Feature: Dealing with the Maoist IED threat - MRAPs, UAVs, Robots
28 Apr 2010 : According to The Hindu, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) are responsible for 70% of troop deaths in India since Jan 2008 to Mar 2010. Dealing with these is a major part of the challenge faced by the government in Counter Insurgency Operations (COIN). The surge in use of IEDs clearly indicate a paradigm shift in the Maoist's ploy to fight the government, which was based on direct combat by attacking small police or paramilitary groups in large numbers.
The Maoists seem to be learning fast from the Taliban in Afghanistan and other terror groups operating in Iraq who are constantly evolving the IEDs to combat the technical superiority of the US forces. A top Intelligence Bureau (IB) official told 8ak that the use of IEDs by the Maoists has been on a rise since 2007 and after the strong government response to their recent success in Dantewada, the Maoists will certainly intensify their use of IEDs. Hence, it is very important to devise ways to find countermeasure.
The IB officer's point is supported by recent reports of police finding IEDs. The first case was reported from Kuthi district in Jharkhand in February where the police officials recovering 40 kg of explosives planted on a road. In the second, more recent case the Jharkhand police on 13 April, once again recovered a container containing 45 kg of explosives in a container planted beneath a metalled road.
MRAP
The Indian government and the security agencies have lagged behind in developing a doctrine to fight the IED threat of the Maoists. Neither do they have the right equipment. Making a strong case for MRAP induction on large scale into the police and the paramilitary is former IB Chief, Ajit Doval who said, "IEDs not only threaten the safety of our men, but also considerably hamper the speed of operations because the security forces, fearing IEDs, usually walk in the Maoists prone areas as they do not have the latest Mine Protected Vehicles, which can guard from such threats."
Further more he says, "Constantly walking in the jungles also enhances the fatigue levels thereby reducing the reaction time in case of any eventuality." He says that it is here that the security forces can do with latest armoured vehicles mounted with jammers, as it will not only enhance safety and considerable reduce travelling time of the troops but also enable swift mobilisation of reinforcements in case of an ambush or confrontation with the Maoists, which did not happen during the Dantewada attack.
8ak then spoke to Brig Khutub Hai, Mahindra Defence about the lack of adequate equipment. He said, "I dont care if the government decides to buy MRAP (mine resistant, ambush protected) vehicles from our competitors but it has to act fast and procure these vehicles immediately. The main problem with the procurement process in India is that the defence acquisitions is being looked at as a set of procedures. A mindset change is required to start viewing this as a matter of national security." He pointed to the fact that following the American experience in Iraq, the U.S. government spent $22 billion on MRAP vehicles for its troops. Brig Hai further added, "If the government follows its own procedures, even if it acts now, it could take 3 to 4 years to get the troops enough vehicles".
Electronic Countermeasures
8ak then spoke to a Serving Corps Commander of the Indian Army. Requesting anonymity, he described IEDs as "devices good at creating mayhem and having the capability of reducing the technological advancement of any modern force, thereby creating a level playing field." Adding further, he says that the best mechanism to foil an IED attack is 'detection' but failing this electronic jamming devices on the vehicles used by troops can also foil the attack. The senior army officer however failed to understand the reason behind the government's inability to provide electronic jamming systems to its security forces, when such devices are mounted on convoys of VVIPs like the Prime Minister and President in urban areas and not mine-infested jungles.
In the short term, electronic jamming systems should be mounted on security forces vehicles operating in sensitive areas, which include IED Countermeasures Equipment (ICE) and the Warlock, both of which use low-power radio frequency energy to block the signals of radio controlled explosives initiators, such as cell phones, satellite phones, and long-range cordless telephones. Other IED countermeasures in the long run could be developing or procuring technology that can first detect IEDs from far, and then generate a pulse of directed high-power electromagnetic energy to prematurely detonate them, or burn out and destroy their circuitry. Neutralizing Improvised Explosive Devices with Radio Frequency (NIRF) which produces a very high-frequency field at very short range that can neutralize an IEDs electronics can be one such countermeasure.
Another IED countermeasure used by the US effectively is code-named PING, it's a Pentagon developed microwave project, has reportedly been successful at helping locate insurgent weapons. The machine, which can be fitted inside a vehicle, sends out electromagnetic waves that can penetrate the walls of a building to detect IEDs.
Industry experts point that the U.S. administration, which usually takes its time in selling weapons to a second nation will not be aversive to selling the technology to India, because not only is it a defence mechanism and not an offensive one, but also because the U.S. administration views India as a responsible upcoming power.
