Sir Creek to get hovercrafts

[EjazR]

Ahmedabad: The Border Security Force (BSF) will focus more on optimising deployments as well as introducing new technology so that infiltration along the border could be checked. Besides, there will be focus on improving the living conditions of jawans deployed along various boarders of the country.

"Along the Indo-Pak border, we have ****** Nalla and Sir Creek area which are absolutely inhospitable terrains, where there is no development at all. It is very difficult for anyone or anything to survive in that area," said BSF director-general Raman Srivastava. The chief of the paramilitary force told this to media on his maiden visit to the Gujarat Frontier HQ of the BSF on Sunday.

Gujarat Frontier poses difficulties for the BSF in checking infiltration because of unfriendly conditions. On one hand there is marshy and swampy land in some areas, on the other there are desert areas.All terrain vehicles (ATVs) and hovercrafts could be solution to accessibility problems, the DG said.

"What we are focusing on is to consolidate and optimise the deployments, make sure that the living conditions of the jawans are improved, and on introducing the best and latest technology, including sensors of various types, to facilitate the task of preventing infiltration of humans, smuggling of fake Indian currency notes, narcotics and weapons," he said. He also said that in around three months hovercrafts and ATVs would be made available to the BSF jawans in Sir Creek area.

BSF will also priorities improving living conditions of the jawans in order to improve their performance. The jawans have to face problems like lack of potable drinking water, communications facility and electricity. "BSF men are deployed along the 6,624 km international border. There are 1,411 Border Out Posts (BOPs) out of which 159 do not have communication facility except for the official wireless equipment,'' he said.

The lack of communication facilities does not allow them to be in touch with their family and friends for months. Srivastava said that to facilitate communication of the jawans with their family, the agency is planning to install satellite phones in some BOPs.

"There are 311 BOPs, including 23 in Gujarat, where there is no electricity at all. We are exploring the option of solar power," he said.

As snake and scorpion bite is very common in the boarder areas, BSF is planning to provide snake repellent cream for the jawans. Once the cream is applied on the skin, the odour of the cream will keep the snakes away from the jawans, he said.n More on P6

 

[pmukherjee]

All terrain vehicles (ATVs) and hovercrafts could be solution to accessibility problems, the DG said.

China is buying these from Ukraine, they are just awesome. We should get some of them.

 

[gogbot]

China is buying these from Ukraine, they are just awesome. We should get some of them.

pmukherjee we should copy others, but find our own innovative ways to achieve a similar capability, otherwise we will always be one step behind

 

[pmukherjee]

pmukherjee we should copy others, but find our own innovative ways to achieve a similar capability, otherwise we will always be one step behind

Idealistically correct buddy. But these hovercrafts in the pics are the biggest and most powerful in the world made by USSR before its collapse. They are suitable for coastal and littoral defense and for amphibious operations. They are suitable for our requirements and should have been procured much earlier. There are only four or five of them in operation and now the Chinese have ordered eight. They are an overkill for the BSF and should be bought for the Army/Navy for coastal defense and amphibious operations.

Yes we also have the capability to make good hovercrafts, but why re-invent the wheel if it is readily available in the market.

 

[gogbot]

Idealistically correct buddy. But these hovercrafts in the pics are the biggest and most powerful in the world made by USSR before its collapse. They are suitable for coastal and littoral defense and for amphibious operations. They are suitable for our requirements and should have been procured much earlier. There are only four or five of them in operation and now the Chinese have ordered eight. They are an overkill for the BSF and should be bought for the Army/Navy for coastal defense and amphibious operations.

Yes we also have the capability to make good hovercrafts, but why re-invent the wheel if it is readily available in the market.

That's always the question isn't it Innovation vs practicality.

I don't see why India needs these hovercraft. Isn't their primary purpose beach landing. A smaller hovercraft will be more better suited for Our BSF.

China on the other hand only buys things to send them to their re-engineering factories. And then only uses what come out of for its actual forces.

So they are trying to give them selves the capability. we should also strive to achieve something similar.

And what i meant in my previous post was that , actually it would be
better i say it in your own words.

"Why re-invent the wheel, you don't but you invent a plane in its stead."

 

[beckham]

Indian coast guard's HoverCraft

 

[pmukherjee]

That's always the question isn't it Innovation vs practicality.

I don't see why India needs these hovercraft. Isn't their primary purpose beach landing. A smaller hovercraft will be more better suited for Our BSF.

