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PAGE 4 >> INTERVIEW Meeting the Challenges The Army Aviation is the arm of the future, a force-multiplier which can tilt the balance in any future conflict ‘Army Aviation Corps is the Lt General (Retd) B.S. Pawar

PAGE 6 Past, Present and the Future Arm of the F uture’ PHOTOGRAPHS : Abhishek / SP Guide Pubns SP’s Land Forces (SP’s): What is the role of the Army Aviation? ADG Army Aviation (ADG) : Army Avia - tion operates in the ground regime, therefore it is virtually a component of the land power. This cardinal tenet defines Army Aviation’s role as an ele - ment of the ground forces. In the future battle field, Army Aviation will be at the Armaments used in helicopters can be forefront, shaping the battle space by pro - broadly classified into three categories, jecting the force, sustaining the force and namely rapid firing automatic machine guns, delivering decisive combat power at criti - rocket projectiles and guided missiles cal times anywhere in the battle field by direct fire, by launching air assaults or by Air Marshal (Retd) B.K. Pandey directing artillery fires. Its focus is to enhance ground mobility and exploit PAGE 10 manoeuvre. It accelerates the tempo of operations while remaining an integral A Long Way to Go part of the combined arms team. Avia - The three services are progressing on the tion assets are “force multipliers” that path of acquiring networked capabilities indi - provide the formation commanders with vidually with no coherent framework for joint the capability to conduct missions across service enterprise information architecture the entire range of military conflict.

Lt General (Retd) V.K. Kapoor SP’s: Is the Army Aviation Corps (AAC) self-sufficient in terms of infrastructure like PAGE 15 helicopter bases, overhaul, maintenance, spares, etc? Seeing Through Darkness ADG : Army Aviation has come a long way since its raising in 1986. The expo - nential growth in terms of equipment has also lead to simultaneous develop - ment of infrastructure to house, operate and maintain the assets. Well-trained manpower from the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME) is pro - viding dedicated technical support for maintenance of all types of helicopters in our inventory. The chain of logistics sup - port established by the Aviation branch R&D is being undertaken globally to enhance of the Corps of Ordnance is functioning the reach, improve the resolution and reduce efficiently. Army Aviation today is self- the weight of night vision devices in order to sufficient and capable of techno-logisti - provide a better edge to own side cally supporting its operations. In keep - ing with the envisaged capability Lt General (Retd) P.C. Katoch development plan, the plans for upgrad - ing and modernising existing infrastruc - PLUS ture are also in place. A Candid Review 8 SP’s Land Forces team comprising Jayant Baranwal , Lethal Combination Tackling Airborne Threats 9 Editor-in-Chief, and , SP’s: Could you elaborate on the opera - Lt General (Retd.) V.K. Kapoor tional philosophy? Does it include integra - Insecurity Rising 13 Editor, interviewed Major General P.K. Bharali , tion with other services? ADG : Precise and incisive firepower, First / TecKnow 14 Additional Director General, Army Aviation. The speed and manoeuvrability in the third Unmanned Machines at War 18 General’s dynamism and passion for his Corps dimension and close integration with the other arms of the army make the Helicopters in Combat Operations 20 was perceptible in his demeanour and in the free Corps the ultimate force multiplier in the Looking Back at 2010 21 hands of the field commander. Army and frank discussion that ensued. Aviation operates in the TBA as a com - News in Brief 23