UAVs in insurgency
According to a report by Homeland Security Market Research in the USA, that since 2007 the number of IEDs used in Afghanistan has increased 400%; number of troops killed 400%, and wounded 700%. The video above talks only about mine removal vehicles but the U.S.-led coalition forces have also effectively used UAVs to combat insurgency. 8ak spoke with Nicolas Miailhe, Sagem (part of the French Safran Group) who have been using their Sperwer UAV in Afghanistan about the confusion in the effectiveness of use of UAVs in the Indian scenario. Miailhe said that even though foilage penetrating technology is still at a developmental stage, use of UAVs in jungle areas can still save lives. They can be used effectively to ensure the safety of roads, convoys and railway tracks that have been the focus of the attackers. For example, planting IEDs effectively on roads or on railway tracks requires enough time and human activity to be detectable by UAVs. A tactical UAV such as the Sperwer can send back video images up to 150m away and can detect human activity in the 5 hours that it stays airborne at a time. The capabilities increase with payloads in the case of MALEs and HALEs and reduce with the use of mini-UAVs.
The inability of our security agencies to realise the full potential of UAVs in anti-Maoists operations have led to limited success. Gone are the days when the UAVs could perform limited task of capturing pictures. Nowadays, with developing technology, the UAVs have come to forefront in dealing with potential IED threats, as has been demonstrated in Iraq and Afghanistan by the Americans, which if fully realised can work in favour of our security agencies. Many would say that in spite of such extensive UAV use the fatalities due to IEDs continue to be high, but one must understand what would happen had these additional aids not been there. Moreover, the Indian Maoists are not as techsmart as the Taliban or Al Qaeda, as it is still in its nascent stage, thus the success factor would also increase manifolds.
The Americans have undertaken two programs to tackle the IED threat. One is Yellow Jacket, an Air Force Research Laboratory program to demonstrate a small unmanned helicopter carrying a specialized anti-IED payload. This comprises a high-definition electro-optical sensor and an "unintentional electromagnetic emissions" sensor. Experts point out that latter is the key as all active electronic devices, including wireless receivers used to trigger to IEDs - radiate electronic energy, and the researchers have developed ways to detect and identify such devices based on these "unintentional" emissions. The other program called Sentinel Hawk, involves use of BAE Systems' Silver Fox small UAVs to provide self-protection of convoys. The 25lb UAVs can be launched from vehicles within the convoy to survey the road ahead for bombs. This requires modification of the UAV to operate safely within the dense counter-IED jamming broadcast by the convoy that forces other UAVs to keep their distance.
Bomb Disposal
Another measure which the Indian government can adopt is using a bomb-disposal Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV), or robot, that comes equipped with a mechanical arm to inspect and relocate suspected IEDs. Unfortunately, 8ak could not get a DRDO or CVRDE person to comment on their current programs in the short time we had to make the request. Some information of CVRDE program is on Bharat Rakshak.
U.S. forces have used the 'Talon' UGV with great precision in Afghanistan, where it has been used to detect and relocate IEDs. They are also using another robot, called the "PackBot" to clear bombs/IEDs. During Defexpo, we had the opportunity to talk to a spokesperson from the developer Qinetiq (UK's privatised version of India's DRDO). In addition to the interview on the video on the left, Alan Kobran added further that "DRDO has developed two ROV platforms. The most current is the Daksh, a 350kg platform that travels at about 3kmh. It has a purported range of 500m, but in actuality could only travel about 150m. It took three years to complete customer trials at a cost of about US$350K per piece.They have a contract for 20 systems which will be used for domestic response only. They also developed a smaller platform that has not been deployed. It weighs about 120kg and operates at a range of about 200 meters and travels at the same speed of the large platform. In comparison, both TALON and Dragon Runner operate in all types of environments (domestic and tactical) are totally man transportable (75kg & 22kg respectively) and operate at tested distances in excess of 200m in built up environments and more than 800 meters line of sight. Both platforms are dependable and fast combat proven systems."
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With a strong presence in 220 districts across India, which includes 83 districts wherein the writ of the union government ceases to exit with parallel administration in place, the Maoists problem has been correctly termed as the "single biggest threat facing India" by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. But, recognising a problem is one part and acting to resolve is another. It is in the latter aspect, the politicians and bureaucrats have failed not only our security forces, who continue to bleed but also the citizens of the nations.
Today, EconomicTimes reported that the labour ministry has come up with a US$1 billion plan to employ rural youth in maoist-infested areas in nearby urban centres. But the hellish conditions that the jawans operate in are continued to be ignored. See DNA article "Save us from this hell, beg CRPF jawans". The human angle is even more important than the technology angle in the article above and will be covered separately.
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