Modernisation of Indian Army Infantry

[Immanuel]

http://saab.com/land/signature-management/
Very interesting stuff, Baracuda has offices in India, I once saw videos of the Arjun sporting MCS camo, they could certainly help developing the next gen camo.

Everything from men, vehicles to armor need new gen camo, greatly reduces detection on the battlefield

 

[San-E]

these two mens wearing digital camo in j&k, i think these two guys are from para or marcos unit

 

[BATTLE FIELD]

Jawans’ wait for 1.86 lakh bullet-proof jackets gets longer

Fresh request for proposals (RFPs) are expected to be floated by the ministry of defence (MoD) for the procurement for 1,86,138 bullet-proof jackets, which was approved by the defence acquisitions council in October 2009.

According to defence ministry sources, “In a meeting which took place last week between the six vendors and senior army officers, the decision was taken to scrap the existing RFP for 1 lakh-plus bullet-proof jackets. The six Indian vendors, including SM Group, Indian Armour, Shri Lakshmi Defence Solutions, Tata Advanced Materials and MKU, failed to meet the technical parameters or GSQRs (general staff qualitative requirements) laid down by the army.”

At a cost of Rs 50, 000 each, these 1.86 lakh jackets were to be inducted by 2012 and this was to be followed by another order of 1.67 lakh jackets. However, as many as 41 RFPs of the Indian Army had fallen through over a period of 18 months ending March 2012 because they had not met the technical parameters.

“That not one of the six competitors could come up with a jacket that meets the army’s requirement clearly indicates that it wants a jacket that no manufacturer is in a position to make and probably not even the most beleaguered troops are using anywhere in the world. Initiating a new case with revised specifications might well end up in a similar situation,” pointed out an industry observer.

Former financial advisor of MoD (acquisition) Amit Cowshish said: “Why not, then, categorise these bullet-proof jackets as a ‘development project’ for developing a futuristic jacket in the long run, while meeting the short-and-medium-term requirements by procuring the best jackets that are available off-the-shelf?”

“It would be wise to be pragmatic while formulating the specifications, rather than blaming the ‘convoluted’ procurement procedures and ‘politico-bureaucratic’ apathy for slow pace of army’s modernisation,” Cowshish added.
In fact, a recent report of the parliamentary panel on defence had slammed the government for delaying purchase of these vital self protection gear, which is available locally. Industry players argue that the government taking too much time to finalise its tenders for bullet-proof jackets.

Tenders usually demand either Level III protection (against 9 millimetre bullets) or Level IV protection (against a 7.62 millimetre armour piercing rifle bullet).

 

[BATTLE FIELD]

which bullet proof jackets are these??

 

[Sunnyboyyee]

View attachment 6600

which bullet proof jackets are these??

These are simple Plate carriers, custom made by Desi tailors in various field areas these are stiched out of the IA pattern camo cloths.

 

[BATTLE FIELD]

These are simple Plate carriers, custom made by Desi tailors in various field areas these are stiched out of the IA pattern camo cloths.

our brave soldiers wear it on front line god bless them

 

[Sunnyboyyee]

our brave soldiers wear it on front line god bless them

Sad But True.The concept of having the latest gen Moley pack as a regular issue to the soldier is far away from reality.Our soldiers are wearing packs and pouches which are of an Absolute desi jugaad nature. modernisation is going on BUT the speed is pathetically slow....Its shameful to know that the basic battle kit packs and puches of OUR GD soldier has not changed since the Kargil war. We still wear those Tin Helmets which have been recently been repackaged with some comfortable foam padding, But inside its the same old cr@p.

Lord knows when and after how many Light years our Infantry soldiers would get a decent battle kit akin to something of modern times...

 

[BATTLE FIELD]

Sad But True.The concept of having the latest gen Moley pack as a regular issue to the soldier is far away from reality.Our soldiers are wearing packs and pouches which are of an Absolute desi jugaad nature. modernisation is going on BUT the speed is pathetically slow....Its shameful to know that the basic battle kit packs and puches of OUR GD soldier has not changed since the Kargil war. We still wear those Tin Helmets which have been recently been repackaged with some comfortable foam padding, But inside its the same old cr@p.

Lord knows when and after how many Light years our Infantry soldiers would get a decent battle kit akin to something of modern times...

yup you are right we buy aircraft carriers,armed drones,5th gen fighter etc,etc.

but forget some basic but IMP. equipment like BPJ,NVG,scope and optics for riffles and communications devices.