China on the other hand only buys things to send them to their re-engineering factories. And then only uses what come out of for its actual forces.

So they are trying to give them selves the capability. we should also strive to achieve something similar.

And what i meant in my previous post was that , actually it would be
better i say it in your own words.

"Why re-invent the wheel, you don't but you invent a plane in its stead."

Couldn't agree more buddy. We should get smaller ATVs for BSF and those Russian/Ukrainian beasts for our amphibious forces. You know, about value addition through reverse engineering-the Chinese are past masters in that art. While I really dont have much faith in our DRDO to do anything useful and in time. We really should involve our private sector in defense r & d big time. What do you say???

 

[gogbot]

While I really dont have much faith in our DRDO to do anything useful and in time. We really should involve our private sector in defense r & d big time. What do you say???

Don't count the DRDO out of the game. Despite a limited budget, compared to other RnD agencies, political instability , lack of political initiative, Clarity in project requirements and even a lack of faith in them from our own military . The DRDO and its Auxillary agencies has supplied India with many of its state of the art equipment. Compared to India's bulk soviet era gear

IN future with a rising importance and budget, DRDO will no doubt be at the fore front of technology demonstration and development.

How do i know this simple, DRDO need only face its challenges with the same initiative of that taken By ISRO, which against all odds has established it self as a respected Space agency on the world stage. The DRDO is just capable as ISRO.

and on a more indirect note.

Innovation has never relied on large well funded organizations. the first manned flight was attempted by two obscure cycle mechanic's

China's success are because of their drive to achieve. A lesson we need to take to heart.

As long as we have the drive we should not put any thing past our capabilities.

 

[coolmesh84]

It is not necessary to buy whatever china is buying. China is buying for using/re-engineering it, because it may be left with a choice of invading taiwan in the future. To manure in those shallow straits, u can't take sub or big frigate...

so these hovercrafts come in handy for rapid troop mobilization or use as missile boats. that is why..

I don't think India need this for Gods shake in karachi or something.. u only need to burn it or bomb it if there is any war.

 

[sancho]

Only because China gets them, doesn't mean we need them too!

More useful for IN and amphibious operations are smaller hovercrafts like LCAC and vessels that can deploy them in longer ranges:

Wasp class amphibious assault ship - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

San Antonio class amphibious transport dock - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mistral class amphibious assault ship - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Even Russia now gets a Mistral class helicopter carrier now, for such amphibious operations, which are not only in war times, or military operations!

Here is an LCAC that deliver goods for the people in Sumatra after the Tsunami in 2005:

 

[Romanch]

What are the advantages of a hovercraft over a conventional ship?

 

[pmukherjee]

What are the advantages of a hovercraft over a conventional ship?

Hovercrafts work on a principle of air pressure to form an air cushion between the vehicle and the surface it is moving on. It can move over land, water or ice. That is why the military calls them ATVs or All Terrain Vehicles (since they can move on all types of terrain). The civillian word is ACV or Air Cushion Vehicle.

For more info seeHovercraft - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[sancho]

Another advantage of that technology is speed! These vehicles are much faster than normal ships.

For example the Russian Bora class corvette has a top speed of 55 knots, or the Norwegian Skjold class patrol boats with speeds up to 60 Knots!

Bora class guided missile hovercraft - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Skjold class patrol boat - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Specially the Skjold class could be very interesting for IN too I think. Small but very fast patrol boats with an armament of anti ship missiles and a cannon and stealth design makes them very good as costline patrol boats against small and bigger vessels. If you can add torpedos for ASW too, it really would be perfect.

 

[gogbot]

Lets get one thing clear

hovercrafts are not effective weapons platforms, Nor do they have any significant role in armed conflict.
Why ?, hovercrafts float on a cushion of air, anyone who has done elementary school physics can tell u that there isn't much friction there, that gives the hovercraft its speed.But it also takes away the friction required to withstand the recoil of your own gun or missile l launch. let alone what would happen if the hovercraft were taking hits, it wont even be able to stand its own ground.
Not to mention that hover crafts are rather fragile in the sense they carry no significant armor. Hovercrafts which use skirts will be even more disadvantaged as damaging the skirts, can simply, immobilize the craft.

They are in essence a super advanced truck used for transport.

well that was a bit harsh and doesn't do the hovercraft much justice but,
when it boils down to the basics its simply just an efficient mode of transportation. over changing terrain.
they are also too expensive to mass produce so it only has limited strategic logistical use. But an excellent addition for tactical logistics.