Indian Army held artillery demonstration in Nashik

NASHIK: Indian Army today held a spectacular demonstration of its fire power with 155 mm Howitzers blazing and multi-role helicopters displaying their might in the sky at the annual event organised by Artillery Division at Deolali Camp near here.

Under "Exercise Topchi", major artillery guns including 120 mm mortar, 105 mm Indian Field Gun, 155 mm Bofors and multi-barrel rocket launchers were wheeled out by the Artillery Regiment here.

Breathtaking display of operational sortie of multi-role Cheetah and Dhruv helicopters left the audience spellbound with army aviators manning these machines in a daredevil display.

The pilots manoeuvred the helicopters at low-altitude negotiating with trees to conceal their movement under "Nape of the Earth" in the operational parlance.

During the 90-minute display, the choppers airlifted 120-mm mortar guns and carried out air photo missions.

The annual event is organised for the visiting officers of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington (Coimbatore), technical staff officers course, Pune and officers from neighbouring sister training institutions in Pune and Ahmednagar, besides a visiting Nepalese Army delegation.

Lieutenant General V K Narula, Commandant of Artillery School and Colonel Commandant, Artillery Regiment, welcomed the guests and special invitees on the occasion.

Indian Defence Ministry Denies Allegation Of Non-Payment Of Pensionary Benefits To 26/11 NSG Commando

In a press conference today, retired Nk Surender Singh of 2 GRENADIERS and an ex NSG Commando expressed some grievances against the government. These pertained to alleged lack of adequate compensation and financial benefits to those who were killed/injured in the 26/11, Operation Black Tornado in Mumbai. Response with respect to the issues raised is enumerated in succeeding paragraphs.
           
In the 26/11 Mumbai operations, one Officer and one Non Commissioned Officer were martyred and 17 Officers and Other Ranks were injured. Both martyrs Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan and Havildar Gajender Singh were awarded the Ashok Chakra (Posthumous). The NOK of Major Unnikrishnan got a financial compensation of approximately Rs.1.3 Crores and a flat. Similarly, the wife of Havildar Gajender Singh received approximately Rs.1.27 Crore, a petrol pump and a flat. His mother too received Rs.15 Lakhs approximately. Both these personnel also received enhanced pension benefits as applicable in the Army.
           
As regards the injured, there were one Kirti Chakra, two Shourya Chakra, six Sena Medals, one Mention in Despatch and three Chief of the Army Staff Commendation Cards awarded. Four persons with grievous injuries received financial compensation of Rs.4.8 lakh each and others with lesser injuries received Rs.2.3 lakh each.

India Ordnance Factories staff shortages

Indian defense production suffers as Ordnance Factories face staff shortages.

The India Ordnance Factories, producing defense items, said it is finding it difficult to recruit news workers to replenish its aging shop floor personnel.

Analyzing 2012 recruitment data reveals that the Ordnance Factory Board, which manages 41 factories across India, was only able to fill 5,000 of 12,500 semi-skilled worker vacancies.

Sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, familiar with OFB hiring practices said it is a trend that has persisted for several years.

The government is expressing concern that should such trends continue, it could negatively affect armaments production and has provided more money to fill the vacancies, The Times of India reported.

The Indian Ordnance Factories is an industrial conglomerate operating under India's Ministry of Defense's Department of Defense Production and Supplies, producing arms, ammunition and other equipment for military and civilian applications.

India Army goes shopping to replace its small arms

                          Lighter and more lethal guns for soldiers

The army is looking to replace an entire range of small arms used by its foot soldiers with new guns that are lighter and more lethal.

In terms of sheer numbers, the army's plan would translate into buying more than a lakh weapons - a mix of assault rifles, carbines, light machine guns and sniper rifles.

The purchase will come at an estimated price tag of more than Rs 10,000 crore.

The guns are being bought under separate acquisition programmes, which are currently at different levels of a layered process.

The army has been trying to find a replacement for its outlived guns for some time now but without much success.

Army chief General Bikram Singh is hopeful that he would be able to resurrect the projects by providing a fresh impetus.

The most visible sight of a foot soldier carrying the home-made INSAS - slammed for being a poor copy of the Kalashnikov - as standard weapon will fade away in the coming years.

Early next year, the army will begin trials for a new doublebarrel assault rifle.

The competition is among guns manufactured by wellknown global giants Colt, Beretta, Israel Weapon Industries, SIG Sauer and Ceske. Six guns offered by the five vendors have been evaluated for the army's standard infantry weapon in future.