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© 2011 Raytheon Company. All rights reserved. “Customer Success Is Our Mission” is a registered trademark of Raytheon Company. INTERVIEW << bined arms team, expanding the ground period of new acquisitions. How do you plan commander’s battle- field, principally in to maintain them in the interim period? space and time. The employment philoso - ADG : Chetak and Cheetah helicopters have phy is thus focused on integration and syn - been in service of the nation for a long time chronisation of aviation manoeuvre with and have proved themselves in all forms and the ground manoeuvre to shape the TBA as shown excellent performance, under varied per the plans of the field force commander terrain and weather conditions. Cheetah thus fulfilling the tenets of manoeuvre war - helicopters have been the ‘Saviours of fare. In consonance with joint operations Siachin Glacier’. Technology in respect of doctrine, Army Aviation is also integrated these helicopters is no doubt old and we are with other services and can be task organ - aware of the increasing challenges of main - ised to support the sister services, should the tenance of these machines. Between Hin - situation so demand. dustan Aeronautics Limited and us, adequate measures have been put in place to SP’s: What role is the Army Aviation Corps ensure that these helicopters remain main - performing in the ongoing low intensity tainable. However, it remains a challenge. conflict in J&K and the North East region? Is this role intended to be expanded in SP’s: Is your training infrastructure adequate the future? including simulators? ADG : Helicopters by virtue of their inherent ADG : Army Aviation has a full-fledged train - speed, mobility, firepower and versatility, ing infrastructure in the form of the ‘Combat make an ideal platform to be employed in Army Aviation Training School’ at Nasik, low intensity conflict. Army Aviation assets Maharashtra. This institute has been the have been gainfully employed for quick alma mater for all army aviators and has insertion of troops with enormous success in been churning out highly professional and the ongoing counter-terrorist operations. confident ‘soldiers in the sky’ for many years Surveillance, both visual and electronic, now. It has been a successful model, and delivery of essential combat loads, establish - plans are on to make it even more self-reliant ing aerial command post for better com - by allocating dedicated helicopters and tech - mand and control, swift and life-saving nical crew for the same. We are also utilising casualty evacuation are other operational the services of the Indian Air Force for train - tasks carried out routinely by Army Avia - ing of our aircrew as part of the larger con - tion. In addition we have the ability to aug - cept of integration and jointmanship among ment fire support, which significantly all the three services. Simulators are an eco - influences the close fight. The growth of nomical and highly effective method of Army Aviation will result in its role being imparting training. Army Aviation has also more and more multi-faceted. SP’s: What are your modernisation plans and made a modest beginning in this regard. how are they progressing? “Army Aviation operates However, there is handsome scope for SP’s: Is there any role for Army Aviation ADG : The modernisation plan of all the three in the tactical battle enhancing the same. Corps in asymmetrical warfare and homeland services is underway and the army’s own security? plan meshes well with the overall plan. area (TBA) as a SP’s: Are you facing any shortage of pilots ADG : The basic characteristic of the helicop - Army Aviation, per se, has been under mod - due to greener pastures in civil aviation? ter allows it to operate from point-to-point ernisation, since its raising and the pace has combined arms team, ADG : The manning pattern and age profile without the requirements of any intricate been in sync with the overall growth of the required for Army Aviation is such that lat - infrastructure. It also has excellent slow army. Besides, the ‘Lancer’ helicopter, ALH expanding the ground eral absorption into the civil aviation sector, speed handling characteristic and can main - (Dhruv) has been in service with the Army commander’s battle- if any, does not affect its growth and opera - tain time on station, on required basis. These Aviation for over 10 years. There are a few tions. There is no doubt that a number of can be exploited by the field force com - more modernisation projects in the pipeline. field, principally in pilots, who are the mainstay of the rotary mander in all types of warfare. The Indian wing sector of civil aviation in India, are stal - Army trains and prepares to meet any even - SP’s: The Chetak and Cheetah fleet is obso - space and time” warts from Army Aviation. The Corps draws tuality be it for conventional warfare or a lete and considering the long gestation its pilots from all arms of the Army, at a national emergency. We too are prepared to much younger age profile. play our part, be it for asymmetrical warfare or homeland security. Glorious History of Army Aviation Corps Arm of the Future rmy Aviation Corps will celebrate its silver jubilee on November 1, 2011. The Corps has SP’s: What are the career prospects for offi - SP’s: If India were to acquire a rapid reaction Aa place of pride in the pantheon of the Indian Army’s arms and services—and with cers and men of the AAC? Does this cause any capability for the plains and the mountains, good reason, since few can claim to have made so great an impact, in such stark contrast concern among the ranks? what would be the role of AAC and how does to their numbers, as the Army