sudhir007
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Indian Army News & Discussions
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RPK
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Indian Army training yacht here for refuelling
An Indian Army Training Yacht named “Trishna,” which set sail from Cochin, arrived at the Colombo Port on Saturday for a refueling halt. The vessel Commanded by Colonel Deepak Berry is comprised of five Officers and one Probationary Officer and is used for training Indian Army personnel. Officers of the Indian yacht paid a courtesy visit on Director General Operations, Rear Admiral SMJ Perera and Deputy Area Commander-Western Naval Area, Commodore D.E.C Jayakody. Defence Attache to the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka Captain Pradeep Singh too was present at the occasion.
An Indian Army Training Yacht named “Trishna,” which set sail from Cochin, arrived at the Colombo Port on Saturday for a refueling halt. The vessel Commanded by Colonel Deepak Berry is comprised of five Officers and one Probationary Officer and is used for training Indian Army personnel. Officers of the Indian yacht paid a courtesy visit on Director General Operations, Rear Admiral SMJ Perera and Deputy Area Commander-Western Naval Area, Commodore D.E.C Jayakody. Defence Attache to the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka Captain Pradeep Singh too was present at the occasion.
Justin Joseph
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Singapore's State Minister for Defence Visits Bilateral Armour Exercise in India
08:01 GMT, March 29, 2010 Minister of State for Defence, Associate Professor (A/P) Koo Tsai Kee, visited troops from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the Indian Army participating in an annual bilateral armour exercise, codenamed Bold Kurukshetra, at the Babina Field Firing Range in central India this morning. A/P Koo also observed a live-firing exercise involving the SAF's BIONIX Infantry Fighting Vehicle and BRONCO All-Terrain Tracked Carrier, and the Indian Army's BMP-2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle and T-72 Main Battle Tank.
Soldiers from the 46th Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment and 27th Armoured Brigade of the Indian Army participated in this year's exercise which ran from 1 to 27 Mar 2010. This was the sixth in the Bold Kurukshetra series of exercises between the two armed forces. Exercise Bold Kurukshetra provides a valuable opportunity for the two armies to enhance mutual understanding and interoperability.
A/P Koo's visit to India underscores the warm defence relations between the two countries, whose armed forces interact regularly through policy dialogues, visits, courses and exercises. Besides the Army, the Republic of Singapore Navy and Republic of Singapore Air Force also exercise regularly with their Indian counterparts.
defence.professionals | defpro.com
08:01 GMT, March 29, 2010 Minister of State for Defence, Associate Professor (A/P) Koo Tsai Kee, visited troops from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the Indian Army participating in an annual bilateral armour exercise, codenamed Bold Kurukshetra, at the Babina Field Firing Range in central India this morning. A/P Koo also observed a live-firing exercise involving the SAF's BIONIX Infantry Fighting Vehicle and BRONCO All-Terrain Tracked Carrier, and the Indian Army's BMP-2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle and T-72 Main Battle Tank.
Soldiers from the 46th Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment and 27th Armoured Brigade of the Indian Army participated in this year's exercise which ran from 1 to 27 Mar 2010. This was the sixth in the Bold Kurukshetra series of exercises between the two armed forces. Exercise Bold Kurukshetra provides a valuable opportunity for the two armies to enhance mutual understanding and interoperability.
A/P Koo's visit to India underscores the warm defence relations between the two countries, whose armed forces interact regularly through policy dialogues, visits, courses and exercises. Besides the Army, the Republic of Singapore Navy and Republic of Singapore Air Force also exercise regularly with their Indian counterparts.
defence.professionals | defpro.com
RPK
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Pakistani intruder held in Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer: A Pakistani intruder was Tuesday arrested by the Border Security Force from Kishangarh locality of this Rajasthan district.
According to a BSF spokesman, the Pakistani national has been identified as Javad Ashraf. He is under interrogation.
However, no incriminating document was recovered from him, the spokesman added.
