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Replacement of all AD weapon, approaching obsolescence is not financially viable due to the high cost of such systems
The Chief of Army Staff, General Deepak Kapoor has repeatedly said that the modernisation of the army is an ongoing process and is being stepped up with induction of the latest weapon systems and hi-tech equipments. The defence minister, A.K. Antony has assured the army that more than adequate budget will be made available for its modernisation efforts. Together, they have a vision of transforming the army into a modern force, capable of overcoming all the challenges of 21st century.
Modernisation of a million-strong army is a complex and dynamic process impacted by operational challenges, emerging technologies and budgetary support. Review of modernisation of the Indian Army is a periodic institutional exercise which is conducted regularly, wherein force levels, gestation periods as well as life time support of equipment are assessed against the capabilities desired. The resultant outputs form the basis for formulation of the Long Term Perspective Plans (covering 15 years period), Service Capital Acquisition Plans (five-year plans) and Annual Acquisition Plans. The 10th modernisation plan of the Indian Army is under preparation. The objectives and priorities of this plan are to maintain capability to deal with the entire spectrum of conflict, build strategic nuclear deterrence, capability to secure the Island Territories, maintain out-of-area capability and provide assistance to UN troops. The 11th Defence Plan has earmarked a substantial component of the budget for modernisation. The focus is on precision fire power, air defence, aviation, Future Infantry Soldier as a system, infrastructure development, network centricity and achieving battle field transparency through improved surveillance, night vision and target acquisition.
Government has time and again assured that enhanced defence outlay will be made available, as and when required, to achieve modernisation goals. With the formulation of Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2008 and reforms in procurement procedures, the pace of capital procurement has increased, resulting in overall enhanced combat effectiveness and utilisation of allocated financial outlay.
In the prevailing era of strategic uncertainty, while terrorism has become the primary threat, the external and internal threats and challenges faced by India are such that a large army is still required to be maintained. Also, a high degree of preparation and operational readiness is still necessary as conventional war, though improbable, cannot be categorically ruled out. The nature of warfare is changing and evolving rapidly. There is a significant overlap today between external threats, proxy war, counter insurgency and counter terrorism operations. Internal and external security has today become inextricably linked. The army is fully alive to this transition. The Indian Army, therefore, needs to remain prepared and trained to fight across the spectrum of conflict. We also need to build credible 'out-of-area contingency' capabilities to protect our interests and render military assistance to friendly countries, including humanitarian assistance or disaster relief, when mandated. Accordingly, our defence capability planning is based on a 'threat-cum-capability' based approach with focus on upgradation of our operations capability, through modernisation, force restructuring, technology absorption and commensurate infrastructure development in a phased manner. Concurrently, human resource development is being given a renewed focus to facilitate induction of quality manpower to support a technology-oriented army. We are also consciously working towards preparing our leadership to acquire skills to be able to respond dynamically to the changing security paradigm.
Induction and modernisation of equipment/weapon system in a large army like ours has to be organised in a pragmatic manner. Considering the receding span of technological cycle, right balance has to be maintained between state-of-art, current and obsolescent technologies. To ensure this, our modernisation programme has envisaged having an appropriate mix of weapon/equipment, comprising 30 per cent state-of-art technology, 40 per cent based on current technology and 30 per cent equipment nearing obsolescence, which can be upgraded.
In order to modernise itself with hi-tech weapons, artillery systems, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) 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. The Indian Army aims to be equipped with these state-of-the-art weaponry and platforms in the next five to seven years.
The modernisation plan of artillery is of utmost priority. The major acquisitions will be of initial lots of 400 towed howitzers of 155mm caliber, with a barrel length of 52 calibres, costing about Rs 4,000 crore, 140 ultra-light weight 155mm towed howitzer, with a barrel length of 45 calibres, costing Rs 3,000 crore and 180 SP 155mm howitzers costing Rs 5,000 crore. The Shakti project for a command and control systems for the artillery, called Artillery Combat Command and Control System (ACCCS), has reached the stage of maturity and is now being fielded up to the regimental level. Two regiments of the 12-tube, 300mm Smerch Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) system with 90km range have been operationalised recently. This will be a major boost for the long-range firepower capabilities of the army. Extended Range (ER) rockets are being introduced for the 122mm Grad MBRL which will enhance the weapon system's range from 22 to about 40km. A 5,000 crore rupees contract has also been signed for the serial production of the Pinaka MBRL weapon system, another DRDO project executed with help from L&T and the Tatas. A regiment of BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile (Mach 2.8 to 3.0), with a precision strike capability, very high kill energy and range of 290 km, has already been operationalised. It is a versatile missile that can be launched from TATRA mobile launchers and silos. Efforts are underway to further increase its strike range. BrahMos Aerospace has orders from the army for two additional regiments. These missiles are virtually immune to counter measures due to their high speed and very low radar cross section and are far superior to subsonic cruise missiles.
The Indian Army is extensively engaged in ongoing Internal Security (IS) and counter insurgency operations (CI) and simultaneously needs to prepare itself for a future border conflict that may spill over to a larger conventional war in the plains. In keeping with these twin requirements, Army HQ have decided to upgrade the IS and CI capabilities of infantry battalions as well as enhance their firepower-mobility-EW (electronic warfare) punch for a possible war in the plains or in the mountains. The army chief's modernisation vision is to 'adapt to high-end technology, improve night-fighting capability, information technology, information warfare and network centric warfare.'