Aviation Corps. Aviation has a certain mystique and aviators ADG : Army Aviation is an elite corps. It has the Dhruv fit in due to its capability to carry exude an indescribable elan which flows out of careful selection, rigorous training and an carved a ‘niche’ for itself in the Army and up to 14 personnel? ethos of professionalism which is the real key to aviation operations. has been identified as the ‘Arm of the Future’ ADG : The ability of the helicopters to over - Year 1942 saw the inception of the Army Aviation wing of the RAF in India and the by our brass tacks. The promising young offi - come terrain friction provides mobility to the first Indian Air Observation Post flight was raised in August 1947. The Air Observation cers of all arms are highly motivated to be a force for rapid application at a given point, Post remained a small and elite arm throughout the 1950s and on the eve of the 1965 part of this reckonable force. The career making it an inseparable component of the war, the Air Observation Post comprised of only one Squadron and four Flights. The Indo- prospects in Army Aviation are equally force. Any force of this nature would require Pak Wars of 1965 and 1971 were fields and skies of glory for this small band of the bright. The pro-rata vacancies allotted to synergised employment of all available winged warriors and aviators made a name for themselves with their innumerable acts Army Aviation are at par, with the rest of the resources. To that extent the helicopters of of valour and gallantry in the skies. While the Chetaks were inducted in the Army in Army. The lateral absorption into civil avia - Army Aviation Corps, to include armed hel - March 1969, the first of the Cheetas were inducted in 1971. tion sector further ensures faster cadre icopters will invariably form part of such The Army Aviation Corps came into being on November 1, 1986, and was immediately mobility resulting in greater satisfaction operations. Enhancement of tactical/opera - inducted into “Operation Pawan” which was a crucial test for the newly formed Corps. level in the select ranks. tional lift capability is being factored into the In more ways than one, it was truly Army Aviations’ baptism by fire and they responded long term capability development plans in with pride and elan. With the Chetak helicopters taking on the logistic tasks, the Cheetahs SP’s: What do you think is the future of civil - view of the envisaged nature of operations in christened as Ranjits, operated aggressively mounted with their medium machine guns. ian helicopter industry in India and any sug - the future battlefield both in the plains as The Siachen Glacier has been the final frontier for the Army Aviation Corps. Routinely gestions to improve it? well as the mountains. operating at 20,000 feet and above on the extreme fringes of its flight envelope, the Chee - ADG : Considering the rate at which the Indian tah helicopter has been carrying out yeoman service as the workhorse of the glacier. The economy is growing, the civil helicopter indus - Combat Helicopter Army Aviation Corps has singularly been responsible for saving hundreds of lives, besides try in India is poised for a massive growth. The SP’s: Have you acquired attack helicopters providing life-sustaining logistic support while operating constantly at super high alti - civil helicopter industry in India needs to and if so, are your pilots fully capable of oper - tudes—a feat unparalleled by any other Army in the world. exploit potential in the uncharted domain of ating them? Operation Vijay was Army Aviation’s finest hour when so much was rested on the wings police force, aeromedical evacuation, disaster ADG : Army Aviators have gained rich expe - of a motley group of a few good men. Their professionalism, grit, courage and tactical skills management and logistics supply chain in rience by operating the weaponised version and sterling performance was recognised with two Squadrons receiving the Chief of Army remote/inaccessible areas. It also needs to of Cheetah helicopter called ‘Lancer’. This Staffs’ Unit Citations, two Vir Chakras and innumerable other gallantry awards. strengthen its current operations in tourism, experience will enable smooth transition The year 2001 saw the raising of the first advanced light helicopter (ALH) Sqn in pilgrimage, offshore/onshore exploration, coal and adaption to any other combat helicop - Army Aviation. The ALH nicknamed as ‘Dhruv’ has changed the face of operations in mining, election campaigning, corporate fly - ter platform that is inducted into the Army Army Aviation and has already given a major boost to the tactical capability of Army. ing and communications etc. India needs to Aviation inventory. Besides flying skills, With the rapid operational growth of Army Aviation, keeping in pace with the ongoing further establish itself as a frontline produc - intimate understanding of ground opera - modernisation process of the Army, the helicopter profile of Army Aviation in future will tion/maintenance hub of spares for helicop - tions and situational awareness of the TBA undergo a major change. ters, to cater to regional needs of South and would be of prime importance. Army Avia - On nearing completion of 25 glorious years on November 1, 2011, the Army Aviation South East Asia and even for the West and tors, by virtue of inherent training regard - Corps is riding the crest of the Revolution in Military Affairs. Without doubt this is the Middle East Asia, in collaboration with world ing operations of the Army, are ideally arm of the future—one whose potential is now only being realised and exploited. leaders from European, American and Russ - suited to operate attack helicopters. ian helicopter Industry.