The BSF personnel had yesterday shot dead a Pakistani intruder near the Indo-Pak border in Samba district
Jaisalmer: A Pakistani intruder was Tuesday arrested by the Border Security Force from Kishangarh locality of this Rajasthan district.
According to a BSF spokesman, the Pakistani national has been identified as Javad Ashraf. He is under interrogation.
However, no incriminating document was recovered from him, the spokesman added.
The BSF personnel had yesterday shot dead a Pakistani intruder near the Indo-Pak border in Samba district
RPK
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Lt Gen V K Singh to take over as 26th Army chief tomorrow - India - The Times of India
NEW DELHI: Lt Gen V K Singh, the senior most infantry officer with vast experience in counter-insurgency operations and the present GOC-in-C of Eastern Command, will take over as the next Army chief here tomorrow.
59-year-old Singh will take over from Gen Deepak Kapoor, who retired from service today.
He will be the 26th chief and will stay at the helm of the 1.13 million personnel-strong Army for over two years.
The defence ministry had on January 23 issued the order appointing Singh for the top post after the Cabinet Committee on Appointments cleared his name a day earlier.
Singh was in the news recently when he recommended action against four General-ranked officers indicted by a probe in the Sukna land scam in Darjeeling district of West Bengal.
A third generation officer from the Rajput regiment, Singh is a graduate of the Wellington-based Defence Services Staff College as well as the US Army War College at Carlisle. He also did a Rangers Course at Fort Benning in the US.
The new chief belongs to the Rajput Regiment just as Field Marshal K M Cariappa, the first Indian to become the Army chief in 1949.
Singh was commissioned in the Rajput Regiment in June 1970 and commanded the same unit when it was positioned along the Line of Control with Pakistan.
Experienced in counter-insurgency, Line of Control and high altitude operations, Singh was awarded the Yudh Sena Medal for his distinguished service during 'Operation Pawan' against the LTTE in Sri Lanka.
Singh, who has seen action in the 1971 Bangladesh war, also served in the Military Operations Directorate at the Army Headquarters and was Brigadier General Staff of a Corps during 'Operation Parakram' when troops were mobilised on the border in the wake of the 2001 terror attack on Parliament.
He also commanded the Jalandhar-based 11 Corps and Ambala-based Strike Corps and was an instructor in the Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT) headquarters in Bhutan.
Singh was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) for distinguished service while commanding a counter-insurgency force.
Singh will be the 24th Indian to be the Army chief, as the first two Indian Army chiefs were British officers General Sir Robert Lockhart and General Sir Roy Bucher.
The Indian Army has so far had 14 Infantry, six Armoured and five artillery officers, including Gen Kapoor, as its chiefs.
NEW DELHI: Lt Gen V K Singh, the senior most infantry officer with vast experience in counter-insurgency operations and the present GOC-in-C of Eastern Command, will take over as the next Army chief here tomorrow.
59-year-old Singh will take over from Gen Deepak Kapoor, who retired from service today.
He will be the 26th chief and will stay at the helm of the 1.13 million personnel-strong Army for over two years.
The defence ministry had on January 23 issued the order appointing Singh for the top post after the Cabinet Committee on Appointments cleared his name a day earlier.
Singh was in the news recently when he recommended action against four General-ranked officers indicted by a probe in the Sukna land scam in Darjeeling district of West Bengal.
A third generation officer from the Rajput regiment, Singh is a graduate of the Wellington-based Defence Services Staff College as well as the US Army War College at Carlisle. He also did a Rangers Course at Fort Benning in the US.
The new chief belongs to the Rajput Regiment just as Field Marshal K M Cariappa, the first Indian to become the Army chief in 1949.
Singh was commissioned in the Rajput Regiment in June 1970 and commanded the same unit when it was positioned along the Line of Control with Pakistan.
Experienced in counter-insurgency, Line of Control and high altitude operations, Singh was awarded the Yudh Sena Medal for his distinguished service during 'Operation Pawan' against the LTTE in Sri Lanka.