 

[BATTLE FIELD]

oops i forgot the link

here it is http://www.financialexpress.com/art...lakh-bullet-proof-jackets-gets-longer/165410/

 

[LastProphet]

Thats really shameful... Various tenders hav been scrapped in recent times..i wonder then what happened to the budget allocated to IA

 

[Sunnyboyyee]

Thats really shameful... Various tenders hav been scrapped in recent times..i wonder then what happened to the budget allocated to IA

Chunk of it remain unutilised,thier is absloutely no sense of urgency show by the ppl involved in the process and the lot contains both the Army and the babus!!! The trials for guns keep on going without a visible end to it, soldiers keep sacrificing their lives for a nation which does not respect the scarifice,the required BP jackets and helmets keep on being discussed on forum like these with no end to it..

All we can hear to the exaperated calls are the words "WE are working on it the procurement shall be over and done with soon"

 

[Sreenath N]

Hello all,
Jackets used by IA comes from DRDO mainly can't entirely say based on jugaad model.Recently private contractors have also come into picture.New procurements are rare.The order was cleared to procure about 2 lakh was done back in 2004.Army has been rejecting all the models presented to them .The jackets have to function well in extreme cold ,hot or wet weather.Yes, because of Babus in Govt and Army nothing really gets cleared, I GUESS WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THEY DIE. Hope the new employees have broader mind set and are efficient . Mostly these are not cleared because commissions or bribes don't reach where they are supposed to reach. Recently there was another news where plans are their to shred the program. F-INSAS is still a long way to go. At-least this govt is taking a lot of initiatives .Mr Mohar Parikar our defense minister had cleared an order for urgent procurement of 50,000 jackets. that also is getting delayed.Please write your concerns to PMO or where ever possible about this, flood their sites with concerns and requests.

 

[elite member]

from the pic it seems they are wearing ceramic plated armor without any trauma plating , maybe bcas he is wearing it over there winter jacket

 

[Bornubus]

A sorry state for our valiant jawans who are most handsomely paid in south Asia even a Havaldar earns more than a paki commissioned officers, yet even Afghans outclass them in basic equipment and BPJ.

The irony is our private firms export whole range of BPJs to europe, turkey and elsewhere.

 

[Blackwater]

Hahaha tender pe tender , tender pe tender and Phir tender

 

[Sunnyboyyee]

Guys we talk of F INSAS and what not, but thats not how things are reached on ground. Ground realities are way beyond i'll share an example, a few years back i was IN the Def Expo and at one of the stalls TATA was showcasing its brand new F-INSAS soldier with its complete jing pang ie
1. Coms eqpt
2. Moley pack
3. Light wt BPJ
4. a PAGST ballistic helmet with a mount for NVG
5. Knee and elbow pack
6 the most imp A HAND HELD COMPUTER SYSTEM WITH A SCOPE ATTACHE D TO IT.It was something on the lines of BMS.

The equipment on display would have surely given a SEALS lad a run for his money by its mere looks something which most the arm chairs Generals would have loved.. Now comes the fun part upon asking about the ruggedness of the system and the battery life and has the same been validated on ground by use of troops or by the company he said it is still in the early stage of development and nothing has been validated. The batty life is of the eqpmnt which is the most imp part was pathetically low given the normal operating temp of Indian terrain forget operating at the high alti areas where the Para boys would rquire it the most as the bttys die early at high alti areas.

We need to slowly graduate at improviing at the equipment profile of a GD soldiers we dnt have make him a cyborg in one go..

Its sad to see that so many of our ex gens promised but could not deliver the promise of modernisation of infantry soldiers.

Need of the hour is that we first provide the proper kit to our soldiers fwho are the first line of defence for us all, and may after that we can go for big ticket purchases.

 

[prasadr14]

Again, this is a clear cut cases of babus and IA in cahoots looting the nation and filling their pockets.
Our DM should take this up and sort it out.

 

[Illusive]

So what are the technical specifications that Army called for which cannot be met. Surely not star wars stuff. 41 RFP's were issued.........what do we call this....... stubbornness, idiocracy or someone has infiltrated the brass and having some fun.

 

[Immanuel]

This complete BS what kind of requirements is the IA looking for, if current gen products from MKU, Tata can't meet requirements, no body can. Developing next gen tech takes time.

My suggestion, since none of the vendors have massive capacity to provide for all numbers in a short duration.

Spread the orders over MKU, Tata and SM Group.

MKU's products are ideal for Infantry, SF units while Tata and SM can focus on Police and Paramilitary. Together they can provide most of the numbers by 2020.

 

[Sreenath N]

When there is bizzare delays in acquisition of even basic gears for Army, surely smells conspiracy. Most of the time goes in testing and corrections and in bureaucracy.Everyone is only interested in comparing dick sizes.They just need a year or two ,when materials and design specs are available.Production and procurement will take less than 2 years.by the 2nd or 3rd month we can see Jawans using it.