Indian Army News & Discussions

[RPK]

Territorial Army turns 62


New Delhi: The Territorial Army, popularly known as citizens army, on Saturday celebrated 61 years of its existence after having ably served the nation in battles within and those waged by neighbours.

To commemorate its 61st raising day, various events were organized throughout the country including blood donations camps.

As part of adventure activities and awareness programmes, a trans-India cycle expedition - 'Pradeshik Bhraman' - was flagged off by Indian Army Chief General V.K. Singh Friday.

The expedition will cover a distance of 100,000 km, over a period of four months, and travel through many states, finally culminating in Delhi in March 2011, to coincide with the Prime Minister's Territorial Army Day Parade.

The history of the Indian Territorial Army dates back to Oct 9, 1949 when its foundation was laid by the first governor general of India C. Rajagopalachari.

The aim of raising the force was to relieve the regular army as well as provide reserve units to them. Territorial Army provides an opportunity to citizens to serve the nation while still following their individual career in civil life.

Over the years it has played an important role in nation-building. It started with just 11 battalions, which have now grown to 66 battalions.

Also see: IAF celebrates Air Force Day in style

The citizen soldiers of these battalions have participated in the India-China war in 1962, and between India and Pakistan in 1965 and 1971 and the Kargil operation in 1992.

Terriers, as the soldiers are popularly known, have also participated in many counter- terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast as well as in relief operations during natural calamities and to aid civil authorities.

On the other front, its ecological battalions -- known as 'Eco Warriors' -- are extensively involved in the country's Go Green project that aims to revive the environment from manmade ecological degradation in some of the most difficult areas of the country.

Over the last 61 years, Terriers have won many gallantry and distinguished service awards, including four Ati Vishisht Seva Medals, one Yudh Seva Medal, five Vir Chakras, three Shaurya Chakras, 49 Sena Medals and 22 Vishisht Seva Medals.

 

[redpearl75]

Agni-II Plus to be launched in 2011: DRDO

Director-General of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) V.K. Saraswat said on Friday that Agni-II Plus, a modified version of the Agni-II strategic missile, would be launched next year.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the valedictory function of the Post Induction Training School (POINTS) at the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT) here, Dr. Saraswat said it would have a higher range, higher performance, with respect to the thrust and weight ratio than Agni-II, which has a range of 2,000 km.

He said that BrahMos Aerospace Ltd, a joint venture between India and Russia, would be launching the aircraft version of the super-sonic missile. “It is being developed and it will be integrated with Sukhoi. Within a year, the first development trial will be conducted. Right now, scientists are in the process of checking if it is in need of any modification.”

Dr. Saraswat said the DRDO was developing ballistic missiles with both short and long-range radars which were highly manoeuvrable.

On the indigenous light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas, negotiations were going on to acquire the GE4141 engines and this would be completed within a month.

 

[redpearl75]

USD 2.2 billion for Indian Army Tactical Communication System; Top IT Majors Invited

Indian defense officials have sent out expressions of interest to at least six domestic IT businesses seeking a consortium to develop an indigenous communications system. The tactical communication system, first announced in May 2009, will be the foundation of the Indian army's communication network and is expected to cost around USD $2.2 billion. The system will be a robust, snoop-proof, mobile, cellular network for the Indian army's voice and data communications during battle, the defense department said. It will allow integrated communication, from battlefield to command headquarters and include everything from cellular telephones to equipment sensors.

By seeking domestic design and manufacture of the system, the government is seeking to better integrate and improve the competitiveness of the private indigenous IT sector into defense production. Few details of the expression of interest have been released because of security concerns by the army. However, documents were sent to five private companies and three public sector businesses for developing the tactical communications system, army communications chief Lt. Gen. P. Mohapatra said.

The competition will be between the prototypes of two companies selected by the army that will pay for 80 percent of their development costs. The private companies concerned are Tata Power's Strategic Electronics Division, HCL Infosystems, Wipro Technologies, Rolta India and L&T. Another major Indian player in the IT sector is Tech Mahindra but the company wasn't included. It fails to qualify as an Indian company because of a foreign holding higher than 26 percent, a report in the Business Standard said. Tech Mahindra is a joint operation formed in 1986 between Mahindra & Mahindra and British telecommunications giant BT.

