Indian Army News and Discussion

[powerslavenegi]

Artillery

Buying weapons is more of a political and 'monetary' decision that a strategic one.When we say Bofors and Soltam are main contenders it simply means they are the ones who are ready to pay more money as kickbacks to the scumbags in GOI.The Soltam were also involved in recent upgrades of IA's field howitzers and since we currently operate Bofors 155mm self propelled guns these two are main contenders ,ofcourse until others offer more Moolah. Anyways as far as Artillery is concerned nothing comes close to the one's 'Made in Germany'

 

[Waylander]

Oh, than I misunderstood the problem. I'm not used to other countries refusing weapon imports and not vice versa.

To the artillery theme.
G6 is definitely an awesome system. And I would buy it everytime if we would not have the PzH2000.
You are right to say that weapon sales are often not very rational.

 

[kams]

SOUTH AFRICAN ARTILLERY SYSTEM G6/52 SHOOTS MILES AHEAD OF EUROPEAN AND US TECHNOLOGY AGAIN-An artillery system that rocked the world with its 39km range when it entered service in the early 1980s is being modernized to outrange the latest NATO howitzers. The technology can be readily applied to weapons already in the inventories of countries such as China and Iraq. South Africa’s G6 155mm howitzer is now being developed to achieve ranges of 50km, 60km or even 70km, according to an exclusive report in the November issue of Jane’s Jane's International Defence Review (IDR)- I came across this on the net and was just wondering why this artillery system is not competing in India’s Artillery compettion ?. To somebody uninitiated like me, it seems- are we favouring systems like Bofors FH 77 B05L52 and Soltam TIG 2002, which might not be the best in the world? Some light in this matter would be welcome.

G-6 was indeed the best and it was selected by Indian Army. However allegations of bribary surfaced and Denel was black listed. So now we have new round of trials (4th or 5 th i forget)Bofors won handsdown, Soltam failed in every round of trial. However due to political pressure from Israel and due to the fact that Congress govt. is scared of Bofors a new round of summer and winter trials with both Bofors and Soltam are underway.

you are mistaken kams indian army is looking for both field and self propelled artillery guns of the 155mm/52 caliber,and if both guns can be acquired from a single vendor it would be well and good,that is the reason why the participants till date have been israel,sweden and south africa all of which are capable of offering both the sph and the fh and this i believe this is where germany loses since they can offer only sph's.

indian army hopes to standardise its artillery around the 155mm/52 caliber howitzers(both self propelled and field artillery) and multi barelled rocket launchers,there is a requiremt for upto 6000 artillery guns of both the types.

Aaditya I said IA is not loking for 'Tracked' artillary'. The self propelled Bofors 155mm/52 is truck mounted and is known as 'Archer' and weighs less than German system. However wheeled version (truck based) while being lighter may not be able to all the places Tanks can go.
German system is tracked and is higly automated requiring only 2 person to operate. Other than this, Bofors is also very capable system and IA is very happy about it.

Soltam failed miserably in all trials. Its self propelled version required 4-6 persons to operate.

 

[Waylander]

PzH2000 requires 5 persons.
- Commander
- Driver
- Gunner
- Loader 1
- Loader 2

But it is right that is is highly automated.

 

[kams]

PzH2000 requires 5 persons.
- Commander
- Driver
- Gunner
- Loader 1
- Loader 2

But it is right that is is highly automated.

Oh, the Military channel documentary showed only 2. . Just out of curiosity, why can't driver double as gunner and or Loader? Unlike tanks you don't shoot while you are driving in self propelled artillary.

 

[Waylander]

How do you want to reach high speed at going into firing position, fire and get the hell out of there before counterfire is on its way with the driver/loader climbing from the turret into the drivers seat and back?

 

[kams]

How do you want to reach high speed at going into firing position, fire and get the hell out of there before counterfire is on its way with the driver/loader climbing from the turret into the drivers seat and back?

I understand. I must have seen two loaders you mentioned in the documentary. Thanks for your clarification.

 

[kams]

India, US begin counter-insurgency exercise

NEW DELHI: The Indian Army on Wednesday began its largest exercise with US forces to train for counter-insurgency operations in urban areas at a military base in Hawaii.

A 140-strong Indian contingent is participating with troops from the 25th Infantry Division of the US Pacific Command in Yudh Abhyas 06-02, the second training exercise of its type this year, said officials of the US embassy.