Singh, who has seen action in the 1971 Bangladesh war, also served in the Military Operations Directorate at the Army Headquarters and was Brigadier General Staff of a Corps during 'Operation Parakram' when troops were mobilised on the border in the wake of the 2001 terror attack on Parliament.
He also commanded the Jalandhar-based 11 Corps and Ambala-based Strike Corps and was an instructor in the Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT) headquarters in Bhutan.
Singh was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) for distinguished service while commanding a counter-insurgency force.
Singh will be the 24th Indian to be the Army chief, as the first two Indian Army chiefs were British officers General Sir Robert Lockhart and General Sir Roy Bucher.
The Indian Army has so far had 14 Infantry, six Armoured and five artillery officers, including Gen Kapoor, as its chiefs.
RPK
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Indian Army chief V.K. Singh Marks For Modernization
Reflecting on the current challenges, Lieutenant General V.K. Singh, who is appointed as the new Indian Army Chief has cited that to make the defense operational activities more powerfully impactful the artillery modernization programme needs to be updated.
This is the significant factor which has not been concentrated for years and has developed a major setback in operational activities that has left the forces handicap with limitations.
The new Indian Army Chief is a graduate of the US Army Infantry School at Georgia in the US and is an alumnus the Wellington-based Defence Services Staff College, the Mhow-based Army War College and the US Army War College, Carlisle.
Recipient of the Param Vishist Seva Medal, the Ati Vishist Seva Medal and Yudh Seva Medal, considered as one of the honorary ADCs of the president of India, who is the supreme commander of the armed forces.
He sighted due to 1980’s Bofors payoff scandal it has impacted upon the weapon purchases and thus the army is now left with just about half of the 410 Bofors guns, with normal wear and tear and cannibalization.
Now after past half decades the government needs to reflect for its renovation in machinery equipments for the Indian army and should be empowered with $647 million benefit to access 145 M777 155mm ultra light-weight howitzers with Laser Inertial Artillery Pointing Systems (LINAPS) manufactured by BAE Systems .
To this view of Singh, the defense ministry gave a go-ahead signal for field trials of the towed guns but with a caution of the Bofors charges. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) that developed the Arjun had notified that the army should be given the privilege to go for sophisticated weapons in return to their decades-old effort.
Emphasizing the government to help purchase intermediate-range helicopters and short- and medium-range air defense systems for air operation as well as for further facilities for the ground operation to combat in night efficiently with night-vision sights and thermal imaging systems for tanks.
Reflecting on the current challenges, Lieutenant General V.K. Singh, who is appointed as the new Indian Army Chief has cited that to make the defense operational activities more powerfully impactful the artillery modernization programme needs to be updated.
This is the significant factor which has not been concentrated for years and has developed a major setback in operational activities that has left the forces handicap with limitations.
The new Indian Army Chief is a graduate of the US Army Infantry School at Georgia in the US and is an alumnus the Wellington-based Defence Services Staff College, the Mhow-based Army War College and the US Army War College, Carlisle.
Recipient of the Param Vishist Seva Medal, the Ati Vishist Seva Medal and Yudh Seva Medal, considered as one of the honorary ADCs of the president of India, who is the supreme commander of the armed forces.
He sighted due to 1980’s Bofors payoff scandal it has impacted upon the weapon purchases and thus the army is now left with just about half of the 410 Bofors guns, with normal wear and tear and cannibalization.
Now after past half decades the government needs to reflect for its renovation in machinery equipments for the Indian army and should be empowered with $647 million benefit to access 145 M777 155mm ultra light-weight howitzers with Laser Inertial Artillery Pointing Systems (LINAPS) manufactured by BAE Systems .
To this view of Singh, the defense ministry gave a go-ahead signal for field trials of the towed guns but with a caution of the Bofors charges. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) that developed the Arjun had notified that the army should be given the privilege to go for sophisticated weapons in return to their decades-old effort.
