Indian Army News and Discussion

[shag]

umm 99' prices??
Have you seen the inflation lately?

 

[dragonfire]

Indian Army to Induct more than 100,000 new soldiers for its eastern Borders

Army likely to recruit one lakh soldiers for China border

NEW DELHI: Faced with growing Chinese military presence along the border and other complex security challenges in the region, the government is planning to increase the strength of the Indian Army by almost one lakh soldiers over the next five years.

Authoritative sources told TOI that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has approved a Rs 64,000-crore (approximately $13 billion) military modernization plan that would include raising four new divisions along the India-China border. Two of these would be part of a Mountain Strike Corps dedicated to offensive operations. The plan also includes raising two independent brigades, one in Ladakh and the other in Uttarakhand.

Army likely to recruit one lakh soldiers for China border - The Times of India.

In the 11th Five Year Plan -2 New divisions were approved for the same region - 36k troops and now 4 New Divisions are planned for the 12th Five Year plan (2012-2017). Apart from the manpower increase a Comprehensive Modernisation package is being mooted for Infrastructure development, development and modernisation of the Army's and Air Force's capabilities in the region and also the Tri-Services command in Andaman is getting additional manpower as well.

 

[Twinblade]

Exercise Yudh Abhyas: US tanks to roll on Indian soil - Hindustan Times

Seems like this year's Indo-American exercise "Yudh Abhyas" (war exercise) will be focussed on infantry and armour vis-a-vis SF operations in the last one.

 

[Eeshaan]

Seems like things on the the Indo-Chinese border are going to get alot more interesting in the near future :

India preparing for

Seems that although a major engagement is not forseeable, there might be a smaller-scale clash on the border. Both India and China are now flexing their muscles.

There's also the issue of China's aggressive posture in the Indian Ocean.

 

[alexkvaskov]

I'm wondering what role Pakistan plays in Indian defense planning against China.
I doubt Pakistan would get involved in border skirmishes between China and India, but what would their actions be in a more serious conflict between its neighbors?

 

[dragonfire]

I'm wondering what role Pakistan plays in Indian defense planning against China

Indian Military planners have stated about having a 2 front war eventuality having been planned for vis-a-via Pakistan and China

I doubt Pakistan would get involved in border skirmishes between China and India, but what would their actions be in a more serious conflict between its neighbors?

This is a touchy subject suggest no further exploration as it would lead to disruption of the thread. However categorically it can be stated that while India was engaged in warfare with Pakistan in 1947, 1965, 1971 and a limited engagement in 1999; there was no overt Chinese involvement and When India and China were engaged in 1962, there was no overt Pakistani involvement either.

 

[dragonfire]

19 Indian Army Soldiers Killed and 3 Missing in Avalanches in Northern Kashmir. Two killer avalanches hit the districts in Northern Kashmir and a third avalanche did not cost any life but destroyed about a dozen un-occupied huttments . Rescue attempts are on and atleast 16 soldier were rescued

20 Indian soldiers killed in Kashmir avalanches | Kashmir | South Asian News Agency

RIP for the lost souls

 

[Twinblade]

The army has finally given the green light to induction on NAMICA, nag missile carrier based on BMP-2 design and Nag missile. It isn't confirmed which one of the competing system has been selected, L&T's or BEL's. The Nag missile's indigenous focal plane array for infrared imaging seems to be lacking performance at high temperatures of Thar desert where the missile has been restricted to 2.5 km range. It is cleared for full 4 km elsewhere. For the time being an FPA will be imported from France and integrated before year end, till the indigenous FPA matures.

Indian Army and DRDO co-operate to boost tank-killer Nag missile

Indian Army and DRDO co-operate to boost tank-killer Nag missile
By Ajai Shukla / New Delhi Jul 15, 2012, 00:06 IST


The defence ministry’s (MoD’s) ambitious project to develop a world-class tank-killer missile has run into unanticipated trouble. But, encouragingly, instead of the customary blame game between the Army and the development agency—the Defence Reserach & Development Organisation (DRDO)—there is cooperation and a joint effort to overcome the problem.
The problem with the DRDO’s anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), christened the Nag (Hindi for cobra), is its range. For most of the day and night, the Nag unerringly strikes its targets out to four kilometres, the range that the army demands. But in extreme heat, especially in summer afternoons in the desert, the missile cannot pick up targets beyond 2.5 kilometres. Once the temperature cools, the Nag’s seeker differentiates again between the target and surrounding objects (or ground clutter).