1/2011 SP’s LAND FORCES 3 >> ARMY AVIATION

In our view, the year 2010 will go down as a year of Lt General J.P. Singh, Deputy Chief of the Army last decade or so has been disastrous for the L scams and inertia in defence procurement, Staff, in a recent interview with the CLAWS Journal, defence services. They have been starved for new adversely affecting military preparedness for future gave an insight into the capabilities that the Army is weapons and equipment. Except for promises and

A conflicts. Despite the oft repeated, stale and solici - acquiring. He said, “The critical capabilities that are issuance of large number of requests for information tous statements of the political leaders, the fact being enhanced to meet challenges across the (RFIs), which never seem to get translated into pro - I remains that not only are we loosing our combat spectrum, include battlefield transparency, battle - curement action, nothing is in the pipeline. edge against our adversary in the west, but we are field management systems, night-fighting capability, In war good military strategy and operational art

R also becoming vulnerable to military adventures by enhanced firepower, including terminally guided demands that we maximise the strategic returns our adversaries on both flanks. The ability to deter munitions, integrated manoeuvre capability to available from a given amount of tactical effort or

O opponents, which is a cumulative affect of military include self-propelled artillery, quick reaction sur - conversely minimise the tactical effort needed to capability and political will, is important and neces - face-to-air missiles, the latest assault engineer attain strategic objectives of war. This will necessi -

T sary to avoid wars which would waste India’s energy equipment, tactical control systems, integral combat tate induction of new technologies and state-of-the- and divert it from the path of inclusive development. aviation support and network-centricity.” A well art weaponry to wage future conflicts.

I India faces a variety of military challenges to thought out list for modernisation and transforma - This special issue carries the interview of ADG national security, which include the threats and chal - tion, but how much have we achieved and how fast Army Aviation and the focus of the articles is on army

D lenges from traditional adversaries and a multiplicity are we progressing? aviation, unmanned aerial and ground systems. of challenges which could be grouped under low It seems that all our planners, both civil and mil - intensity conflicts operations (LICO). Additionally, itary are quite aware of the conceptual aspects of E there are a large number of security parameters national security and military preparedness and at peculiar to our geography which have to be factored various security related seminars, they are able to into the military planning process in order to derive hold forth the subjects of their choice with consum - the structural and organisational changes and the ing eloquence. But alas, the truth is that the situation modernisation focus. on the ground has changed only marginally. The Lt General (Retd) V.K. Kapoor