Twenty Garud commandos of the Indian Air Force are part of the contingent, the first time members of this special force have joined an Indo-US exercise. "This is the biggest exercise between US forces and the Indian Army," said an official.

The training, being held at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, will focus on counter-insurgency operations in urban areas like cities and include live firing exercises. It will end on September 23, the officials said.

The Indian forces flew to Hawaii in an Il-76 aircraft, whose crew is expected to participate in separate air-lift missions at Hickam airbase. In view of the separate exercise by the air force, Yudh Abhyas 06-02 is being referred to as a "joint and combined exercise", the officials said.

Besides the exercise, Indian troops are engaged in other interactions with US forces. Maj Gen Mukesh Sabharwal, the additional director general of military operations, will attend the Pacific Army Management Seminar in Fiji next week.

Two Army Aviation Corps pilots are currently training on US Army helicopters like the Kiowa and Black Hawk at the Wainwright base in Alaska, the officials said.

India, US begin counter-insurgency exercise

Intresting bit of news about pilots undergoing training in Kiowa and Black Hawk.

 

[aaaditya]

hey guys here ia interesting article providing some information on the new high altitude warfare clothing for the indian army soldiers.

here check out this link:

http://www.indianexpress.com/story/12396.html

NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 10: Six years after the Kargil Review Committee recommended a comprehensive review of the special clothing provided to Army troops deployed in Siachen and other hostile high altitude battlefields, it is now official that the troops are still not completely comfortable in their gear. Enter, the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad.

NID’s John Bissell Research Chair, funded by the Ford Foundation, is now developing technology for the manufacture of new special clothing for high altitude Army troops using materials that will be lighter, warmer, more flexible, durable and cheaper than the default merino wool.

Simply put, by this time next year, NID hopes to provide the Army with a more satisfied soldier at 16,000 feet.
All of this, with the help of NID’s advanced plasma technology, applied to angora fibre harvested from Angora rabbits being bred at farms in Pithoragarh by DRDO’s Defence Agriculture Research Laboratory (DARL).
Four NID research students visited the glacier at the invitation of the Army six months ago to gather first-hand feedback about troop discomfort at high altitudes and how operations could be made more efficient by improving their special clothing.
While NID has already demonstrated the success of the technology in the laboratory, by the end of this year, DARL, NID and the Institute of Plasma Research (IPR), with support from the Department of Science & Technology, will set up a full-fledged production plant in Kulu. After that, sample special clothing sets, including down jackets, thermal insoles, socks, combat trousers and multi-tiered gloves, will be sent up to Siachen for trials by the Army.
Speaking to The Indian Express from Ahmedabad, John Bissell Research Chair head Dr Pradyuman Singh Jhala said, “From the feedback we got from the troops, it emerged that most of the issues revolved around fitting and ergonomics. We found problems associated with the current special clothing, for example discomfort at the neck and wrist areas, the need for better designed pockets, and more efficient insulation.”
Here’s why NID thinks it can be one up on the special clothing that India imports for its high altitude forces from countries like Switzerland, Italy and Australia:
• NID’s surface modifications of angora fibre at the micro and nano level will give the yarn greater friction and resistance, instantly making it pack in more heat than merino wool.
• Fine angora fabric will replace merino in all special clothing between the inner layer of fine polyester and the outer layer of nylon. It will reduce the overall weight of troop clothing by about a quarter. The deadweight of a full set of special clothing for a Siachen soldier is roughly 9-10 kilos. The new material will bring that down by at upto 2.5 kilos.
• Using the new technology will make economic sense. For example, while a single down-jacket used by a soldier at Siachen costs Rs 19,000, a down jacket using the new fibre and technology will be “at least” Rs 1,500 cheaper. With the Army inducting a total of 19,754 soldiers a year to patrol the Saltoro Ridge overlooking Siachen and the Hanif and Yaldor sectors in Kargil, savings add up considerably.
• Eco-friendly, resistant to moisture, and durable, angora-lined special clothing, goretex suits and multi-tiered insulating gloves will allow more recycling. Currently a mere 15 per cent of special clothing sets per season is deemed fit for re-use. With the new clothing, this could go up to at least 40 per cent or more. • Ergonomics experts at NID will fashion specifically placed pockets and zippers on the new clothing sets, allowing soldiers easy access to their thermal imagers, food packets on long-distance patrols, infantry weapons and ammunition, mountaineering equipment like carabiners, pitons and knives.

