Indian Army: News and Discussion

[ladder]

Army kicks off high-tech 'digital soldier' project

The Indian Army has moved a step closer to the battlefield of the future, where command networks know the precise location of every soldier and weapon, with whom generals can exchange reports, photos, data and verbal and written communications.

On Monday, Army headquarters called in fourteen Indian companies and issued them an Expression of Interest (EoI) for developing a Battlefield Management System (BMS). The BMS will integrate combat units --- armoured, artillery and infantry regiments, infantry battalions, helicopter flights, etc --- into a digital network that will link together all components of the future battlefield.

While precise costs are still unclear, vendors competing for the contract say the army expects to pay about Rs 40,000 crore for developing and manufacturing the BMS. This includes the software architecture as well as the hardware that will link together every component of some 500 combat units, each having between 500-900 soldiers.

The BMS acquisition is being pursued as a "Make" contract under the Defence Procurement Policy of 2013 (DPP-2013). The vendors will respond to the EoI with a detailed proposal, based on which the ministry of defence (MoD) will short list two vendors or consortia as "development agencies" or DAs. The MoD will pick up 80% of the development bill for both DAs to build prototypes of the BMS. The winning design will form the basis of the system.

The army's directorate general of information systems (DG IS) is overseeing the planned shift from a twentieth century to a twenty-first century battlefield. The communications backbone of the new digital architecture will be the Tactical Communications System (TCS), which is being pursued separately as India's first "Make" project.

In addition, the army is working on a Command Information and Decision Support System (CIDSS) that allows commanders to control the battle; a Battlefield Support System (BSS) to manage artillery units; and an Air Defence Control & Reporting System (ADC&RS) that will control airspace.

The BMS will link these overarching systems to the cutting edge --- the combat soldier on the front line. Each soldier and combat platform (tank, helicopter, jeep) will be a separate digital entity, whose location and state of combat readiness will be available to higher commanders. The BMS will also allow the sharing of inputs from a range of sensors in combat units, including seismic sensors, battlefield surveillance radars, long range optical sensors and thermal imaging devices.

The full rollout of the proposed digital network will enable a divisional or corps commander to talk directly to, and receive images from, a soldier in the trenches or a tank on the front. "This is all about situational awareness," explains a serving general who terms it "Blue Force Tracking".

The vendors who received EoIs today include eight companies that are already competing for the Rs 10,000 crore TCS contract --- L&T; Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL); Rolta Ltd; Tata Power (Strategic Electronics Division); Hindustan Computers Ltd (HCL); Wipro; Electronics Corporation of Indian Ltd (ECIL) and ITI. The six additional companies competing for BMS include --- Bharat Forge; Punj Lloyd Ltd; Tata Consultancy Services (TCS); Infosys Technologies; Tech Mahindra; and CMC.

Vendors have been given four months to form consortia, engage technology partners (who may be foreign companies), frame their proposals, and submit detailed proposals. Those will be evaluated by an Integrated Project Management Team (IPMT), which will then select two DAs.

The EoI enjoins the DAs to develop four "test beds", or configurations of the BMS. These are for (a) armoured units; (b) mechanized infantry units; (c) infantry units in mountains, and (d) infantry units in jungle terrain.

The EoI specifies that 30% of the weightage in selecting a DA will go to the amount and level of R&D that a vendor will put into the BMS. Another 30% will rest on the amount of indigenous content that the BMS will contain.

Army kicks off high-tech 'digital soldier' project | Business Standard

 

[arnabmit]

^^

Recently read a book called "Covert One: The Utopia Experiment". Seems like we are moving towards similar products. Google Glass has already made such a thing possible.

 

[cobra commando]

Visit of Chief of Ground Forces, Israel Defence Forces

Major General Guy Zur, Chief of Ground Forces, Israel Defence Forces, is visiting India from 11-14 November 2013. The visiting dignitary paid tributes at the Amar Jawan Jyoti and later called on General Bikram Singh at his office on 11 November 2013.

 

[Vaishnavi]

Thanks for Indian Army all information share here. i am appreciate your work in Indian Army.!

