu and Kashmir with BSF likely to assume role of Road Opening Party (ROP) in certain militancy infested areas and the Indian Army being sent to the LoC amid reports that militants could make more desperate infiltration bids during coming months.
A proposal for taking out a battalion of BSF (1,000 personnel) from North Kashmir has been cleared by the defence ministry in consultation with the BSF and Jammu and Kashmir government and would be engaged in road opening party for the movement of troops in various areas, a job which was being undertaken by Rashtriya Rifles.

The units of Rashtriya Rifles were being shifted closer to the border amid intelligence reports that Pakistan-based terror organisations would be making desperate attempts to enter into the valley from higher reaches in North Kashmir.

It may be mentioned that last year around this time, battle-hardened terrorists of Lashker-e-Taiba had managed to sneak into the Kashmir valley from Gurez and Kupwara and later to other parts of the valley especially Sopore and Tral.

The presence of the Rashtraiya Rifles as the second line of defence would help in close coordination among the various units of the Army deployed along the LoC.

Besides this, the BSF had the expertise in RoP as the para-military force had bore the initial brunt of militancy in early 1990s.

Another unit of the BSF was also being pooled in for RoP from an Air Force location and was awaiting in-principle approval of defence ministry. The depletion of the forces would be augmented by the Army and in-house security unit of the Indian Air Force.

BSF was being pushed in for the RoP as certain battalions of the CRPF was being pulled out of the militancy infested areas for their deployment in Naxal infested areas.

This is in addition to the reduction of 35,000 troops which have been withdrawn from the state during the reign of the current National Conference-Congress government.

State chief minister Omar Abdullah recently acknowledged on he floor of state assembly that infiltration had increased by 98% in 2009 as compared to 2008.

Moreover, there were inputs indicating that many more militants were waiting across the Line of control (LoC) at different launching pads for infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir, he had said.

http://www.dnaindia.com