Meanwhile, the army, which is lagging behind the rest of the forces has put up a demand for whopping 180 billion dollars for modernization in the next five years.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Army seeks Rs 10 lakh crore ($179.75 billion) for modernization in next 5 years
Facing severe “hollowness” in its military preparation, the Indian Army has projected a requirement of Rs. 10 lakh crore for modernization under the 12th defence five year plan beginning 2012.

Major procurements of the Indian Army have been in limbo for years now owing to sluggish defence procedures adversely impacting the fighting capabilities of the force. Ammunition, aviation, air defence, night vision devices and artillery remain critical areas.

According to sources, the projected requirement will be met over a span of five budgets. The New Army Chief General Bikram Singh had already made it clear that modernization will remain his top priority and the projection was given before the beginning of his Nepal visit.

The proposal will have to get a nod from the Finance Ministry and the prevailing economic conditions will make it a herculean task. Sources indicate that the Finance Ministry is likely to allocate scaled down budgets. Out of the total defence budget of Rs 1.93 lakh crore for the financial year of 2012-13 the Indian Army has got Rs. 96, 564 crore, only a meager 24 percent of it – Rs. 13,803 crores - will be spent in buying new weapons and platforms. Defence Minister AK Antony had assured to seek an additional budget of Rs. 50,000 crore for the current financial year. But the plan has now been put on hold due to the sluggish economic growth of the country.



The Indian Army has been planning to raise two mountain strike divisions to be deployed along Indo-China border in the North-East that alone is estimated to cost around Rs. 60,000 crore and complete the infrastructure development in the Eastern Army Command that will cost the Army’s coffers around Rs.10,000 crore. The Indian Army has also envisaged spending close to Rs. 40,000 crore for equipping its mechanized infantry and tanks with night fighting capabilities.

Moreover, the Army wants to have a squadron each of attack/armed, reconnaissance and tactical battle-support helicopters for each of its 13 Corps and the three strike corps headquartered at Mathura, Ambala and Bhopal will get more air assets.

defence eXpress: Army seeks Rs 10 lakh crore for modernization in next 5 years

 

[Twinblade]

http://drdo.gov.in/drdo/pub/nl/2012/NL_August_2012_web.pdf

F-INSAS update from the DRDO newsletter :-

DG Infantry, DG RR and other senior officers of Army HQ , witnessed the demonstration of Integrated Computer, Communication and Software System (ICCS) and Software Defined Radio (SDR) being developed by Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR) and Defence Electronics Application Laboratory (DEAL), two of the electronic cluster laboratories of DRDO with BEL as the Production Agency. The presentation cum-demonstration was organised by Directorate of Interaction with Services for Business (DISB), DRDO HQ with the help of PMO Futuristic Infantry Solider as a System (F-INSAS), Army HQ; CAIR and DEAL on 19 June 2012 at Brigade HQ, Delhi, under the guidance of Shri S Sundaresh, DS and CC R&D (ACE&SI), CC
R&D (ECS) and Shri VS Mahalingam, DS and Director, CAIR. The following important functionalities and hardware of F-INSAS, ICCS and SDR were demonstrated:

(i) Role-based functionalities of Coy Cdr, Platoon Cdr, Sector Cdr, and Soldier comprising common operation picture over GIS backdrop; situational awareness over GIS backdrop; blue force tracking; mission planning and task execution; integration of military symbols; integrated message management (pre-formatted and free text); biometric authentication; and physiological monitoring display and dissemination.
(ii) Hardware, manufactured by BEL with embedded software developed by CAIR comprising Commander data terminal; wrist display and authentication; planning display and authentication; navigation (GPS, DRM and DMC); hand-held IP radio (prototype with limited range of operation up to 100 m) with ad hoc network; centralised power pack and power management (14.8 V, 10 Ah); target acquisition sub-system; hand-held target acquisition sub-system; physiological monitoring sub-system; cable concealed in harness; thin film solar panel; battery charger (AC-DC, DC-DC and solar); and hand crank generator.
(iii) SDR developed by DEAL (manufactured by BEL) comprising voice, data and video transmission over live SDR links.

PS:-
ICCS: Integrated Command and Control System
SDR: Software defined radio

 

[Feanor]

Two new secondary contracts regarding the T-90S have been signed, one for the purchase of 20 000 guided tank munitions (10 000 Invar guided shells, and 10 000 Konkurs-M ATGMs).

ÀÐÌÑ-ÒÀÑÑ

The other is for the purchase and installations of Sozvezdie-2M digital C4I elements on to the T-90S. The Sozvezdie is being developed as the next-gen command and control system for the Russian military, but the current variant was rejected after it was tried at the Caucus-2012 exercises and found lacking. Deliveries are set to start in 2013, but other details are lacking.