The army is looking for a 5.56mm gun (same as INSAS) as its primary barrel and 7.62x39 (same as AK-56) as its secondary barrel.

The gun will come with a conversion kit so that its configuration can be changed according to requirements in a peace location, and in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in the northeast and Jammu and Kashmir.

If the acquisition process remains on track, the army expects to get the guns by 2014. The government will order 65,000 guns, out of which 59,000 are meant for the army and the rest for the navy.

Indian Army to get its own attack helicopters

In a move that is likely to raise hackles within the Indian Air Force (IAF), the government has decided to allow the Indian Army to acquire its own fleet of attack helicopters.

The decision comes days after IAF chief Air Marshal N A K Browne told reporters on October 5 that it was not possible to have "little air forces". Days later, on October 9, Defence Minister A K Antony, had termed the fight between the IAF and Army over the attack helicopters as a 'family problem'.

National Security Advisor Shiv Shanker Menon had to intervene on behalf of Defence Minister A K Antony in the three year row between the Air Force and the Army over who would own the attack helicopters. After talking to both Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne and Army Chief General Bikram Singh this week, Mr Menon advised the Government that Army should own and operate the medium lift attack helicopters. The first batch of Apache helicopters to be bought from USA programme may go the Indian Army. Currently, India has two squadrons of attack helicopters, Mi-25 and Mi-35, which are maintained and manned by the Indian Air Force but under the operational control of the Indian Army.

The Indian Army has been for long making a case for having its own fleet of attack helicopters. The Army contends that having its own attack helicopters rather than depending on the IAF would give the land forces more power and reach in tactical situations.

It also argued that having its own attack helicopters is integral to the Cold Start Doctrine - designed to cut down the time taken to mobilise troops. Apart from the three strike Corps, Army has now designated its holding corps as the pivot which can launch offensive defence before strike corps take over. Concerned with enormous time taken to mobilise the strike corps after the 2001 terrorist strike on the Indian Parliament - after which India nearly went to war with Pakistan - the Army revised its deployment and operational plans.

Antony throws weight behind indigenous artillery programme

Defence Minister AK Antony on Monday announced that the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) recently gave an approval to the construction of 144 upgraded 155 mm artillery guns by Ordnance Factory Board Jabalpur.

The Defence Minister has thrown his weight behind the indigenous artillery programme just like the indigenous Main Battle Tank Arjun. Speaking on the sidelines of a DRDO award function, Antony said: "I hope after 30 years it proves to be a success. After MBT Arjun we are working towards making the artillery a success."

The .52 guns will be manufactured on the basis of the design transferred by the Bofors in 1986. The designs have since then been gathering dust owing to the taint on these Swedish gun.

The user trials will take place in December.

Indian Helicopters Crash Caught On Camera

Two India - IAF - helicopters crash midair in Gujarat, 9 killed

Nine Indian Air Force personnel were killed on Thursday as two Mi-17 helicopters collided midair and crashed during a practice for a bombing mission at Sarmat range in Jamnagar at 12.05pm.

Two others on board the two helicopters were injured in the crash.

The Mi-17 helicopters are multi-role helicopters.

They are used for transportation of troops and also for bombing mission.

The villagers, who witnessed the accident, said the two choppers collided soon after take off and crashed near the village.

An IAF spokesperson in New Delhi said that a court of inquiry has been ordered to determine the reasons behind the crash.

Indian Small Arms System

Indian INSAS Rifle (5.56 mm) with Fixed and Foldable Butt

INSAS Excalibur Mark-I rifle (5.56 mm)

Defence Minister Antony's top 5 issues concerning the Indian military. What would be yours?

Going by the sequence in which Defence Minister AK Antony raised issues in his Independence Day address to the armed forces today, corruption within the military is its biggest threat… followed by the need to protect human rights during counter-terrorism operations. Equipment modernization came in fifth place.

Here is the order in which Antony raised issues in his speech:

No.1 :  Corruption

No.2 :  Protecting human rights during counter-terrorism ops

No.3 :  Border and coastal security

No.4 :  Welfare of serving and retired soldiers

No.5 :  Equipment modernization

For those who are interested in his exact words, here they are:

No.1 :  Corruption

Corruption is today a serious challenge facing our nation - and our Armed Forces are no exception to the rule. Corruption not only badly affects the morale of the personnel, but also has many other implications. I appeal to each one of you to renew the pledge to work with all the honesty, fairness and transparency at your command in your day-to-day work. Our Armed Forces have been renowned for their hard work, determination, efficiency and discipline. It is our individual duty and collective responsibility to ensure that the excellent work done by our Armed Forces in general, is not undone at any cost.