Emphasizing the government to help purchase intermediate-range helicopters and short- and medium-range air defense systems for air operation as well as for further facilities for the ground operation to combat in night efficiently with night-vision sights and thermal imaging systems for tanks.
RPK
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Punjab Regiment battalion celebrates its tricentenary
The 16th Battalion of the Punjab Regiment of Indian Army, celebrated its 300th Raising Day at Tibri Cantonment near Gurdaspur in Punjab on Tuesday.
A large number of retired and serving officers and other ranks of the battalion, travelled from all over the country to participate in the memorable event. The retired officers were glad to meet their former friends at the gala reunion of the regiment.
"When Pakistan wanted to capture Kashmir (in 1947), our battalion (16th Btn) did an exemplary job. In that battle, our battalion won the highest number of gallantry awards as compared to the other regiments. They won eight Mahavir Chakras and 25 Vir Chakras, both gallantry awards," said Major General (retired) S P S Sidhu of the Punjab Regiment.
To mark the occasion a number of events, including an exhibition, were organised.
The 16th Battalion represents the legacy of honour, courage and devotion to duty, which are the hallmarks of the Indian Army.
"All the serving and former officers of the battalion have come to participate in the tricentenary celebrations. An exhibition has been staged to showcase the arms and ammunition used by the battalion during 300 years and its glorious legacy. The display of guns, machine, arms and ammunition has been inspirational," noted Rachna Kehra, a visitor.
The 16th Battalion of Punjab Regiment was raised as a part of the Royal State of Patiala Forces on March 31, 1710 by Baba Ala Singh, regarded as the founder of Patiala state. (ANI)
The 16th Battalion of the Punjab Regiment of Indian Army, celebrated its 300th Raising Day at Tibri Cantonment near Gurdaspur in Punjab on Tuesday.
A large number of retired and serving officers and other ranks of the battalion, travelled from all over the country to participate in the memorable event. The retired officers were glad to meet their former friends at the gala reunion of the regiment.
"When Pakistan wanted to capture Kashmir (in 1947), our battalion (16th Btn) did an exemplary job. In that battle, our battalion won the highest number of gallantry awards as compared to the other regiments. They won eight Mahavir Chakras and 25 Vir Chakras, both gallantry awards," said Major General (retired) S P S Sidhu of the Punjab Regiment.
To mark the occasion a number of events, including an exhibition, were organised.
The 16th Battalion represents the legacy of honour, courage and devotion to duty, which are the hallmarks of the Indian Army.
"All the serving and former officers of the battalion have come to participate in the tricentenary celebrations. An exhibition has been staged to showcase the arms and ammunition used by the battalion during 300 years and its glorious legacy. The display of guns, machine, arms and ammunition has been inspirational," noted Rachna Kehra, a visitor.
The 16th Battalion of Punjab Regiment was raised as a part of the Royal State of Patiala Forces on March 31, 1710 by Baba Ala Singh, regarded as the founder of Patiala state. (ANI)
sudhir007
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Carl Zeiss signs licensing agreement – first optics already delivered
23:00 GMT, March 31, 2010 Carl Zeiss Optronics GmbH, the defense wing of the Carl Zeiss Group, has signed a licensing agreement with Indian company Optic Electronic (India) Private Limited in New Delhi for the production of red dot sights. The company had already ordered 15,000 red dot sights from the traditional German company for Indian armed forces.
“We impressed the Indian military with the quality of our products and expect to produce up to 400,000 red dot sights through the licensed production in India,” says Ralf Klädtke, President and CEO of Carl Zeiss Optronics.
Currently, experts from Carl Zeiss are training Indian specialists in Wetzlar to monitor production in the future. Red dot sights from Carl Zeiss are standard optics on the G36 rifles used by the German Army. The cooperation with Carl Zeiss was initiated by the Indian armed forces.
defence.professionals | defpro.com
23:00 GMT, March 31, 2010 Carl Zeiss Optronics GmbH, the defense wing of the Carl Zeiss Group, has signed a licensing agreement with Indian company Optic Electronic (India) Private Limited in New Delhi for the production of red dot sights. The company had already ordered 15,000 red dot sights from the traditional German company for Indian armed forces.