Gur Khan attacks!:
Lenta.ru:

 

[RobWilliams]

Boeing seems fairly confident that it'll sign the contract with India for Chinooks and Apaches

Boeing to clinch $2.4 billion Indian deal: report | Aviation & Air Force News at DefenceTalk

Boeing looks set to win military contracts worth $2.4 billion from India for its Chinook and Apache helicopters, a report said Monday.

Dow Jones Newswires, quoting an unidentified Indian Air Force official, said commercial negotiations would begin soon for the purchase of 15 Chinook CH-47F heavy-lift helicopters and 22 AH-64D Block III Apache helicopters.

The transaction would mark a big shift for India away from its traditional supplier Russia.

Boeing’s twin-rotor Chinook was chosen recently as the preferred bidder over Russia-based MiL Moscow Helicopter Plant’s Mi-26, while the Apache was selected over the Mi-28, Dow Jones reported.

It quoted another person familiar with the matter as saying the Chinook deal was estimated at $1 billion while the Apache deal was worth $1.4 billion.

There was no immediate comment available from the Indian Air Force or Boeing.

Nice consolation prize for the US after missing out on MMRCA. But this is just speculation at the end of the day without a comment from the IAF or Boeing either confirming or denying.

 

[dragonfire]

Boeing seems fairly confident that it'll sign the contract with India for Chinooks and Apaches

Boeing to clinch $2.4 billion Indian deal: report | Aviation & Air Force News at DefenceTalk



Nice consolation prize for the US after missing out on MMRCA. But this is just speculation at the end of the day without a comment from the IAF or Boeing either confirming or denying.

The costs work out to 63 Million USD for the Apaches and 66 Million USD for the Chinooks, as a per unit cost. Even if this is including training, parts etc etc it is still too costly IMHO

Didnt expect the Chinook to cost more than the Apaches as well Considering the Apache deal could include the weapons packages ( yeah hellfire )

 

[dragonfire]

The Indian Army Chief has stated that he is looking for a squadron of Attack Helicopters (10 to 12 helos) to be assigned to each of the three Strike Corps. In addition to which he is also looking for 114 Choppers for the 10 'Pivot' Strike Corps. The HAL LCH has an order book of 114 nos from the IA so logic dictates that the Army is looking at the Apaches for its Strike Corps which means 30 to 36 choppers which stands for an additional order for upto 14 Apaches.

 

[dragonfire]

'Spike' Selected as the new ATGM for IA

A decision has been made to acquire the Israeli Spike missile for the ATGM role for the Indian Army. The two contenders were the Spike and the American Javelin missile. The order will be for 8356 missiles and 321 lauchers. Also cleared is the acquisition of 362 IFVs.

Details in the link below

Government gives Rs. 80,000 cr boost to Indian defence - daily.bhaskar.com.

Now only if the government clears additional Arjun Mark I & II orders and additional Apaches.

 

[Adioz]

Army needs helicopters..........not tanks

I think money should not be wasted on buying any more Arjun mk-1 and 2s.
No offence, I think Arjun mk 2 has potential, but it is not the need of the hour. The tank should suffice as a technology demonstrator which will help in the development of the FMBT.
Coming back on the need of the hour, its China that the army's sole focus should be. Considering the fact that tanks would be pretty much useless in the Himalayan terrains, it would be a waste to spend any more money on them. Though the raising of the mountain strike corps and the acquisition program for new artillery is a step in the right direction, the primary goal should be the ability to defend properly. If we think in that direction, Close Air Support (CAS) is a must. In mountains, this means attack helicopters. The current decision to extend such a support only to the mountain strike corps being raised is flawed as the defending forces will also need such support and the current number of attack helicopters planned will be grossly inadequate.
Another big requirement is medium-lift transport helicopters (such as Mi-17 v5) capable of transporting supplies to - say in the event of a war with China - to encircled Indian troops on mountain tops (with adequate CAS choppers as an escort). From what I have read, the Chinese encircled Indian troops by bypassing them and avoiding direct contact in the war of 1962 (in places), much the same way in which Indians advanced towards Dhaka in the 1971 war with Pakistan. Also given that the Chinese have stationed airborne elements along the Indo-China border, land supply routes would be extremely vulnerable.
The SAM cover being provided by the Army Air Defence (AAD) might also need a big boost. A lot is riding on who would gain the air superiority over the mountains. Given that India does not have enough airfields, ramping up the SAM network presence is a viable option.
On the subject of artillery, Ultra-light howitzers are a good choice, but only for the strike corps. Regular mountain formations need regular howitzers. Also I don't think, rocket artillery in large numbers would be too useful.
This article is open for critics to review and comment upon.
:duel