The Business Standard also reported there was intense debate among army acquisition officials about going public with the development of the system because of security concerns. Some officials wanted Bharat Electronics to head up the project without going to tender. The companies and public businesses have two months to return their documents, which should include details of their proposed consortia which will become the development agency for the project. Indigenous manufacture of the system is important for the army. The expression of interest states that "the contribution of the Indian industry in acquiring and developing technologies in critical areas shall be a key criterion in assessment of various proposals."

However, it is expected that not all components will be India-made but it could reach up to 80 percent, one company said.

 

[redpearl75]

Trials of Honeywell T-Hawk Micro Air Vehicles to be Conducted

Indian security forces will conduct trials for the T-Hawk micro air vehicle (MAV), a product of US-based Honeywell Aerospace, to test its feasibility in different terrain and surroundings. Earlier this year in April, Honeywell had carried out live demonstration and trials for T-Hawk at the Counter-Terrorism and Jungle Warfare College in Kanker, Chattisgarh. Thereafter, a video demonstration of another Israeli UAV was shown to all concerned agencies, also at Kanker.

"We are now carrying out some more trials for T-Hawk before taking a final decision on procurement of MAVs for surveillance in Naxal-infested areas. Let us see how they go," a senior official of the security establishment told Economic Times. According to sources, the MHA would help the Central forces procure the UAVs. The cost of a fully-operational T-Hawk would work out to around $200,000 or approximately, 90 lakh. The forces would initially like to order a small quantity of these UAVs, preferring to "develop tactics" for their use by the forces on the ground, before placing a bigger order.

Honeywell, on its part, has welcomed the idea of putting its T-Hawk through live trials in different environments and terrain. Speaking to Economic Times over the phone, the US-based Honeywell Defense and Space director, Prabha Gopinath, said: "The live trials at Kanker had borne very satisfactory results. The foliage was not too much and we could see the enemy troop movements very clearly. We also managed to detect IEDs planted 20 inches into the ground."

Mr Gopinath said the company was waiting for more such trials, possibly in the denser locations, including Bastar where the Naxalites are most active. Incidentally, a top Army expert, while witnessing the T-Hawk's April trials in Chhattisgarh, had noted that most Naxalite-infested stretches were not quite located under thick foliage. Also, the expert pointed out that the Maoists were known to engage forces mostly in the "cleared" areas of the jungle.

Dismissing the negative feedback from some quarters about T-Hawk not being able to see through thick foliage, Mr Gopinath said there was no UAV really capable of taking images through triple canopy. Also, unlike its close competitors, including the fixed-wing mini-UAVs of Israeli make, the T-Hawk was more sturdy as it is shaped like a large pressure cooker or a drum with all operational parts secure inside. "The biggest advantage of our design is that all the moving parts are contained, minimized any scope for snags," Mr Gopinath pointed out.

The second and possibly more important advantage of T-Hawk, which is 18 inches in diameter and is invisible to the naked eye beyond a height of 200 feet, is that it can hover over a location/target for a good 40-50 minutes and "help the forces view it and take images from different angles." “As against this, the fixed-wing UAVs cannot stop at a location. These machines are like a bird. If you spot something suspicious, you cannot stop them for a good, closer look,” said the Honeywell director for strategic campaigns unmanned aerial systems.

"The T-Hawk is capable of daylight imagery as well infra-red imagery for night-time operations. For example, you can spot Maoist hideouts from the trail of smoke, possibly from cooking, caught by its cameras," said Mr Gopinath. He also ruled out any disadvantage due to the buzzing sound made by its gasoline engine. "The T-Hawk is not really recommended for stealthy operations. And counter-Naxal operations, as we understand, involve moving of trucks, besides movements of 70-80 troops at a time, all of which is possibly more noisy," said Mr Gopinath.

"We are waiting to be called for more trials as Honeywell is committed to helping the Indian government in meeting its security needs," he added

 

[SpArK]

Defence Ministers of India & China Hang Out At Hanoi​

Indian Defence Minister AK Antony met his Chinese counterpart Liang Guanglie at a banquet hosted by the Vietnamese Defence Minister Gen Phung Quang Thanh on the eve of the ASEAN Plus Eight Defence Ministers' Meeting in Hanoi Monday (11 October 2010).

Photos Courtesy DPR Defence

 

[sudhir007]

India to Enhance Military Cooperation, Conduct Joint Trainings with Vietnam | India Defence

As a part India's Look East Policy, Defence Minister AK Antony said that New Delhi will provide support to Vietnam to enhance and upgrade the capabilities of its three services in general and its Navy in particular. Antony announced India's help at the bilateral meetings with the top Vietnamese leadership including President Nguyen Minh Triet, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh.