“We impressed the Indian military with the quality of our products and expect to produce up to 400,000 red dot sights through the licensed production in India,” says Ralf Klädtke, President and CEO of Carl Zeiss Optronics.
Currently, experts from Carl Zeiss are training Indian specialists in Wetzlar to monitor production in the future. Red dot sights from Carl Zeiss are standard optics on the G36 rifles used by the German Army. The cooperation with Carl Zeiss was initiated by the Indian armed forces.
defence.professionals | defpro.com
Justin Joseph
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When the army chief did a cameo in Bollywood
Sandeep Unnithan
April 3, 2010
It's a tense scene. Terrorists are holding a bus load of school kids hostage. Far away in the commando training school, a brigadier is briefing one of his key officers, Major Chauhan, on the rescue mission.
"We have some slides of the area, Colonel VK Singh will explain it to you," he says.
General Screen grab of General VK Singh in Prahaar.
The Major Chauhan in question is Nana Patekar who also directed the film Prahaar two decades ago.
The grim, square-jawed Colonel VK Singh, is now General Vijay Kumar Singh, the new chief of the army staff. A mention of the small non-speaking cameo which hangs for a few seconds in the film, elicits a grin from the army chief who was an instructor at the Indian army's commando training centre in Belgaum in 1990.
"They were shooting the film in the centre and wanted a real officer to sit in the scene," says General Singh, the first commando to become army chief.
When the army chief did a cameo in Bollywood: India Today - Latest Breaking News from India, World, Business, Cricket, Sports, Bollywood.
Sandeep Unnithan
April 3, 2010
It's a tense scene. Terrorists are holding a bus load of school kids hostage. Far away in the commando training school, a brigadier is briefing one of his key officers, Major Chauhan, on the rescue mission.
"We have some slides of the area, Colonel VK Singh will explain it to you," he says.
General Screen grab of General VK Singh in Prahaar.
The Major Chauhan in question is Nana Patekar who also directed the film Prahaar two decades ago.
The grim, square-jawed Colonel VK Singh, is now General Vijay Kumar Singh, the new chief of the army staff. A mention of the small non-speaking cameo which hangs for a few seconds in the film, elicits a grin from the army chief who was an instructor at the Indian army's commando training centre in Belgaum in 1990.
"They were shooting the film in the centre and wanted a real officer to sit in the scene," says General Singh, the first commando to become army chief.
When the army chief did a cameo in Bollywood: India Today - Latest Breaking News from India, World, Business, Cricket, Sports, Bollywood.
Marxist
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Army eyeing heavy machine guns to add fire power to infantry
New Delhi: To provide more fire power to its infantry soldiers and mechanised forces, the Army is eyeing a new 12.7mm heavy machine gun (HMG) that can hit targets accurately within a 2,000-metre range.
The Army has issued a request for information for a 40-kg HMG that it wants to mount on Light Strike Vehicles and Infantry Fighting Vehicles, apart from use by its foot soldiers.
The .50 calibre HMG should be capable of firing ammunition such as high explosive (incendiary), armour piercing high explosive, armour piercing discarding sabot and useful for target practice.
"The weapon should have the capability to be used from the Light Strike Vehicle and Infantry Fighting Vehicle and in ground role while being mounted on vehicle and tripod respectively," the RFI, issued recently, said.
"The weapon should be easy to carry by a three-men crew in dismantled condition and be assembled with ease while being used in ground role," it said.
The rate of fire of the weapon should be "not less than" 450 rounds per minute, it has stipulated. The HMG should have three different modes of operation -- single shot, semi-automatic and automatic fire.
The weapon should have a fire control system that could be operated both manually and electrically. The system should come with a spare barrel, which can be changed quickly in field conditions, it said.