India: Modernisation of Artillery

The modernization of Artillery is being undertaken on a continuous basis. The following equipment has been inducted / upgraded into the Artillery:-

(i)   Pinaka Rocket System;

(ii)  Smerch Rocket System.

(iii)  BrahMos Missile System.

(iv)  Upgradation of 130mm gun to 155mm /145 calibre.

Procurement action is ongoing for the following gun systems:

(i)   155mm / 39 calibreUltra Light Howitzer.

(ii)  155/45Calibre Gun from Ordnance Factory Board (OFB).

(iii) 155mm / 52 calibre Towed Gun.

(iv) 155mm / 52 calibre Tracked (Self Propelled) Gun.

(v)  155mm / 52 calibre Mounted Gun System.

T-72 tank live firing Indra-2012 Indian Russian Military

To combat terrorism activities and its fighting against the growing danger of terrorist, India and Russia started an anti terrorism military exercise INDRA-2012. The opening of INDRA-2012 military exercise was held in the Siberian republic of Buryatia, Russia

Indian and Mongolian Armies begin joint military exercise

The Indian and Mongolian Armies have started a joint training exercise, code-named Nomadic Elephant at Belgaum in Karnataka, India.

Nomadic Elephant, scheduled to continue for ten days, aims to improve the armies' skills and interoperability while conducting counter-insurgency operations, and further enhance synergy between the two nations.

Unidentified army officials were quoted by Press Trust of India as saying that around 44 specially selected troops of the Indian army's Jat Regiment would take part in the infantry exercise, alongside the Mongolian contingent consisting of 38 soldiers.

Several counter insurgencies and counter terrorism operations will be conducted to help the personnel enhance training infrastructure for UN peacekeeping missions in conflict areas.

Indian Navy Warships Conclude Israeli Visit

  NS Mumbai is one of three Indian built Delhi Class guided missile destroyers currently serving in the Indian navy.

An Indian Navy group comprising four vessels deployed in the Mediterranean Sea visited the Israeli port of Haifa last week, as the two countries celebrate 20 years of diplomatic ties this year. The vessels include the Indian built Delhi Class guided missile destroyer INS Mumbai (D62), the Russian built Talwar Class (Krivak III) class guided missile frigate INS Trishul (F43), Indian built Godavari-Class (Project 16) frigate INS Gomti (F21) and Russian built INS Aditya replenishment and repair ship (A59).
The vessels are part of the Indian navy’s western fleet. The Mediterranean tour of the four warships is being headed by Rear Admiral A R Karve.
Indian warships have regularly paid visits to ports in the West Asia and East Africa, reaffirming their peaceful presence and solidarity with countries in the region; the four-day visit in Israel reaffirms the growing

India is developing a new recovery vehicle based on the new Arjun Mark II main battle tank.

Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) of India , which is developing a new Armoured Repair and Recovery Vehicle, has reached the final stage of the 'complete specification' for the ARRV, a senior scientist said.

The finalisation of complete specification for ARRV is under final stage. We are going in the right direction," the CVRDE scientist told PTI. The new ARRV, a variant of the Arjun Main Battle Tank, is being developed for the Indian Army at the DRDO lab here.

CVRDE will develop two prototypes in the next three years. The hull, including the chassis automative system, will almost be the same as Arjun Mark II and slight modifications will be made to accommodate a crane and a winch since it will be a recovery vehicle, he said.

Russian-Indian INDRA Military Drills to Begin on Sunday

Russia and India will begin joint INDRA-2012 anti-terrorism military exercises in the Siberian republic of Buryatia on Sunday, a spokesman for Russia’s Eastern Military District said.
The drills will be held at the Burduny training range until August 16.
On Sunday, Russian and Indian troops will arrive at the training range and begin preparing for an active phase of the exercises, which will begin on August 13, the spokesman said.
Some 500 servicemen – about 250 on each side – will take part in the drills, which will be conducted using Russian-made combat vehicles.
Since 2003, India and Russia have conducted five INDRA-series joint ground and naval exercises. The last such exercise was held in India in October 2010.
Russia cancelled both INDRA-series ground and naval exercises last year despite an earlier announcement by the Russian General Staff that INDRA drills may be held every year and involve three branches of the armed forces.

India Army conducts successful user trial of BrahMos

In a bid to give a cutting edge to its missile prowess, India today successfully test fired BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from the integrated test range at Chandipur off Odisha coast.
The missile with a flight range of up to 290 km is capable of carrying a conventional warhead of 300 kg, a defence official said, adding the missile, a surface-to- surface Army version, was test fired as part of user trial by the Army.

