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In order to modernize the Indian Army with high technology weapons, artillery systems, unmanned vehicles and other advanced systems and munitions, a multi billion dollar induction plan has been chalked out by the Indian Army. These high technology platforms and systems and other assets will accentuate the army’s capabilities when integrated with Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance [C4ISR] systems.
With roughly $20 billion aimed at purchasing these systems, the Indian army aims to be equipped with these state-of-the-art weaponry and platforms in the next five to seven years.
In the current agenda, the Indian Army has invited bids from global firms for the acquisition of 155mm self propelled guns worth over $3.5 billion for which Request for Proposal has been issued in the last few months. The Indian Army is purchasing 400 towed howitzer guns of 155/52 caliber and the bids have been sent to BAE Systems U.K., Kermetal of Slovakia, Giat Industries of France; IMI and Soltam of Israel, Samsung of South Korea, United Defense of U.S.A., Rheinmetall of Germany and Rosoboronexport of Russia.
Another lot of 185 pieces of wheeled 155 mm guns will be acquired. The 185 wheeled self-propelled howitzer guns will be capable of being lifted in the Hercules C-1340 J aircraft for which Lockheed Martin of the United States is being contracted. For high altitude battles, the Army is also acquiring 140 pieces of 155mm ultra light howitzer guns in which UK’s BAE Systems is bidding.
The Indian Army is also looking at changing all its existing field guns to 155 mm self propelled guns. The request has been issued to BAE Systems of United Kingdom, General Dynamics Rhinemetall of Germany and Samsung South Korea.
According to Army officials, the Indian Army will procure around 1600 numbers of 155mm/52 caliber guns of different varieties including towed, wheeled and tracked self-propelled howitzers.
In order to increase its C4IS capabilities, the Indian Army is on a global hunt to purchase unspecified numbers of Battlefield Management Systems worth over $1 billion under which the soldier in the battlefield will be directly connected to the Command headquarters. The indigenously built Artillery Command and Control System (ACCS) will also be integrated with the BMS.
The ACCS being built at a cost of $300 million by state-owned Bharat Electricals Limited (BEL) is expected to be operational by 2015. It will automate functions of the Indian artillery including the tactical fire control, from the regiment level down to the battery command posts and will make the Indian artillery operations more effective.
As a part of crucial surveillance capability, a variety of UAVs are being procured from Israel and other sources. The Army is eyeing on BAE Systems’ fully-autonomous Herti UAV, which can fly for over 24 hours at an altitude of up to 20,000 feet and the Israeli Elbit Systems’ hand-launched miniature Skylark UAV. A homegrown rotary UAV based on the helicopter Chetak is also being designed by HAL.
In the area of tanks, nearly 1000 locally produced T90S tanks will be purchased by the year 2020. This will be in addition to the 310 T90 tanks procured from Russia. The Indian Army has planned 21 regiments of T-90S. An armored regiment typically has 45 tanks, along with another 17 for training purposes.
The Indian Army made a plan to acquire 3000 new generation anti tank guided missiles [ATGMs] for T-72 tanks, T-90 tanks and BMP-II infantry combat vehicles. The Indian Army is finalizing its staff qualitative technical requirements and the formal bid is likely to be issued early 2009.
The Indian Army has initiated its $1 billion infantry modernization program under which the infantry soldier will be equipped with a variety of modern weaponry to enable enhanced mobility and lethality. The future infantry soldier will have bullet proof vehicles, anti-material rifles, battle surveillance radars, Thermal Imaging Sights for ATGM launchers, ground sensors, secured communication systems, precision guided ammunition,laser rangefinder and bullet proof jackets.
On the homefront, the indigenous Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) Pinaka is on serial production with the help of private sector majors Larsen & Toubro and the Tata group. The Defence Research and Development Organization [DRDO] is also developing an upgraded version of the Pinaka MBR whose prototype was tested recently. The advanced version of the Pinaka is capable of firing 12 rockets in a single salvo with 1.2 tones of high explosives within 40 seconds.
The Indian Army is also purchasing 300 mm Smerch Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher systems with a range of 90 kilometers from Russia.
To add to the fire range, the Indian Army is inducting the supersonic cruise missile BrahMos produced in collaboration with Russia. BrahMos with a speed of Mach 3 has a range of 290 kilometers.
The Indian Army will also be acquiring 197 utility helicopters for the Air Force and the Army and the Request for Proposal has been sent to Euro copter, Bell Helicopters of United States, Boeing of the United States, Augusta Westland of Italy and Kamov and Kazan of Russia.
The only area in which the Indian Army is lacking is its air defence sytems since its inventory consists of systems acquired from erstwhile Russia. The Army needs to replace the Russian origin air defence systems which include the Kvadrat, OSA – AKM Strela-1, Tunguska, Shilka, portable IGLA and Strela-2 system. The Army is keen to launch its multi-million program for acquiring modern air defence systems.
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