The Army has stipulated that the weapon should have a life of about 50,000 rounds and the smoke generated while firing should not obscure the observation of the firer.
It also wants a blast suppressor on the HMG to reduce the recoil and blast effect.
The Army expects the weapon to be robust enough to withstand rough usage and simple to maintain in operational conditions normally encountered in India like high-altitude areas, jungles and deserts.
The HMG would have sighting systems including optical magnification, open sight and thermal imaging sight. It should be easy to strip and assemble in the field by the user without any special tools, the RFI said.
The Army has earlier used American, Russian and Israeli-made HMGs, but most of the 350 infantry units had discarded them except for use in taking out softer targets such as bunkers and vehicles.
Currently, the infantrymen use assault rifles, sub-machine guns, light machine guns and sniper rifles
Army eyeing heavy machine guns to add fire power to infantry - dnaindia.com
New Delhi: To provide more fire power to its infantry soldiers and mechanised forces, the Army is eyeing a new 12.7mm heavy machine gun (HMG) that can hit targets accurately within a 2,000-metre range.
The Army has issued a request for information for a 40-kg HMG that it wants to mount on Light Strike Vehicles and Infantry Fighting Vehicles, apart from use by its foot soldiers.
The .50 calibre HMG should be capable of firing ammunition such as high explosive (incendiary), armour piercing high explosive, armour piercing discarding sabot and useful for target practice.
"The weapon should have the capability to be used from the Light Strike Vehicle and Infantry Fighting Vehicle and in ground role while being mounted on vehicle and tripod respectively," the RFI, issued recently, said.
"The weapon should be easy to carry by a three-men crew in dismantled condition and be assembled with ease while being used in ground role," it said.
The rate of fire of the weapon should be "not less than" 450 rounds per minute, it has stipulated. The HMG should have three different modes of operation -- single shot, semi-automatic and automatic fire.
The weapon should have a fire control system that could be operated both manually and electrically. The system should come with a spare barrel, which can be changed quickly in field conditions, it said.
The Army has stipulated that the weapon should have a life of about 50,000 rounds and the smoke generated while firing should not obscure the observation of the firer.
It also wants a blast suppressor on the HMG to reduce the recoil and blast effect.
The Army expects the weapon to be robust enough to withstand rough usage and simple to maintain in operational conditions normally encountered in India like high-altitude areas, jungles and deserts.
The HMG would have sighting systems including optical magnification, open sight and thermal imaging sight. It should be easy to strip and assemble in the field by the user without any special tools, the RFI said.
The Army has earlier used American, Russian and Israeli-made HMGs, but most of the 350 infantry units had discarded them except for use in taking out softer targets such as bunkers and vehicles.
Currently, the infantrymen use assault rifles, sub-machine guns, light machine guns and sniper rifles
Army eyeing heavy machine guns to add fire power to infantry - dnaindia.com
2010-04-03 India-Pakistan
India to raise 2 additional mountain divisions for China border
In a major decision aimed at countering the growing threats from China, the Government has sanctioned raising of two mountain divisions (20,000 troops) to be deployed on the India-China border. Taking the urgency of the situation into account, the Government has lifted a 37-year-old freeze on making fresh recruitment for the China-centric mountain division.
The Army was raising new units in the last 25 years from within its existing sanctioned troop strength. One division has about 10,000 men.
At present, the Army has two divisions and the sanction for two more divisions will help the Army plug all operational gaps and help it defend its eastern and western borders and wage two-front war if need be.
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) recently gave the go-ahead to the Army to raise two more mountain divisions, sources said here on Friday. The Government has also decided to speed up the process to procure specialised weaponry needed for mountain warfare.
China was rapidly modernising its armed forces and strengthening the infrastructure all along the 4,500-km Line of Actual Control(LAC). Acknowledging the fact that Chinas preparedness was better, India took a series of steps like improving road network in States like Arunachal Pradesh and raising specialised mountain divisions, sources said.
