Those were in the early days of the Iraq war, in the last 15 years they have massively stepped up their standards and you won't find that anymore. SAS today:
Indian forces have had 30+ years to standardise, their current DPM has been standard issue for 10+ years, they still aren't able to issue it to every soldier? wtf?!
For a number of reasons this is unlikely to be SG.
Another first- an Indian unit with chem lights- haven't even seen them with NSG. Certainly points to a unit that has been training with SFs of other nations.
Most of these guys had
really nice paint jobs on their M4s:
So this is PARA (SF) and I agree that's the unit they are and they too are using dedicated assault dogs. A while back we had discussed this issue here and it was pointed out that Indian SFs were one of the few "elite" SOFs that weren't using military assault dogs at all, at that time it was the NSG that was pioneering this (still are).
I wouldn't be surprised to learn that these dogs were from NSG's breeding and training centre (I hope so, those guys produce some of the most effective MWDs in the world).
Let's be honest- there's a LONG way to go.
Those chest rigs are pathetic and aside from the lack of adequate uniforms one of the biggest issues with Indian SFs has always been their lack of attention on smaller specialist items for individual soldiers like med packs, multi-tools, breaching equipment etc etc. Sure this does seem to be changing (however little) by the fact that this unit was seen to be using drop pouches and chem lights which I had almost given up hope Indian SFs would ever understand the utility in.
On top of that they are taping their mags together- not what you want to see from your top of the line high speed operators!
And these guys really cannot be considered a credible world class SF without significant night fighting capabilities- ideally they will have the 4 tube GPNVG-18s from the outset but I appreciate that is probably a pipe dream, just a good quality binocular/2 tube set for each operator would do (for now). It seems many of the operators have the PEQ-17 IR designators on their rifles so that points at a focus on night fighting/NODs so let's hope.
Yeah, I was considering the significance of this also.
We know that only a very few SOF units in the world now use a bullpup rifle as their main issue (and most of the time that is for pride reasons) and many who have bullpups for their regulars have traditional AR style rifles for their SOFs.
I know the Indian SF are fond of their Tavors for their accuracy-especially at long ranges (the TAR-21's barrel length packed into a compact body) but perhaps for CQB and other roles the lighter and less cumbersome M4 is seen as favourable? If the AFSOD is to get those SCARs too
The experiment with bullpups seems to be coming to an end around the world- FAMAS is gone (replaced by HK-416), even IWI has developed a conventional rifle design as their latest product and all "future" rifle designs are conventional also. I think even the PLA is planning to get rid of their QBZs.
Seeing this unit 100% equipped with M4s certainly is noteworthy.
You don't understand the role of the ICG if you are making this statement. ICG is a LAW ENFORCEMENT (not military) entity responsible for enforcing Indian law inside its EEZ and territorial waters alongside being the nodal agency responsible for SAR in this area. This task is not glamorous and hence why the ICG (unfairly so) doesn't get the recognition they deserve but they are doing it 365 days a year along with a LOT more (pollution control, navigation assistance, liaising with regional RCCs etc etc).
if you take ICG away guess who that job gets given to- the IN. Do you really want the navy tied down to protecting the immediate coast of India and deploying $1bn destroyers for this task? Or do you want the IN freed to project power in India's area of interest?
No way should the ICG be absorbed by any other entity, in fact they should be expanded to the greatest extent possible- they are (along with almost every service other than the IAF) still woefully short of helicopters- especially medium/large class ones able to undertake long range SAR.
As an emerging power India cannot afford not to have a world class and highly capable CG, not only is it legally bound to have one (given international commitments) but it is in India's own interests.