PHOTOGRAPH : SP Guide Pubns Meeting the Challenges The Army Aviation is the arm of the future, a force-multiplier which can tilt the balance in any future conflict

Indian Army’s ALH and Lancer

n LT GENERAL (RETD) B.S. PAWAR remain so even today, lacking the where - ments continues to be near total. A similar is not acceptable to the Air Force. And all withal to be a full-fledged AAC. situation exists with regard to attack helicop - this, despite the fact that the Indian Navy, he case for the raising of Army ter units, which despite being an integral the Coast Guard and even central police Aviation Corps (AAC) dates back Force Structure part of the land battle, remain with the Air forces like the Border Security Force have to 1963 when General J.N. Chaud - Despite the AAC becoming a full-fledged arm Force. Their optimum employment in such a fixed-wing aircraft in their inventory. hary, the then Chief of the Air of the Army in 1986, its growth has been scenario is not possible in the present set up. A survey of military aviation organisa - Staff stressed the requirement haphazard and the Corps continues to be The Army’s requirement of small fixed-wing tions, within and outside the country reveals Twhile discussing the issue with the Select plagued by many infirmities. Foremost aircraft in limited numbers for important the inadequacies of our Army Aviation. At Body on Aviation headed by J.R.D. Tata. amongst these is the opposition of the Air roles like command and control, aerial com - present Army Aviation assets are inadequate General Chaudhary pointed out that heli - Force, whenever the question of expansion munication hubs, logistics including casu - for the size of the Indian Army and the tasks copters, with their rapid development in of the role of Army Aviation comes up for alty evacuation and communication flights, it is required to perform. The expansion of design and ability to carry sophisticated discussion. Essentially, the opposition relates the AAC is therefore imperative. The Army weapons had become a potent factor in the to turf with the Air Force holding on to those Aviation should possess a mix of light fixed- land battle. He further opined that efforts at assets that logically must come under the For dominating the tacti - wing aircraft and all categories of helicop - increasing the firepower and mobility of the ambit of the Army. ters including attack helicopters/gunships Army would not be complete without an Today, the AAC has the largest number cal battle space of the for various roles like reconnaissance, surveil - aviation element comprising of light, of helicopters amongst the three services, lance, combat fire support, airborne com - medium and heavy helicopters organic to majority being of the reconnaissance and 21st century, the Army mand posts, combat service support, special it. The Expert Committee on Aviation also observation class (Chetak and Cheetah). operations and logistics. t must go beyond fielding e recommended immediate creation of an Despite this, it has very few helicopters to Army Aviation needs to develop organi - n . s Army Aviation Corps for the Army. Because carry out a number of extremely specialised light observation and sations that enhance aviation capabilities to e c

r of the political and bureaucratic apathy roles in the tactical battle area. While the support the concepts of operations of field o f towards defence matters, it took 23 years of induction of the light utility helicopter light utility helicopters commanders. The force structure should be d n persistent efforts to finally break from the (ALH) has commenced, the medium and tailored to meet evolving operational require - a l s Air Force and become an independent heavy lift helicopters, which form the core of and the control of attack ments. In addition, aviation organisations p s

. Corps of the Army in 1986. The organisa - the tactical lift capability, continue to be with should include appropriate maintenance and w tion of AAC sanctioned was nowhere near the Air Force. Hence, the dependence of the helicopters by proxy logistical support elements required to sus - w

w as envisaged in 1963 and continues to Army on the Air Force for tactical move - tain the force.