While Kornet-E anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) with thermal imaging sights have substantially increased the anti-tank capability of infantry battalions, most efforts to modernise the equipment held by infantry and Rashtriya Rifles (RR) units are aimed at enhancing their capability for surveillance and target acquisition at night and boosting their firepower for precise retaliation against infiltrating columns and terrorists holed up in built-up areas. About 200 hand-held thermal imaging devices (HHTIs) with ranges upto 2,000 metres for observation at night and stand-alone infra-red, seismic and acoustic sensors with varying capabilities have enabled infantrymen to dominate the Line of Control so completely that infiltration has come down to almost a trickle. The newly acquired weapons, which complement these surveillance and observation devices, include:
1,500X84mm rocket launchers, including some disposable ones; 1,000 AMRs (anti-material rifles); 8,000 UBGLs (under-barrel grenade launchers); 4,000 new generation carbines; 300 bullet proof vehicles and several hundred accurate sniper rifles. However, the numbers acquired and the ammunition stocks are still inadequate and need to be made up more rapidly. New 5.56mm assault rifles of bull-pup design with an integrated laser range finder and grenade launcher are under development. Efforts are also being made to provide infantry platoons and sections with integrated GPS-based navigation system, secure light weight walkie-talkie radio sets and better protective gear with a helmet that incorporates a built-in head-up display.
The army's infantry battalions also need their own mini or micro UAVs like Elbit's Skylark or Rafael's Skylite, among others, to improve their surveillance capability during conflicts. These UAVs should have a range of about 10 to 15km, should be light weight (less than 10 kg), hand launched, carry a single payload, e.g. a daylight video camera or infra-red camera for night operations, and should be inexpensive enough to be dispensable.
Project F-INSAS would greatly empower the soldier and must be accorded the highest strategic priority.
The indigenously designed Arjun main battle tank (MBT) has many good features, however, it has failed to meet the army's GSQR for an MBT and orders have been placed for only 124 tanks to be manufactured. Order for the next 124 tanks are dependant on the ongoing comparative trials. The lack of progress on the Arjun MBT has slowed down the pace or armour modernisation. India therefore signed a deal with Russia to acquire 310 T-90S tanks in 2000. Subsequently, we decided to acquire another 347 T-90S tanks and assemble them within the country. The first Indian assembled T-90S (Bhishma) rolled off the production line on 8th Jan 2004. While T-90S Russian tanks have provided new teeth to India's strike formations in the plains and corrected the imbalance that had resulted from Pakistan's acquisition of T-80 UD from Ukraine and the Al Khalid tanks jointly designed with China, a large number of T-72 (Ajeya) tanks are still awaiting modernisation. The lack of a suitable fire control system and night fighting capability are major handicaps. Armour modernisation is now proceeding smoothly.
The mechanised infantry is equipped with the BMP-2 ICV Sarath of which over 1,000 have been built since 1987. A new variant is the 81 mm Carrier Mortar Tracked Vehicle (CMTV) that is based on the chassis of the Sarath ICV and has been indigenously developed to enhance the integral firepower available to mechanised infantry battalions. Other variants include a command post, an ambulance, armoured dozer and engineer reconnaissance vehicles. Mechanised reconnaissance and support battalions need better surveillance radars, fire-and-forget ATGMs and effective night fighting capability. However, their capabilities can be upgraded on a lower priority compared with infantry battalions that are engaged in border management and IS/CI operations. As part of the modernisation, Special Forces will be equipped with light weight weaponry, to enable them to take swift action during close combat operations. Apart from Travor assault rifles, they will get helmets fixed with night vision binoculars and headphones for communications. Their body armour will comprise of light weight bullet proof vests. During his recent visit to Agra, the COAS mentioned that Special Forces would form our spearhead in Fourth Generation Warfare (4GW). In addition elaborate modernisation is underway for Sappers, Signals and Army Aviation.
The only area in which the army is lacking is its air defence systems. The Kvadrat missile system that has been the backbone of AD for strike formations since the early Seventies are aging and need to be changed urgently. Replacement of all AD weapon, approaching obsolescence is not financially viable due to the high cost of such systems. A dual track approach is thus being followed to upgrade selected weapon systems and replace others.
Enhancing its night fighting capability is a priority focus of the army. Towards this end, concerted efforts are being made to eradicate night blindness of Infantry, mechanised forces and other combat support units. Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities are also being enhanced in a phased manner. The army is hopeful of achieving requisite capabilities during the 11th plan period.
The operational logistics of the army is another success story. Tremendous enhancement has been achieved in infrastructure, force mobilisation, repair and overhaul of equipment, ordnance depots, ammunition management, medical support etc. These will reflect positively on the force capability and morale of troops.
To counter the recent media reports, which suggested that operational preparedness of the army has suffered, as its modernisation drive had slowed down; On 4 December, 2009, the Indian Army reiterated that it is fully prepared, battle worthy and capable to counter any challenge at very short notice; in keeping with the task assigned i.e. to defend the nation. It clarified that modernisation is a deliberate process and is progressive in nature. The shortfall of military hardware is reviewed at regular intervals and projected after deliberations based on operational requirements, to keep pace with its modernisation efforts. Lt Gen. P.C. Bhardwaj, VCOAS who oversees army's modernisation has stressed that a number of measures have been taken to ensure optimum realisation of modernisation plans with maximum utilisation of Capital Budget allocations. Evolution of Annual Acquisition Plans after detailed deliberations and their periodic reviews have helped in monitoring the progress and lend impetus to the modernisation plan. Streamlining of procurement processes as related to formulation of General Staff Qualitative Requirements, scaling, categorisation, Request for Proposal, trials and Transfer of Technology is reviewed regularly. The army is confident that these measures will ensure force modernisation is accomplished, as desired.
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