 

[aaaditya]

hey guys great news indian army's mercury thunder realtime communication network is finally operational,it is a quantum jump in indian army's information warfare capability,the mercury thunder is the third and final stage of this programme which also includes the mercury flash and the mercury strike.

here check out this link for information on this network and the advantages that it gives the indian army.

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/newsrf.php?newsid=7172

Indian Army makes 'Mercury Thunder' operational

NEW DELHI, SEP 13 (PTI) Indian Army today made operational its most advanced network centric communicationn system 'Mercury Thunder'.

The network, which signals Indian Army's entry to a digitalised battlefield, was dedicated by Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee at a function here attended by all the three service chiefs, Admiral Arun Prakash, Air Chief marshal S P Tyagi and General J J Singh.

Fielded by the core of signals, the mercury thunder system is a robust platform which an Army spokesman said could withstand all man-made and natural disasters.

Speaking on the occassion, Mukherjee said the new system assured ground forces network availability and survivability which is of paramount importance in today's world of intense electronic warfare.

"Mercury Thunder will be the strategic backbone network of the Indian Army and will create space for digitalised battlefield and also support and also support interconnectivity with other tactical communication systems," an Army spokesman said.

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/newsrf.php?newsid=7173

New Delhi, Sep 13 (IANS) A newly inducted Indian Army communication network could eventually enable the transmission of real time battlefield data to top commanders during hostilities and also enable a qualitative improvement in relief and rescue operations when natural disasters strike.

For the record, all the army would say about 'Mercury Thunder' the third phase of the Army Static Switched Communication Network (ASCON) that Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated here Wednesday is that it would enable troops stationed at the remotest of places like the Siachen Glacier to directly communicate with Army Headquarters here - if the need arises.

'With Mercury Thunder, we have taken a quantum leap forward in our communications capabilities by raising the number of channels on which voice conversations can be simultaneously transmitted from 120 to 10,000,' Lt. Gen. Davinder Kumar, the Indian Army Signals-officer-in-chief, explained.

Since the new system supports a mix of voice, data and video transfer, the number of channels available at any given time would depend on what mix of the three was adopted.

Defence analysts said the true capability of the project would be realised when it was used to transfer video images from, say the Jammu and Kashmir border to Army Headquarters in New Delhi.

'Hitherto, video images captured by an UAV (unarmed aerial vehicle) of movements along the LoC (Line of Control in Kashmir) are downloaded at a ground station in its area of operation and then sent on to the relevant field formations and area headquarters, as also to Army Headquarters,' an analyst explained.

'With the new system, it should be possible to do all this in real time, thereby considerably cutting down the reaction time,' the analyst added.

'Mercury Thunder' builds on 'Mercury Streak' that created an optical fibre cable (OFC) network for the army in 1995 and 'Mercury Flash' that provided a microwave network in 1998. The new system enables the integration of its predecessors with a satellite-based overlay that enables seamless transfers over all three systems.

Noting that 'Mercury Thunder' would become the 'strategic backbone network' of the Indian Army, Mukherjee said it 'will not only create space for a digitised battlefield but also support, facilitate and interconnect other network-centric systems like C3I (command, control, communications, information).

'These entities can now be location independent and simply plug and play into the information infrastructure of 'Mercury Thunder',' he added.



Pointing out that modern warfare 'is not limited in time, space, and boundaries', he said: 'Modern warfare is also asymmetrical. To meet these challenges, it is fundamental that the information infrastructure lends itself to unify national security interests strategically and tactically during war, peace, disasters or otherwise.

'It must help facilitate the objectives of the leaders and commanders. It is encouraging to learn that 'Mercury Thunder' not only synergizes but also extends our over all objectives through its pan-India presence,' the minister added.

And, with the art of 21st century warfare undergoing a paradigm shift and being transformed from platform centric to network centric, Mukherjee stated that with ''Mercury Thunder' we achieve a significant milestone in our march towards being a network centric army'.

'Mercury Thunder' would also be of immense use in times of natural disasters as its three-tier overlap would ensure there was no breakdown of communications when a calamity struck, Mukherjee said.