4 SP’s LAND FORCES 1/2011 ARMY AVIATION <<

Army Aviation Employment Philosophy out to make them night capable. The trials for In the future, short notice, short duration their replacement are currently on. In fray are and the high intensity non-linear battlefield, state-of-the-art modern day attack helicop - with deeper and wider combat zones and ters like the American Apache Longbow AH emphasis on depth battle, the Army Avia - 64D, the Russian Ka-50 and MI-28 (Havoc). tion on account of its ability to quickly All of these are dedicated modern attack hel - engage, disengage and regroup in the battle icopters and their induction will result in a zone will greatly assist the field force as a quantum jump in the capability, notwith - force-multiplier. The primary mission of standing the ownership issues. Army Aviation is to fight the land battle and In this context, the development of the support ground operations. Its battlefield light combat helicopter (LCH) by the HAL is a leverage is achieved through a combination milestone achievement. The LCH aims to of reconnaissance, mobility and firepower gatecrash the exclusive club of the state-of- that is unprecedented in land warfare. Army the-art light attack helicopters which Aviation as the manoeuvre force in the third includes Eurocopters Tiger, Bells AH 1Z super dimension is the centrepiece of the land cobra and Chinas ultra secret Zhisheng 10 (Z- force operations. Reconnaissance, attack, 10). The LCH is a derivative of the ALH and utility and cargo helicopters complemented “The Fennec is our most advanced helicopter, fully compliant with the quality requirements of the weaponised ALH. The LCH is required to oper - by light fixed wing and support services like Indian Army and the Air Force. It is a military certified and combat proven helicopter and the most ate at high altitudes, a capability which will the air traffic control and logistics are all powerful version in the Fennec family. In fact, it is the only helicopter that has a successful track be a distinct advantage over others. Two test required to support the Army in its range of record while the other helicopters in its class are still experimental. In terms of manufacturing capac - flights have already been carried out this year military operations. ity, more than 300 Fennec/Ecureuil helicopters are manufactured every year. Given a production rate and it is likely to enter service by 2014. of approximately 1 helicopter a day, we are today best geared to deliver the 197 units required by Army Aviation’s greatest contribution : The armed ALH the Indian Armed Forces at the earliest. We are very happy with the Fennec’s performance during Armed ALH/gunship to battlefield success is the ability it gives is already at an advance stage of develop - the recent trials and are confident that it is the rightful successor of the Cheetah and Chetak”. the commander to apply decisive combat – Rainer Farid, Vice President Sales, Asia Pacific, Eurocopter ment. Trials to test the weapon systems are power at critical times virtually anywhere currently ongoing. While not a typical attack on the battlefield. This may be direct fire helicopter, it has an array of comparable from aviation manoeuvre units or the inser - battle area up to a company minus force at atre move of reserves and equipment includ - weapon systems to include guns, rockets, air- tion of overwhelming infantry forces or the critical juncture of the battle. The Dhruv ing ammunition and for special operations. to -air and air-to-ground missiles, along with artillery fires delivered into combat by air helicopter is all-weather, night capable, The HAL is looking at the feasibility of a joint a modern sighting system and relevant sen - assault. This versatility is the very essence twin-engine machine with state-of-the-art venture with a foreign vendor for a 10-12 sors. In addition, the Army Aviation already of Army Aviation. avionics. The availability of this resource will tonne class multiple purpose utility helicop - holds in its inventory the Lancer (Cheetah However, there are two areas of concern give additional tactical capability to the field ter, but very little progress has been made in gunship) capable of firing gun and rockets, a which need to be taken care of in order to commanders in planning and execution of this regard so far. The Army needs to pursue very potent and effective weapon system for ensure effective and successful use of Army their operational planning. this approach more vigorously to acquire counterinsurgency operations. Aviation assets in the tactical battle area. In the medium lift category, the Air Force this class of helicopters. Infrastructure development : While we These are the air defence and air space man - continues to stonewall all attempts of the Attack helicopters/Gunships : Today, have talked about the main equipment, there agement. Suppression of the air defence by Army to acquire a suitable helicopter in the this is the weakest link in the capability of the is also an urgent requirement to build suit - defensive measures or a combination of 10-12 tonne class. At the same time they are AAC. The meager resources held two units of able infrastructure and have it in place to offensive and defensive capabilities would be not prepared to let go of the MI-17 helicop - attack helicopters—MI-25 and MI-35, absorb the new equipment and organisa - essential to ensure unhindered employment ters held with them. These are at present though under the nominal command of tions. Support services like airfields, air traffic of the third dimension in support of ground being refurbished for night operations and Army, are in fact manned, controlled and control, met equipment, maintenance equip - forces. Air space management in the tactical additional MI-17IV are being acquired for operated by the Air Force. However, these hel - ment, etc, would also need upgradation and battle area is a very crucial aspect and replacing the ageing MI-8 helicopters. This icopters of Russian origin are vintage, though refurbishing. Lastly, the most important requires detailed planning and coordination capability is basically required for intra-the - a certain amount of upgrade has been carried facet, the training facilities for the training of to ensure optimum utilisation of all weapon PHOTOGRAPHS : Abhishek / SP Guide Pubns air crew and ground crew need modernisa - systems operating in the tactical area. tion. The importance of simulators for this One of the major challenges facing the purpose cannot be overemphasised. A mod - armed forces is counterinsurgency opera - est start was made with the installation of tions. While the use of helicopters for these the fixed-base Cheetah Simulator in 2005 at operations has been restricted to troop car - the Combat Army Aviation School at Nasik. riage, logistics, surveillance and casualty Currently, the HAL in a joint venture with a evacuation, we have been reluctant to use Canadian firm has come up with a full the gunships/attack helicopters because of motion simulator for training of ALH pilots. collateral damage. This could be of concern Its exploitation is yet to begin, but simulators in build up areas, but in remote mountain - are the way forward for future training meth - ous terrain and jungles this option needs to ods as they save cost and time. be looked at by the Army and the drills With regards to its organisation, the evolved accordingly. force structure should be tailored to meet evolving tactical requirements. The concept Modernisation of Army Aviation of Army Aviation Brigades at Command/ Despite 24 years since its formation and break Corps level is an imperative. The present from the Air Force, the Army Aviation contin - concept of aviation base put in place this ues to remain a reconnaissance and observa - year is ill conceived and needs to be recti - tion force. The helicopters held in its fied. In addition, aviation organisations inventory (Chetak and Cheetah) are vintages should include appropriate maintenance and need immediate replacement. Trials for Cheetah and Lancer at and logistical support elements required to their replacement are in the final stage. the Army Day celebrations sustain the force. French Eurocopter and Russian Kamov are in The Army Aviation needs to play a vastly fray. The replacement of the ageing Cheetah enhanced role in land operations in the com - and Chetak helicopters is crucial and needs to ing years. This is only possible if the arm commence at the earliest. Any further delay grows, both quantitatively and qualitatively. on this programme will have disastrous con - For dominating the tactical battle space of the sequences on security. 21st century, the Army must go beyond field - In the light utility category, induction of ing light observation and light utility helicop - the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited manu - ters and the control of attack helicopters by factured Dhruv (ALH) has commenced. proxy. The need is to create a dedicated and Three units have already been raised and are fully capable AAC. Resistance from the Air operational, having been orated at the level Force will persist, but the Army will have to of Corps. A total of seven such units are take a firm and unambiguous stand for its planned for induction, each having 10 heli - legitimate and logical demands. While the copters. This gives the capability to the field modernisation process has commenced, it is force commander to move within the tactical woefully slow and needs to be fast tracked. The Army Aviation is the arm of the future, a force-multiplier which can tilt the balance in Growth and modernisa - any future conflict. The growth and moderni - sation must proceed simultaneously to com - tion must proceed plement each other and due priority would be given by the powers that be. A quote from simultaneously to Alvin Tofler sums up the existing situation— “The illiterate of the 21st century will not be complement each other those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn”.