 

[bhramos]

Jawan injured in militant attack on army convoy - Indian Express

 

[bhramos]

Thanks for Indian Army all information share here. i am appreciate your work in Indian Army.!

hi my dear lady, first give your introduction here, then go ahead commenting the posts..

Introductions & Greetings

 

[bhramos]

‘Property disputes major cause of stress for Army personnel’ - Indian Express

 

[bhramos]

Army coup story came from a very fertile brain: V K Singh - The Economic Times

 

[cobra commando]

INDIAN BATTALION IN LEBANON TRAINS WITH THE FRENCH ARMY

In order to practice and rehearse interoperability and to validate drills, the Indian Battalion in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has successfully carried out Joint Training with the French Army Contingent which acts as the Force Commander's Reserve from 22 to 25 Oct 2013. A number of joint operational activities, training exercises, familiarisation with equipment and sports events were conducted. Cultural exchange between the contingents also took place as the soldiers developed a close bond living, training and carrying out operational activities together.

 

[ladder]

Army seeks land to set up 2 stations in north Bengal

The Army Monday sought land from West Bengal government to set up two military and air force stations in north Bengal to fortify country's defence in the eastern sector.
The army officials, during the annual civil-military liaison meeting at Nabanna in Howrah, asked the state government for 750 acres of land at Dandim in Jalpaiguri for an Air Force station and 1,000 acres in Kalimpong for military station.

While government delegation was led by Chief Secretary Sanjay Mitra, the army was represented by GOC Bengal Area, Lt Gen AK Choudhary. Later, a press release of the army said, a joint inspection would soon be carried out to identify feasibility of land in North Bengal.

"While the strategic or operational necessity was not debated or discussed, the new land acquisition procedures will be adhered to," the release said.

The army also sought land for establishing a Sainik School at Darjeeling. The Chief Secretary assured the army delegation that the matter was under consideration and a meeting would soon be held between the state government, Union home ministry and the local authorities.

"To enable the existing Sainik School (in Purulia) to get its due from both the Sainik School Society under MoD and the state government, a draft memorandum has been sent to the state government for its consent," the press release further said.''

The army also sought land for NCC Directorate (West Bengal & Sikkim) at Bamchandaipur in lieu of land at Sadhanpur, Burdwan, and another 700 sq yds to set up proper Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) Polyclinics across state.

It was decided that for the time being the government won't shift camps in the Maidan area for sadhus coming for the annual Ganga Sagar yatra. The army is opposed to the camps.

The state government, meanwhile, agreed to increase the financial assistance to World War-II veterans, war widows and gallantry award winners from the state. "The Chief Secretary has agreed to bring it at par with other states," the army said.

The GOC said that this year all vacancies including the ones in technical cadre had been filled up by the youth from the state. Currently, West Bengal has a 7.81 per cent representation in the armed forces, which is substantial, the GOC said.

Earlier, as the meeting began, the Chief Secretary thanked the army on behalf of the administration for rendering timely assistance in the recent river embankment breach in East Midinapore.

Army seeks land to set up 2 stations in north Bengal - Indian Express

 

[bhramos]

'After serving nation for so long, we hate to say good bye to Indian Army' - daily.bhaskar.com

 

[Neil]

India's Chief of Army Staff Gen. Bikram Singh to be inducted into Hall of Fame

WASHINGTON, DC: India's Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Bikram Singh, is in the US for a four-day tour, primarily for his induction into the US Army War College (USAWC) International Fellows Hall of Fame.

Out of the four days he is here, three days would take up time for the induction tour. Gen. Singh will also be giving a keynote speech to the USAWC graduating class of 2013-2014 during his time in the country. He will visit Washington, DC, and Fort Bragg and Fort Benning, which are located in North Carolina and Georgia, respectively.

Gen. Singh will also likely use his time in the US to continue US-India military talks and advance India's military interests.

In particular, it is expected that Gen. Singh will discuss the US-India defense relationship, the consignment of Howitzer missiles that India has purchased from the US, Indian border security in regards to Pakistan and China, and the US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan and the consequent security implications for the Middle East, a concern he has voiced previously. He may also discuss the possibility of conducting joint military exercises with US and Indian forces.