 

[sikh_warrior]

from my point of view, india army should go for a non american equipments as we never know when americans put up sanctions or stop the supplies of equipment or spares. it has happened with Indians and Pakistanis before.

european or russian suppliers IA should stick to for the equipments and supplies.

 

[aaaditya]

hey guys great news indian army's space based surveillance system is getting ready,it will consist of the cartosat1 and cartosat2 as its principal systems.

here check out this link ,it contains some very valuable information on the indian space based surveillance system.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-2000573,curpg-1.cms

NEW DELHI: For a country which views itself as a regional superpower and has a robust space programme, India's use of space-based assets for military purposes has been quite modest so far.

But now, the armed forces are poised to take a major leap forward in harnessing space as 'a potent force-multiplier', with the hush-hush satellite-based surveillance and reconnaissance (SBS) programme making 'steady progress' towards completion, say sources.

A joint Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) venture, worth over Rs 1,000 crore, the SBS project was initially scheduled for completion by 2005-end.

But after slippages, the Cabinet Committee on Security has extended its timeframe to January 31, 2007.

While some problems might still crop up, the armed forces say the SBS project, once fully-operational, will allow them to keep closer tabs on troop movements, missile silos, military installations and airbases of neighbouring countries, as well as augment surveillance over Indian airspace.

"Cartosat-I (launched atop PSLV in May 2005) and Cartosat-II (to be launched by 2006-end) satellites, though primarily civilian, will form an essential part of the SBS project. The armed forces will get direct feeds from them," said a top source.

"With DIPAC (Defence Imagery Processing and Analysis Centre) in Delhi and a satellite control facility in Bhopal, the forces will even have some operational control like shutter-control over the satellites," he added.

This is not to say the forces have not used satellite imagery for tactical and strategic intelligence till now. The Army, for instance, was getting almost one-metre resolution 'image feeds' from the Technology Experiment Satellite (TES).

This 'spy' satellite, laun-ched in October 2001, even provided 'high-quality feeds' of Pakistani troop movements as well as the Afghanistan conflict. "But TES is almost out of its operational life now.

We, of course, also use imagery from other Indian remote-sensing satellites as well as feeds from Russian and Israeli satellites when required," a source said.

 

[kams]

US firms set to bag deal for sale of 197 helicopters

US firms set to bag deal for sale of 197 helicopters
New Delhi, Sept. 17 (PTI): Six years after American defence firms forayed into the Indian arms market after the lifting of US embargoes, a company is set to bag the first commercial deal for selling 197 light helicopters to the Army.

After almost two years of evaluation, including trials at the world's highest battlefield on the Siachen glacier, the army has, according to highly placed sources, opted for Bell Helicopter's 407 Shen model in preference to EADS' Eurocopter.

Though the army has given its technical evaluation to the defence ministry, the deal is yet to be cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council headed by Defence Minister Pranab Mukherhee as well as the Cabinet Committee on Security.

Though the price negotiations are yet to be finalised, the deal, which includes the training of Indian pilots, is estimated to be worth over 400 million dollars.

The deal envisages the initial delivery of 60 helicopters in a fly-away condition and co-production of 137 helicopters after 100 per cent technology transfer by state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

And for the first time, the deal will include a 30 per cent offset to be negotiated according to the defence ministry's requirements.

Under the new arms procurement policy, the government has enforced 30 per cent offsets in all contracts worth over Rs 300 crores and made it mandatory for firms selling arms to India to sign an integrity pact.

After the lifting of sanctions, the US made military sales of the ANTPQ fire-finding radars and reached an agreement to sell the retired warship USS TRENTON. All these were government-to-government deals done through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme of the US.

Helicopter deal- Indian army

The first big ticket deal may go US way, if this report is correct. Although DAC and CCS is yet to approve the deal, if the Army prefers Bell 407, it's highly unlikely that deal will go to EADS.

 

[kams]

Indian troops drill at Schofield

Indian troops drill at Schofield

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS — Forty Indian soldiers in jungle camouflage descend on a mock village in the central O'ahu mountains, hunting for insurgents. American officers watch for lessons they can apply when leading their own soldiers through the same course on a U.S. Army training ground.

The troops are on the island for the biggest joint drills the Indian and U.S. armies have had to date, the latest sign of growing military relations between the two nuclear powers.