1/2011 SP’s LAND FORCES 5 >> ARMAMENTS Past, Present and the Future Armaments used in helicopters can be broadly classified into three categories, namely rapid firing automatic machine guns, rocket projectiles and guided missiles

PHOTOGRAPHS : Abhishek / SP Guide Pubns, Mark Holloway n AIR MARSHAL (RETD) B.K. PANDEY casualties to own side and least collateral damage. Progressing beyond the add-on he range of armament employed laser guidance kits, the thrust in the devel - on the helicopter since its emer - opment of guidance systems for helicopter- gence as a combat platform launched missile systems has focused on whether as an armed helicopter or integral autonomous guidance systems an attack helicopter can be broadly capable of providing devastating accuracy Tclassified into three categories, namely rapid and facilitating use of smaller warheads at firing automatic machine guns, rocket pro - lower cost and lower collateral damage. jectiles and guided missiles. Over the years, Research has focused on reduction in the all three have continuously evolved turning weight of missiles through use of advanced the relatively slow moving, docile machine materials, longer stand off ranges for into a formidable combat platform. Despite enhanced safety of the launch platform and the advancements in accuracy and lethality true “fire and forget” feature that would of air-to-surface guided weapons, of varying obviate the need for continued guidance calibre, the machine gun still retains its after launch as also the need for the launch importance and preferred against a variety Hellfire mounted on platform to venture into hostile air defence of targets such as personnel, soft skin AH-64 Apache environment. On account of operational vehicles as also thinly protected armoured compulsions, combat helicopters need to fighting vehicles. operate at low altitudes and hence standoff ranges as compared with fixed-wing plat - Machine Guns: Light & Heavy forms, are significantly lower. Guidance sys - The 7.62mm calibre, six-barrel M134 light tems that enable the air-to-surface missiles machine gun was developed in the 1960s by to home on to the target with high accuracy General Electric in response to the require - are based on laser, infrared, optical systems ments of the US Army for a weapon with an or signals from GPS. extremely high rate of fire for defence sup - The most commonly employed air-to- pression in the tactical battle area. On ground guided weapon has been the anti- account of overheating problems, the rate of tank guided missile (ATGM) which have fire in terms of rounds delivered every minute also been used against a wide variety of had to be reduced from 7,000 to 4,000. Dur - reinforced targets. The Raytheon BGM-71 ing the last nearly five decades, the M134 has Tow series both wire-guided and wireless undergone a process of evolution, the thrust with ranges up to 4,000 metres, have per - of the changes being higher levels of reliabil - haps been the most widely used ATGM of ity though at a lower rate of fire. Garwood, western origin in the 25 to 35 kg weight an Arizona-based company, now offers a category. The 4,000 metres range MBDA stainless steel gun with titanium components Hydra-70 Rocket launcher Hot-3 will be used initially on Eurocopter and chrome-lined barrels. With an in-built mounted on AH-64 Apache Tiger helicopters in the French and German facility to select the rate of fire between 3,000 Armies. As an alternative, the 49-kg MBDA and 4,000 rounds per minute, the gun is des - ellan/Bristol Aerospace. The accuracy and To fill the gap between larger, more Pars 3 LR that employs imaging infrared ignated as the M134G and is employed on effectiveness of unguided rockets was later expensive guided missiles and the current guidance would also be available for the the Bell UH-I, Sikorsky UH-60 series and the substantially enhanced through add-on laser family of unguided rockets, Alliant Techsys - Eurocopter Tiger of the German Army. This Boeing MH-6 Little Bird. guidance kits that help the rocket home on to tems (ATK) in collaboration with Elbit Sys - missile has a range of 6,000 metres as also In the heavy category were machine guns the intended target. Such conversion kits tems Limited of Israel, has in 2009, a fire-and-forget capability. Closer home, of 12.7mm or 0.5-inch calibre such as the available today include the direct attack successfully tested the 70mm guided the armed version of the Hindustan Aero - single-barrel pod mounted FN Herstal guided rocket (DAGR) from Lockheed Martin, advanced tactical rocket (GATR), a semi- nautics Limited produced advanced light M3/Gau-21 employed on the AgustaWest - the advanced precision kill weapon system active laser guided rocket. Test fired from a helicopter Dhruv will be equipped with a land AW101 and the Bell OH-58D. It has a from BAE the Elbit Star. TDA armaments is Bell OH-58D and Sikorsky UH-60 Black new version of the Nag anti-armour missile rate of fire of 1,025 rounds per minute. There meanwhile working on a laser-guided Sneb Hawk, the weapons system employs developed by the Defence Research and is also the triple barrel 12.7mm Gau-19/A 68mm under the designation Syrocot. Laser advanced acquisition, tracking, and guid - Development Organisation (DRDO). This 42 with a rate of fire of 1,000 or 2,000 rounds homing kits not only provide a much higher ance algorithms and has demonstrated a kg weapon system with a fibreglass air - per minute from General Dynamics Arma - level of accuracy but also a low-cost option. sub-metre CEP. It is expected to offer a range frame will employ imaging infrared for ment and Technical Products used on In collaboration with Emirates Advanced of over eight km from a helicopter operating homing on to target and is said to have a HH/MH-60G helicopters. The 20mm three- Investments, Raytheon is developing the at low altitude and the guided rocket has the range of 7,000 metres. barrel M197 cannon also from General Talon for the Middle East market. Trials of the capability to lock on to the target either The thrust towards the development of Dynamics has been de-rated to fire 650 Talon have been carried out on Boeing before or after launch. The propulsion sys - smaller warheads has been further inspired rounds per minute for mounting in the chin Apache AH-64D and Bell OH-58D. Equipped tem of the rocket and the mid-body warhead by the recent experience of the US forces in turret on the Marine Corps Bell AH-1W/Z and with the Raytheon laser seeker head, subse - is made by ATK while Elbit provides the laser Afghanistan with the Lockheed Martin on the AgustaWestland A129CBT. The higher quent batches of the weapon system will be guidance equipment. Equipped with a smart AGM-114 Hellfire. Meant essentially for use calibre single-barrel 30mm M230 Chain Gun manufactured in the UAE. fuse, the weapon is effective against station - against armour, in the absence of suitable developed by Alliant Techsystems (ATK) is ary and moving targets including thinly pro - alternatives, the Hellfire was widely mounted externally on the Boeing AH-64 tected armoured vehicles. As per Eric employed against personnel and other Apache. With a capacity of 1,200 rounds, the Future developments Isaacson, Director, Rocket Programmes, smaller or low value targets resulting in high M230 fires 625 rounds per minute. ATK, the GATR is quite suitable for integra - collateral damage. In a counterinsurgency With the evolution of the machine gun will need to address not tion with Boeing’s Apache attack helicopter scenario, prolific use of the Hellfire, espe - came the realisation that for helicopter as also other similar platforms from Euro - cially against unsuitable targets proved to be mounted machine guns, very high rates of only increased copter. The rocket combines combat-proven not only overkill, but expensive and counter - fire were neither required nor tenable on performance, a very low smoke signature productive as well. account of technical limitations and that effectiveness of the and the reliability of an ATK-produced small calibre ammunition is equally effective. guided weapons systems propulsion system, similar to that provided The Future Also, on the heavier machine guns or can - by the company for the innumerable rockets Future developments will need to address nons, the rate of fire being still lower, a single- but also focus on a range supplied to the US Army. ATK will be fielding not only increased effectiveness of the barrel option served the purpose equally well. the GATR as a low-cost option to meet with guided weapons systems but also focus on a t e of technologies to accord the requirements of the US Army against range of technologies to accord the missile n . s Rockets stiff competition from other players such as systems multi-role capability, longer life and e

c the missile systems

r The earliest rockets to be fired from helicop - Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Thales. significantly lower life-cycle cost. Guidance o f ters were unguided and provided an effective ATK is conscious of the level of competition systems are shifting from command guid - d multi-role capability, n option for strike against high value or fortified but is nevertheless optimistic. ance to automatic command to line of sight a l s ground targets. The popular ones amongst longer life and lower wherein acquisition and tracking of target p s Guided Missiles . these were the 68mm Sneb from Thales/TDA would be automated paving the way to w armaments, the 70-mm Hydra-70 from Gen - life-cycle cost The objective of aerial missions in war is to launch multiple missiles simultaneously w

w eral Dynamics and the CRV7 series from Mag - achieve objectives rapidly with minimum against an array of targets.

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IntegratedWeaponSystems.bdev atk.com www.atk.com @ >> ARMY AIR DEFENCE A Candid Review With China’s grand design to become a regional hegemon en route to becoming a global power, there is no choice but to modernise India’s defence forces rapidly. But there has been only empty rhetoric without much progress.

