NEW DELHI: Indian soldiers armed with hand-held computers or wrist-band display units, "smart" vests packed with sensors, integrated ballistic helmets with "heads-up display", miniature radio and GPS systems and, of course, deadly firepower with laser-guided modular weapon systems. Seems straight out of a sci-fi film? It may, at this point in time.
But, away from the razzmatazz of acquiring fighter jets, submarines and missiles, India is also now finally looking to equip its humble foot-soldiers with advanced weaponry and gadgets for the conflicts of future.
The defence ministry has now floated a global RFI (request for information) for procuring " integrated computer and communication systems (ICCS)" for infantry soldiers, who constitute well over one-third of the 1.13-million strong Army.
This is in keeping with the eventual aim to gradually transform soldiers into high-tech, networked, self-contained killing machines under the Army's overall F-INSAS (future infantry soldier as a system) plan, cost of which will run into thousands of crores.
Though the plan was to implement F-INSAS across all the 359 infantry battalions by 2020, it has suffered from some delays. "But it's on the right track. First, we will carry out systems development and integration, followed by user-trials by two infantry brigades. Finally, the F-INSAS project will be fielded for the entire infantry," said a senior officer.
Army chief General V K Singh himself has identified "transformation into an agile, lethal and networked force, which is capability-based to meet the future challenges", as one of his top-priority areas.
Under the ICCS, infantry battalions will be equipped with "soldier-wearable" computers, radios and GPS, backed by central power pack modules and battle-load carrier vests.
The computer module, for instance, will include data terminals for senior commanders, portable planning boards for commanders and wrist displays for soldiers. This will ensure soldiers are able to receive, store and transmit complex voice, data and video signals for advanced "situational awareness".
"ICCS must have the ability to accept and present real-time information provided by C4I (command, control, communication, computer and intelligence) tools," says the RFI.
"Soldiers should have the ability to exchange pertinent information up and laterally across the chain of command under all environmental and climatic conditions," it adds.
All these taken together will bolster the soldier's "lethality, survivability, sustainability, mobility and situational awareness" in the digitised battlefield. There are even plans to also equip each infantry section of 10-12 soldiers with a "robotic mule", which apart from helping them carry additional load will also be mounted with remotely-activated weapon systems for concentrated firepower.
thanks to bala of BR, he took this pic. 