"India will help Vietnam in its capacity building for repair and maintenance of its platforms. The Armies of the two countries will also cooperate in areas like IT and English Training of Vietnamese Army personnel," Antony said on Tuesday. He further said that both the armies will also have a joint training in mountain and jungle warfare in India next year, and offered assistance to Vietnamese Forces in UN Peacekeeping operations, in which India has vast experience.

Antony announced these measures to expand defence cooperation with Vietnam after successful conclusion of the first ASEAN Plus Eight Defence Ministers' Meeting in Hanoi. The Vietnamese Defence Minister thanked India for its valuable contribution to make the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting a great success.

 

[CONNAN]

President to present Colours to T-90 armoured regiments tomorrow

By admin at 18 October, 2010, 3:25 pm

BY PTI

For the first time, five T-90 armoured regiments of the Indian Army will tomorrow receive the presidential standards a rare honour.

The Colours to these units would be presented by President Pratibha Patil, who is the supreme commander of the armed forces, at a parade at the Babina military station near here.

The five units under the ‘White Tiger’ armoured division receiving the rare honour are 83, 12, 13, 15 and 19 Armoured Regiments in presence of Army chief General VK Singh and a host of other senior military officials.

Later in the day, the T-90 Division will present a mounted parade for the president to review.

“This would be a historical occasion as it is for the first time that five Armoured Regiments of an Armoured Division are presented the Colours together,” an Army official said.

The presentation of Colours is a centuries old martial legacy and considered as recognition of the service rendered by the regiments to the nation.

 

[MAFIAN GOD]

^^^^^^THE ABOVE PICTURE OF T-90 LOOKS VERY AWESOME.
CAN ANYONE EXPLAIN WHAT IS THE BLUE THING (BLUE SPOT NEAR THE MAIN GUN ) ON THAT TANK?

A GOOD NEWS FOR T-90 REGIMENTS.

 

[CONNAN]

^^^^^^THE ABOVE PICTURE OF T-90 LOOKS VERY AWESOME.
CAN ANYONE EXPLAIN WHAT IS THE BLUE THING (BLUE SPOT NEAR THE MAIN GUN ) ON THAT TANK?

A GOOD NEWS FOR T-90 REGIMENTS.

might be gunners sight

 

[Super Falcon]

well i think the colour would be in desert camo and urban camo i think

 

[palash_kol]

^^^^^^THE ABOVE PICTURE OF T-90 LOOKS VERY AWESOME.
CAN ANYONE EXPLAIN WHAT IS THE BLUE THING (BLUE SPOT NEAR THE MAIN GUN ) ON THAT TANK?

A GOOD NEWS FOR T-90 REGIMENTS.

I think its some kind of Infrared sensor for night firghting along with gunner sight...Sorry if I mistake...

 

[Bhairava]

^^^^^^THE ABOVE PICTURE OF T-90 LOOKS VERY AWESOME.
CAN ANYONE EXPLAIN WHAT IS THE BLUE THING (BLUE SPOT NEAR THE MAIN GUN ) ON THAT TANK?

A GOOD NEWS FOR T-90 REGIMENTS.

Its the Panoramic sight for the Commander while the sight for the Gunner is seen under the machine gun.

It gives a unique hunter-killer capability to these tanks.

 

[marcos98]

Indra 2010 exercises videos

YouTube - "?????-2010". ????? 1

YouTube - "?????-2010". ????? 2.

YouTube - "????? -2010" . ????? 3. ???????? ???????.

 

[CONNAN]

Hero of 1971 Warbird Reinstallaled at IAF Air Headquarters

By admin at 20 October, 2010, 1:21 pm

BY: IDRW NEWS NETWORK

A truck carries a HAL Gnat (IE-246) for re-installation at Air Headquarters in New Delhi on Wednesday. The aircraft was removed during construction of Metro routes.

Vayu Bhawan is host to a unique display of Warbirds. Three HAL Gnat/Ajeets are displayed in a vic formation on poles on the front lawn facing the main entrance. The three aircraft were installed here sometime in the Mid-90s and are the only one of its kind display of Gnats in the country.

 

[CONNAN]

PHOTOS: Five T-90 Regiments Receive President's Colours

Fifty tanks from five T-90 Bhishma tank regiments took part in a brilliant parade at the Babina military station on October 19 where the President of India presented standards to the 83, 12, 13, 15 and 19 Armoured Regiments, all part of the Indian Army's 31 Armoured Division.