The cruise missile was test fired from a ground mobile launcher from launch complex-3 of ITR at about 1030 hours and all data was retrieved for analysis, defence sources said.

"It was an experimental flight and the missile was tested successfully," ITR Director M V K V Prasad said. The two-stage missile, the first one being solid and the second one ramjet liquid propellant, has already been inducted into the Army and Navy and the Air-Force version is in final stage of trial, he said.

While induction of the first version of sophisticated Brahmos missile system in the Indian Navy commenced from 2005 with INS Rajput, it is now fully operational with two regiments of the Army.

Army called out in violence-torn Assam

The Army was called out in Assam on Tuesday after the situation in the violence-torn Kokrajhar, Chirang and Dhubri districts deteriorated. The rail link between the State and the rest of the country got snapped and miscreants among Bodos and Muslims torched houses in a large number of villages.

In a serious humanitarian crisis, more than 1,70,000 people have taken shelter in 121 relief camps.

Assam Home Secretary G.D. Tripathi told an Indian newspaper that the Defence Ministry had cleared the deployment of the Army in the three districts after the State made the request, as sought by the administration of these districts.

He said the death toll had gone up to 32, including five who were killed in confrontation with the police. Of the 121 relief camps opened in the three districts, 88 were set up in Kokrajhar district.

In another incident, miscreants stoned the Guwahati-bound Rajdhani Express at Srirampur in Kokrajhar district, damaging four coaches. The train was pulled back to New Coochbehar in West Bengal.

A series of trials of anti-tank Nag missile - Nag series trials for 18 days from Tuesday

A series of trials of anti-tank Nag missile, with focus on the performance of a modified Namica (Nag Missile Carrier) in harsh desert conditions, will be conducted in the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan between July 24 and August 10.

The induction of the third generation missile that has a ‘top attack and fire-and-forget’ capability and four-km range was delayed, with the Army seeking several changes in the specially-designed Namica, which can hold 12 missiles, with eight of them in ready-to-fire mode.

As many as eight missiles would be fired during the trials from two reconfigured Namica vehicles, both developed by Larsen & Toubro and Bharat Electronics Limited, according to DRDO sources involved in the project.

The weight of a reconfigured Namica has been reduced from 16.5 tonnes to 15 tonnes to improve its mobility and amphibious performance. Another important feature is its buoyancy, which is now equivalent to a BMP-2, an infantry fighting vehicle.

This time around, high-end, stabilised Electro-Optical Systems (EOS) have replaced the fixed ones. While one of them is meant for target acquisition by the gunner, the other system will function dedicatedly to provide an independent “panoramic sight” for the surveillance of the crew commander. Earlier, there was only a single fixed sight for the gunner.

India Army Goes Shopping For New Assault Rifles

The Indian Ministry of Defence has issued a tender for the import of 66,000 5.56 mm assault rifle for an estimated $250 million (Rs 13,000 crore) to replace the locally-designed Indian Small Arms System 5.56 mm AR, which the army has reluctantly employed since the mid-1990s.


The Request for Proposal dispatched to over 40 overseas vendors last month -- with bids to be submitted by mid-Feb 2012 -- requires the 3.66 kg AR's to convert to 7.62x39 mm and be fitted with Picatiny Rail-mounted reflex sights.

The ARs would also need to be equipped with under-barrel grenade launchers and be able to fire locally-produced ammunition.


The RfP also mandates a transfer of technology to the State-owned Ordnance Factory Board to locally make the ARs of which the eventual requirement is expected to be around 2 million for the army, the central paramilitary forces and state police in a massive programme estimated at $2-3 billion.

Armament industry officials, however, said that the exclusion of the private sector from this potential contract was at variance with the MoD's much publicised aim of privatising the monopolistic State-run military-industrial sector.

The imported ARs would supplant the INSAS 5.56 mm AR, which the army had inducted into service some 15 years and employed in counter-insurgency operations but consistently found it operationally inadequate.

The army's association with the INSAS AR programme has been turbulent and problematic.

For long it had objected to the Defence Research and Development Organisation-designed and OFB-built INSAS 5.56 mm AR introduced into service in the mid-1990s to replace the heavier and outmoded range of 7.62mm FNFAL self-loading rifles.

But despite protestations centred round the INSAS ARs sights that malfunctioned in cold regions and its firing mechanism that jammed at critical times, the army was 'persuaded' by the MoD to induct the rifle that took the DRDO nearly a decade to design and the OFB another four to build.