A highly regarded honor in the international military community, selection to the International Fellows Hall of Fame is notoriously difficult. To qualify, a candidate must either be a senior officer in one of his country's military service branches, be assigned to the highest command position within that branch, be the commander of a combined command while holding the highest rank within that military branch, or be internationally recognized as "having made a significant and enduring military or humanitarian contribution to international peace and stability" while holding the highest military rank in a given branch.

Candidates are nominated by senior US military representatives via the submitting of a nomination packet, which includes documentation, a letter of nomination, bio-data, and photographs of the officer in question. Only one nomination packet is processed per financial quarter. If the candidate is deemed worthy, he is formally invited to the Hall of Fame, and then inducted.

Gen. Singh is an alumnus of the USAWC, located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, having completed a course there in 2004. A graduate of the National Defence Academy, Singh joined the Sikh Light Infantry in 1972. During his career, he has served as a director in the Military Operations Directorate during the Kargil War, the Deputy Director-General of Perspective Planning (a military term for "strategy"), and as the Director-General of Staff Duties.


India's Chief of Army Staff Gen. Bikram Singh to be inducted into Hall of Fame - The American Bazaar

 

[bhramos]

Indian army prepared for militant activities across LOC: Lt Gen Gurmeet Singh - Indian Express

 

[bhramos]

Indian Army refuses Pakistan's proposal for Siachen | The News Tribe

 

[cobra commando]

Fact: India Trains The 2nd Highest Number Of Afghanistan's Military Personals

Indian Army Chief, General Bikram Singh, who is, presently, on an official visit to the United States of America, was honoured with the 'Legion of Merit' award, the 6th highest military honour in the U.S. Reporting the award ceremony, it was stated that, under Gen. Singh's tenure, India has risen to the second position in the number of Afghan National Security Forces it has trained, surpassing the European countries, whose military is currently based in Afghanistan.


Fact: India Trains The 2nd Highest Number Of Afghanistan's Military Personals - AA Me, IN

 

[arnabmit]

[tweet]411050829781557248[/tweet]

[tweet]411051554532122625[/tweet]

 

[Victor Sierra]

Bharat Singh, A Retired Para Commando.

Read More about him...

Bharat Singh had saved the life of Rajiv Gandhi 10946442

 

[cobra commando]

Machil fake encounter case: Army orders court martial against two officers, 4 other personnel


New Delhi: The Army has ordered court martial proceedings against two officers and four soldiers for their alleged involvement in the 2010 Machil fake encounter case that had triggered a two month-long agitation in the Kashmir Valley. Colonel DK Pathania, the Commanding Officer of 4 Rajput Regiment, the unit involved in the fake encounter, Major Upinder and four other personnel will face court martial. An official spokesperson of the Northern Command said the order will highlight the Army's resolve to ensure justice. On April 30, 2010, the Army said it had killed three infiltrators in the Machil sector and claimed that they were Pakistani terrorists. The three men who were killed were later identified as Shahzad Ahmad Khan, Riyaz Ahmad Lone and Muhammad Shafi Lone, all residents of Nadihal in Baramulla district. Their families alleged that the Army lured them to a border area on the pretext of giving them jobs but later killed them and claimed they were terrorists. In July 2010, the Jammu and Kashmir police filed a chargesheet against Col Pathania, Major Upinder and seven others in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Sopore. "A very detailed and exhaustive enquiry was conducted with the assistance of state police and judicial department to summon witnesses, record evidence and establish culpability of the accused personnel," the army spokesperson said today.


Machil fake encounter case: Army orders court martial against two officers, 4 other personnel | NDTV.com

 

[cobra commando]

Army strike formation validates new assault concepts


Defence News - Army strike formation validates new assault concepts

 

[cobra commando]

Army must confine to tactical intelligence gathering, new units
need our nod: MoD


Army must confine to tactical intelligence gathering, new units need our nod: MoD - Indian Express