We should be training & equipping our average soldiers in long range combat (upto 600 meters),
The present range is good enough in my humble opinion.The present standard range for what the soldiers are trained in the firing ranges is 400 meters without scopes,same as our NCC,which in my opinion is adequate.You have to understand that,standard engagements rarely take place beyond 250-300 yards,and even that might be an overstatement as it is.Cause even with scopes,it's quite challenging to score hits on human sized targets beyond that ranges
Irrelevant mostly,cause those flashy moves that looks so good on Chinese movies can never be performed when the average grunt is carrying a load out of 35 kgs!!And besides,in today's battlefield,if you run out of ammo,then you are pretty much screwed!!You can be a black belt in one hundred different styles and disciplines and all but as long as your opponent has got live ammunition left,he won't give you spare you any opportunity to go Bruce Lee on him,instead he will simply put a bullet right between your eyes and that would be the end of line for you bud.
There is a saying in the US military and it goes something like this,"during a CQB,the one with the last bullet left would come out victorious 9 out of 10 times!!
I would say,IA instead of some flashy and fancy martial arts training,IA should introduce something in the line of SOCP and Krav Maga ,the later being already made it to the training regime of SFs and Ghataks.
The IA has been practising and perfecting the manoeuvre warfare ever since General K Sunderjee became the COAS!!
coordinated battle training with IAF & IN,
That's being done as we speak,through yearly exercises.
and developing additional multi-role and specialised regiments or battalions;for eg:- maybe a dedicated recon & sniper division (I agree with our honourable members), more mechanized infantry divisions etc.
That's quite imperative and can not argue there really.
Coming to the gear:- standardized uniforms and camo would be nice - with dark monochromatic insignias, flag and name patches (our current gaudy tricolour & gold would be visible even in a dense jungle).
True that,I think they should standardise on MARPAT pattern,of course,customised for Indian conditions,catering for different terrains and all.
Side arms is not needed for regular infantry.Instead,make provision to carry more numbers of rifle ammunition would be desirable.
Khukries are good enough,those are extremely versatile and also come in very handy as a throwing weapon.
toolkits; Body armour, tactical vests, back packs; rifles with optics & iron sights (I hope our TAR-21s have back up iron sights) - will top everything off nicely.
Barring the tool kits,all of these items have been made available a long ago.
