Weapons & Equipment Of the Indian Army AK 203 Rifles
AK 203 Rifles - Indian Army Weapon:
The need for AK 203:
According to some official reports, close to 70% of the equipment at the army’s disposal is old and redundant and thus officially considered ‘vintage’ as well. Since long Indian military and paramilitary forces have been seeking to search for an alternative to INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) rifle as their mainstay rifle.
Problems with INSAS:
The INSAS rifles have some major issues like:
• Gun Jamming • Not suitable for extreme climatic conditions • Rifle going into the automatic mode, when set for three-round bursts. • Oil falling on the user’s eyes during combat.
It is also said that primarily INSAS was meant to only seriously injure the enemy but not to kill them. On the other hand, terrorists in Jammu & Kashmir, militants in North-East and Naxals in the Red Corridor of India have been constantly managed to inflict heavy casualties on security forces with the use of AK-47, primarily designed to kill.
AK 203- Successor to legendary AK 47:
The AK 203 is an upgraded version of the AK- 47 Rifle. It is manufactured by Russian Company, Kalashnikov Concern. The Indian Naval Commandos, MARCOS used to use AK103 version of this rifles.
New Delhi and Moscow signed an inter-governmental agreement (IGA) to build AK 203 assault rifle at the Korwa Ordnance Factory in Amethi district of Uttar Pradesh, which is a part of Defence Industrial Corridor.
There is a Joint Venture of that includes Ordnance Factory Board, Kalashnikov, and Rosoboronexport which have a stake of 50.5 %, 42%, and 7.5% respectively.
Around 7.5 lac units of the latest version of AK 47 will be manufactured in the new factory. The rifles will progressively replace the armies in-service INSAS and Ak 47 rifles.
Design and Features:
A side by side analysis of the two assault rifles- Ak 203 Vs INSAS
AK 203 INSAS 4 kG 4.25 KG Weight with magazine Weight without magazine 705 mm 960 mm Length with stock folded Total length without bayonet 7.69mm 5.56mm Caliber Caliber 30 (magazine capacity) (20- magazine capacity) 600 cyclic rounds per/minute 650 cyclic rounds per/minute
The AK 203 rifles win over the INSAS as it has a folding adjustable buttstock, ergonomic pistol grip and a selector with an additional tab for the trigger finger thus making it easier to hold and operate.
Although the INSAS is equipped with a superior round of fire (650 shots per/minute) than the AK 203 (600 per/minute), the Kalashnikov rifle is said to have near-perfect accuracy.
It can host an under barrel grenade launcher or a bayonet and all versions can be equipped with a quickly detachable sound silencer.
The most important highlighting factor of AK series rifles is that they never get jammed. Unlike the INSAS, the Kalashnikovs can work under extreme climatic conditions and are effective in sand, soil, and water.
Conclusion
A rifle is the most important part of a soldier, especially in disturbed areas and across borders. Giving the soldier a weapon that can get jammed can prove to be quite lethal to his life.
The reliability, durability, and effectiveness of AK- 203 rifles have made it one of the most trustworthy weapons of a soldier.
Further, It will also support the “Make In India” scheme through indigenous manufacturing of these rifles, providing a much-needed boost to employment scenario and imparting specialized skill training to youth in manufacturing.
Dhanush Howitzer
The Artillery Corps of the Indian Army has been working towardsbecoming a ' major combat arm ' rather than a mere ' support arm ' forthe infantry or armour regiment.
The Indian Army though has undergone significant upgrades by importing K-9 Vajra T (Self-propelled Howitzer) and M-777 Light Weight Howitzer, the main focus of the has been the induction of the Dhanush Howitzer which has made Indian Army self-reliant. What is Dhanush Howitzer?
Howitzer is a class of heavy artillery (weapon) that is characterised by a short barrel that can propel projectiles at high trajectories with steep angles.
It is developed by Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), Kolkata and manufactured by Jabalpur-based Gun Carriage Factory (GCF).
It is popularly known as ‘Desi Bofors’ as it is an upgraded version of 155 mm Bofors howitzer of Sweden which India has imported in the early 1980s.
Why Dhanush was needed?
India needed a gun to replace the older 155mm Indian Field Gun, Light Field Gun and Soviet-made 122 mm guns.
India needed a significant advantage over the Line of Control which would act as a deterrent against Pakistan.
Technical Specification:
Below are the technical details of Dhanush Howitzer:
Characteristics Specification Calibre 155 mm Range 38 Km Elevation -3 to 70 degrees Crew Required 4 - 6 Rate of Firing Burst: 3 round in 15 Sec Sustained: 60 rounds in 60 Min
Advantages of Dhanush:
Dhanush is one of the most accurate artillery guns of the Indian Army. In addition to this, It also outmatches any towed weapon or howitzer in the arsenal of the Pakistan Army.
Due to Automatic Gun Alignment & Position System (AGAPS) which uses enhanced tactical control.
It is also highly flexible as it can use 155mm calibre ammunition of even NATO countries, which means if required, India can make purchases of this ammo from other countries.
It is also better than M-777 howitzer of USA as it offers greater mobility. While M777 can only be lifted by Helicopter.
About Ordnance Factory Board:
Ordnance Factory Board is an organisation functioning under the Ministry of Defence. It is involved in the research, development, production, testing, marketing and logistics of a wide range of products in the fields of air, land and marine systems.
It is often referred to as India's "Fourth Arm of Defence" or the "Force Behind the Armed Forces."
Its Head Quarter is in Kolkata. 18 March is celebrated as the Ordnance Factory Day in India.
Conclusion:
Once induced in large numbers, the Dhanush will add to the Indian Army’s power along the Loc.
Trikaal: The 'Corner shot' Rifle
What is Trikaal?
Trikaal is a corner shot weapon system (CSWS) that is developed by Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune for the Indian Armed Forces.
The Corner Shot Weapon System was first invented by Lt. Col. Amos Golan of the Israeli Defense Forces.
The Rifle enables a soldier to shoot at 90 degrees or at an angle behind the wall, not directly looking at the enemy.
The Corner Shot Weapons System was first unveiled in India by Zen Technologies during the International Security Expo 2015.
What is a corner Shot Weapons System?
Corner Shot is basically a hinged chassis in which a pistol like a Glock, Beretta 92 or other handgun is mounted. A video camera is fixed to the gun, providing the shooter with a live feed, and an integrated tactical light provides illumination in dark spaces.
The Corner Shot chassis transforms the pistol into a shoulder-fired carbine with a twist: when pressing a button, Corner Shot can instantly tilt left to right, enabling the shooter to stay behind the cover while watching the camera feed.
A trigger extension runs from the handgun itself to a separate chassis trigger, and pulling the trigger on the Corner Shot fires the handgun.
Where will CSWS be used?
The Trikaal Rifles will be used by Special Forces and Indian Army who are deployed in Kashmir and other Naxalite areas.
These rifles will prove advantageous as our soldiers need not be face to face with the enemies.
These rifles can also be used during a hostage situation like 26/11 or in cases of surgical strikes where terrorists are hiding in houses.