The bilateral exercise, called Yudh Abhyas, or "training for war" in Hindi, started four years ago with a handful of Indian and U.S. soldiers. It has since ballooned to feature hundreds of troops, including 140 Indians who flew to Hawai'i, which hosts the U.S. Pacific Command, whose reach extends to their homeland.

"It's a tremendous expansion," said Col. Dinesh Singh, of the Indian army's 3rd Battalion, 9th Gurkha Rifles. He added the exercises were now teaching platoons from the two nations how to talk to each other in the field, moving beyond the basics of training individual soldiers.

The U.S.-Indian military relationship is relatively young, with the two sides having had little interaction during the Cold War, when socialist India was closer to the Soviet Union. They found more common ground in the 1990s, a trend that accelerated after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, which led the United State to seek India as a partner in the war against terror.

Analysts say the United States is eager to deepen military ties with India to learn some of the counterinsurgency methods India's military has cultivated during its long battle against separatists in Kashmir. The Americans also want India's large navy to help patrol the seas for terrorists and pirates, analysts say.

There's also a U.S. desire to use India to balance China's growing power and influence, said Itty Abraham, research fellow with the Washington, D.C., office of Hawai'i's East-West Center.

"From the government's point of view, India has become, though people in Washington won't admit it so openly — it's not a nice thing to say — America's counterweight to China," said Abraham.

India, meanwhile, is eager to learn from the world's most technologically advanced military.

Donald L. Berlin, a professor at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu, said India also believes a closer relationship with the United States will help it become a bigger power in the Indian Ocean, in South Asia, and in the world.

The friendship has its obstacles, of course.

The U.S. Congress hasn't approved an agreement signed by the two nation's leaders in March that allows U.S. civil nuclear trade with India in return for safeguards and inspections at India's 14 civilian nuclear plants.

Supporters say the deal strengthens a strategic relationship with a friendly country that has long maintained a responsible nuclear program. Plus it would provide clean energy to a country desperate to fuel a booming economy.

Critics counter that the plan encourages the spread of nuclear weapons and fans an India-Pakistan nuclear arms race by effectively giving U.S. recognition to India's nuclear weapons program. They also complain the agreement doesn't allow for inspections at India's eight military plants.

Such concerns were remote at Schofield Barracks, however.

Maj. Bob Risdon, who designed the exercises for the U.S. Army's 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, said U.S. troops could learn from how Indian forces requested homeowners to lead them on searches of their homes. They were less intrusive in searching people's homes and cars, a tactic that could help when troops are trying to earn the trust of the local population, he said.

"You can figure out a lot about people that way, too. You can figure out if they're trying to hide something," Risdon said.

Lt. Col. Matt Kelley, the 1st Battalion commander, said the way Indians ambushed and disarmed two insurgents impressed him. American troops, in the same drill, simply shot and killed the men, he said.

"They've just gained huge intelligence value from that — instead of killing them, they've captured them," Kelley said. "All our guys said whoa — we'd never do that. We could do it."

Singh, the Indian army commander, said he valued the heightened reality of the U.S. designed exercises, which forced troops to react quickly and rely on their reflexes.
"India is the world's largest democracy. They're a strategic partner for the United States and an important friend for the United States," said Col. Mark Haskins, the U.S. Pacific Command's South Asia policy chief.

Good learning excercise for both

 

[aaaditya]

Helicopter deal- Indian army

The first big ticket deal may go US way, if this report is correct. Although DAC and CCS is yet to approve the deal, if the Army prefers Bell 407, it's highly unlikely that deal will go to EADS.

the bell 407 shen is a very good helicopter,i believe it would be a great acquisition for the indian army,based on a commercial platform its spares and components would be readily available,it has a decent payload and sensor capability and most importantly was successfull in high altitude trials in ladakh,i guess it is a better buy than the fennec.

 

[aaaditya]

Indian troops drill at Schofield



Good learning excercise for both

well i hope india learns something about uav usage from usa,also intelligence gathering in the us style would be pretty usefull as well as small commando team operations.

 

[aaaditya]

hey guys here are a couple of interesting articles on the bell 407 shen on offer to indian army.

here check out this link:

http://www.forceindia.net/august/cover14.asp

also check out this link for information on the capabilities of the shen:

http://www.bellhelicopter.textron.com/en/aircraft/military/ARH/bellarh-72.pdf

 

[kams]

Operation Yudh Abhyas

Here is the link to some pics of joint Indo-US COIN exercise in Hawaii. Scroll down a bit to see the pics.