They, however, claimed that these mountain divisions would be trained to fight a two-front war simultaneously with China and Pakistan as the Army was now capable of rapidly transferring troops from one theatre to another at a very short notice.
Elaborating upon the decision to remove the cap on fresh recruitments, sources said the Army raised the first two divisions from within its existing resources. It stretched the Armys resources and realising its adverse impact on preparedness, the Government allowed additional recruitments.
With the hike in sanctioned manpower strength, the Army would now have more elbow room to rapidly raise the two divisions and train them in the shortest possible time. Moreover, the Government asked the Army to hasten the process of procuring Howitzer guns aptly suited for mountain warfare.
The Army planned to go in for more than 200 Howitzer guns which can be carried on horse back or in helicopters to the remotest posts in the rugged mountain terrain in Jammu & Kashmir and North-East.
The guns were likely to procured through the foreign military sale (FMS) route from the US, sources said.
Incidentally, the new Army chief General VK Singh said on Thursday infrastructure development in border States facing China was "slightly behind" and the Government was giving due attention to this fact.
Stating that China was not only focusing on modernising its armed forces in Tibet and the stress was now on making Chinese soldiers operate in a digitised battlefield. Giving reasons for slow pace of infrastructure development on the Indian side, he said the terrain was "friendly" on the Chinese side as it was a plateau. However, the terrain was mountainous on our side thereby making it all the more difficult for fast road building, he said.
India to raise 2 additional mountain divisions for China border
In a major decision aimed at countering the growing threats from China, the Government has sanctioned raising of two mountain divisions (20,000 troops) to be deployed on the India-China border. Taking the urgency of the situation into account, the Government has lifted a 37-year-old freeze on making fresh recruitment for the China-centric mountain division.
The Army was raising new units in the last 25 years from within its existing sanctioned troop strength. One division has about 10,000 men.
At present, the Army has two divisions and the sanction for two more divisions will help the Army plug all operational gaps and help it defend its eastern and western borders and wage two-front war if need be.
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) recently gave the go-ahead to the Army to raise two more mountain divisions, sources said here on Friday. The Government has also decided to speed up the process to procure specialised weaponry needed for mountain warfare.
China was rapidly modernising its armed forces and strengthening the infrastructure all along the 4,500-km Line of Actual Control(LAC). Acknowledging the fact that Chinas preparedness was better, India took a series of steps like improving road network in States like Arunachal Pradesh and raising specialised mountain divisions, sources said.
They, however, claimed that these mountain divisions would be trained to fight a two-front war simultaneously with China and Pakistan as the Army was now capable of rapidly transferring troops from one theatre to another at a very short notice.
Elaborating upon the decision to remove the cap on fresh recruitments, sources said the Army raised the first two divisions from within its existing resources. It stretched the Armys resources and realising its adverse impact on preparedness, the Government allowed additional recruitments.
With the hike in sanctioned manpower strength, the Army would now have more elbow room to rapidly raise the two divisions and train them in the shortest possible time. Moreover, the Government asked the Army to hasten the process of procuring Howitzer guns aptly suited for mountain warfare.
The Army planned to go in for more than 200 Howitzer guns which can be carried on horse back or in helicopters to the remotest posts in the rugged mountain terrain in Jammu & Kashmir and North-East.
The guns were likely to procured through the foreign military sale (FMS) route from the US, sources said.
Incidentally, the new Army chief General VK Singh said on Thursday infrastructure development in border States facing China was "slightly behind" and the Government was giving due attention to this fact.
Stating that China was not only focusing on modernising its armed forces in Tibet and the stress was now on making Chinese soldiers operate in a digitised battlefield. Giving reasons for slow pace of infrastructure development on the Indian side, he said the terrain was "friendly" on the Chinese side as it was a plateau. However, the terrain was mountainous on our side thereby making it all the more difficult for fast road building, he said.