Yudh Abyas

 

[aaaditya]

hey guys great news ,indian army is to acquire a squadron of the alh dhruv specifically for it's special forces to be entirely under the command and the operation of the army.

here check out this link and article:

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/newsrf.php?newsid=7263

The Indian Army realised the need to have a dedicated chopper squadron specially trained to operate with the Special forces many years ago.

Now, the wish is about to come true the Special Forces are about to get their own dedicated helicopter squadron.

In 2001 Sierra Leone more than 300 Indian Peacekeepers were be-seiged by RUF Rebels.

An audacious heli-borne rescue mission was launched by the Indian Special Forces. The helicopters used were Chinooks from the SAS.

Very soon the special forces will fly in their own state-of-the-art ALH helicopters.

But what is crucial is that men in Olive Green will be in the cockpit. The Army and the Air Force have had problems in joint services operations in the past.

This specialist squadron now is from the Army's own aviation corps.

"You need the crew to understand what Special Forces operations mean, to identify with the men and so their being from the Army is crucial," said Lt Gen V G Patankar (Retd).

The Army had wanted six heavy-lift helicopters for long distance operations as well but for now even these medium-lift ALHs represent a quantum leap in capacity.

The squadron will soon be deployed in the Kashmir valley to support the para-teams serving there.

"It is a big leap the number of options for the battlefield commanders go up. You can now think of many different methods to achieve your war aims," said General Patankar, retd GOC 15 corps.

This is the first small step in the development of the Indian Special Forces from a tactical force to one, which would give the Army a truly strategic strike option.

 

[aaaditya]

hey guys great news ,india would be supplying ******* equipment to myanmar ,so that india and myanmar can collaborate in flushing out the anti-india groups operating from the myanmar terriotery.

here check out this link:

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/newsrf.php?newsid=7314

India is veering around to accepting Myanmar's request for military hardware and software in return for the military junta's full cooperation in flushing out Indian insurgent groups operating from its soil.

The broad contours of a possible swap were discussed during "a clandestine two-day visit" by ******* secretary Shekhar Dutt to Myanmar last week, say sources.

India, of course, also wants to counter the deep strategic inroads being made by China, as also Pakistan now, into Myanmar.

But importantly, the tentative understanding during Dutt's visit coincided with New Delhi's decision on Saturday to call off the ceasefire with United Liberation Front of Asom, which along with other North-East insurgent groups have long used Myanmar as the staging ground for anti-India operations.

The Indian and Myanmarese armies are also likely to conduct "coordinated operations" along the 1,643-km Indo-Myanmar border to flush out outfits like Ulfa, United National Liberation Front, People's Liberation Army and Kannglei Yawol Kanna Lup, which have set up bases in the thick jungles there.

The Indian Army, in any case, is planning a big operation against Ulfa and other outfits in early-October, with security along the borders with Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar already being stepped up.

Dutt's visit has been kept under wraps because of the West's sensitivity towards engaging with a military regime with a not-so-shining human rights track record and a history of muzzling political dissent.

India, which earlier was squeamish about reaching out to Myanmar, has now shrugged off the old qualms for some hard-nosed realpolitik.

"Dutt's delegation held meetings with virtually all important officials of the ruling military regime there.

The arms supplies discussed include tanks like T-55s (being phased out by Indian Army), armoured personal carriers, 105mm light artillery guns, mortars and even the advanced light helicopters at concessional rates," said sources.

Dutt also reviewed the progress of the different road connectivity projects being undertaken by Border Roads Organisation in conjunction with Myanmar, the only Asean country with which India shares both land and maritime boundaries.

Army chief General J J Singh and Navy chief Admiral Arun Prakash, incidentally, have also visited Myanmar in recent months to bolster bilateral military ties.

Despite British protests, the Navy is also pushing the proposed transfer of three Islander maritime patrol aircraft to Myanmar. But all this comes at a time when Myanmar is getting increasingly isolated internationally.

On September 15, for instance, the UN Security Council added Myanmar to its list of countries deemed to be a threat to international peace and security, with the move being led by US and UK.

US is also pushing for a strong resolution on the ongoing human rights abuses in Myanmar, as exemplified by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi's continued incarceration by the military junta.