CONNAN
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India seeks to counter China with strengthened border presence
The Indian Army is raising two new mountain divisions of around 15,000 personnel each to boost its ability to mount offensive and defensive operations along the disputed northern and northeastern borders with China.
The formation of the two divisions, which was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, comes in response to China's strengthening of military infrastructure along the undefined 4,057 km line of actual control (LoAC) between the two countries.
Presently, 10 of the army's 35 divisions are mountain formations and six of those are based in the northeast, having been trained for dispersed high-altitude operations and equipped with adequate fire-support elements.
Senior army officers in Delhi told Jane's that the two proposed mountain divisions - likely to be operational by 2015-16 at a cost of around INR14 billion (USD358 million) - will be equipped with medium- and heavylift helicopters that are in the process of being acquired to enhance the army's mobility.
The army will also receive 155 mm/39 cal lightweight howitzers, for which the service issued a tender in January.
"India is finally taking up the challenge thrown down by the People's Liberation Army by raising its own rapid reaction force with both offensive and defensive capability," said retired Lieutenant General V K Kapoor.
Image: Indian Army soldier during a special forces display (Jane's/Patrick Allen)
India seeks to counter China with strengthened border presence - Jane's Land Forces News
CONNAN
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Indian Army to conduct desert exercise this month
New Delhi, April 5
Barely a month after the Indian Air Force displayed its awesome combat capabilities, the Indian Army is gearing up for its month-long "Yudh Shakti" exercise in Rajasthan from mid-April involving 5,000 troops from the the mechanised forces, the armoured corps and the artillery.
The war games will be conducted by the Mathura-based 1 Corps, one of the army's key "strike" formations. The mobilisation of troops for the exercise has already begun.
"Around 5,000 troops are participating in the exercise, which will begin in mid-April. It is a month-long exercise and its key element will be the mechanised forces," army sources told IANS.
"The exercise is aimed at validating the acquisitions of modern equipment, enhancing night vision capabilities and achieving battlefield dominance," the sources added.
Apart from the mechanised forces, T-90 and T-72 main battle tanks and an array of artillery guns, as also infantry battalions, will feature in the exercise.
"The air force element could be involved in the last part of the exercise," said an official.
The exercise is in accordance with the Indian Army's "Cold Start" doctrine that involves rapid mobilisation in case hostilites seem imminent.
The Pakistan Army is also conducting a field exercise, Azm-e-Nau-3, on its side of the border April 10-May 13. The exercise involves troops belonging to all arms and services and will also be participated in by the Pakistan Air Force.
Last updated on Apr 5th, 2010 at 19:22 pm IST--IANS
New Delhi, April 5
Barely a month after the Indian Air Force displayed its awesome combat capabilities, the Indian Army is gearing up for its month-long "Yudh Shakti" exercise in Rajasthan from mid-April involving 5,000 troops from the the mechanised forces, the armoured corps and the artillery.
The war games will be conducted by the Mathura-based 1 Corps, one of the army's key "strike" formations. The mobilisation of troops for the exercise has already begun.
"Around 5,000 troops are participating in the exercise, which will begin in mid-April. It is a month-long exercise and its key element will be the mechanised forces," army sources told IANS.
"The exercise is aimed at validating the acquisitions of modern equipment, enhancing night vision capabilities and achieving battlefield dominance," the sources added.
Apart from the mechanised forces, T-90 and T-72 main battle tanks and an array of artillery guns, as also infantry battalions, will feature in the exercise.
"The air force element could be involved in the last part of the exercise," said an official.
The exercise is in accordance with the Indian Army's "Cold Start" doctrine that involves rapid mobilisation in case hostilites seem imminent.
The Pakistan Army is also conducting a field exercise, Azm-e-Nau-3, on its side of the border April 10-May 13. The exercise involves troops belonging to all arms and services and will also be participated in by the Pakistan Air Force.
Last updated on Apr 5th, 2010 at 19:22 pm IST--IANS