PHOTOGRAPH : Anoop Kamath

DRDO’s Akash

n LT GENERAL (RETD) NARESH CHAND 1964. It was to be completely replaced by there are not many such systems available. is more than 35 years old and has the tech - 2000. But there is no progress. Defence Thus the response would not be very nology of the early 1960s. Thus an RFP has he security environment in India’s Research and Development Organisation’s encouraging, thereby delaying the mod - been issued but later on withdrawn due to neighbourhood has been deterio - (DRDO) effort also kept its replacement at a ernisation process. poor response. DRDO’s Akash has not suc - rating for quite sometime and with limb for about two decades. Not many gun Quick reaction SAM (QR SAM) sys - ceeded in mobile role and so the Indian Air China’s grand design to become a systems are currently available, but a possible tem : The current system is OSA-AK which Force has procured limited numbers to regional hegemon en route to choice is Skyshield of Rheinmetall Defence is a highly mobile system for the defence of replace the ageing Pechoras. The Indian bTecoming a global power, there is no choice which has an effective range of four km and armour formations. This system is more Army has followed suit in buying some for but to modernise India’s defence forces rap - rate of fire of 1,000 rounds per minute. It can than 20 years old and needs to be replaced. important strategic tasks. But additional pro - idly. Regrettably there has been only empty be matched with any fire control radar and DRDO’s effort to develop Trishul system did curement appears to be through a joint ven - rhetoric without much progress. A large the most redeeming feature is its advance hit not succeed and a fresh RFP is likely to be ture of the DRDO and IAI of Israel. The number of request for information (RFI) and efficiency and destruction technology issued shortly. It is very difficult to predict the contenders could be Russia’s BUK-M1, request for proposal (RFP) have been issued, (AHEAD) ammunition which contains 152 timeframe of procurement. Possible choices Aster30, Patriot Advance Capability-3 but without any concrete result. A candid heavy tungsten metal, spin stabilised sub-pro - could be Israel’s Spyder, Raytheon’s Hawk (PAC3). The PAC3 system incorporates many review of Army Air Defence (AAD) equip - jectiles and ejected by a time fuze. It is claimed XXI which is a more advanced and compact changes to the ground equipment and the ment will prove this point. to be very effective against small targets. The version of Hawk PIP-3 upgrade integrated missile, and is fielded in incremental steps, same system can replace ZU-23mm twin-bar - with a swanky new 3D MPQ-64 sentinel called Configuration 1, 2, and 3 PAC3/Con - Current AAD Scenario rel guns if found suitable and reduce the radar. The missiles are upgraded MIM-23K figuration. The ultimate PAC3/Configuration AAD is holding systems with varying time - inventory. The gun was to be upgraded but standard with an improved blast-fragmenta - 3 includes upgrades to the radar (now desig - frames, ranging from the oldest 40mm L70 details are not known. However, upgrading or tion warhead that creates a larger lethal nated AN/MPQ-65) to increase detection in gun which is more than four decades old to adding new fire control radar will have no zone. Raytheon’s other system is surface- high-clutter environments, and to improve the youngest Tangushka which is about 15 effect as the rate of fire is very low to match launched advanced medium-range air-to-air discrimination of closely spaced objects (bet - years old. The majority of the remaining the current and the future air threat. missile (SLAMRAAM) which is the land ver - ter decoy recognition). Patriot is the obvious guns and missiles are about 20-30 years Schilka system : It is a highly mobile sion of air-to-air missile which has recently front runner as it is war proven; has hit to kill old. Actually the vintage of these systems is system for supporting armour formations been inducted into the US Defence Forces. technology; can engage aircraft, helicopters, much more in their country of origin. Thus and is in service since the early 1970s. Its Other systems are Russia’s TOR M-1 which UAVs, cruise and tactical ballistic missiles in all respect, they are either obsolete or successor was Tangushka, one regiment of has a range of 12 km and Aster15 with a deployed with 10 nations including the US. t e have reached obsolescence. Meanwhile, the which was procured, but there have been range of about 30 km which seem to fall in Shoulder Fired SAM systems : The cur - n . s air threat has been becoming more critical many twists and turns for buying addi - the category of either less or more range rent system is Igla, which is also in service e c

r with the fifth generation fighters looming in tional mounts. The result is that the AAD is than required. There are reports that DRDO with the Indian Navy and the Indian Air o f the horizon and unmanned combat aerial stuck with limited equipment, which does is having a joint venture with MBDA for Force. It was to be replaced with a latest ver - d n vehicles (UCAV) becoming a reality. With not meet the current operational require - Mica missile calling it Maitre (friendship) sion called Igla-M which had a better a l s this backdrop, the current AAD picture is ment. One possibility is to take dispensation under a short-range SAM (SR-SAM) system ‘approach mode’ capability, but it did not p s

. rather dismal. for ‘single vendor’, and procure more num - programme for replacing QR-SAM system. fructify. Some current systems are Starstreak w L/70 gun system : L/70 is the mainstay bers of Tangushka mounts. The Indian Medium range SAM (MR-SAM) of UK, Stinger Block 2 of the US and the Mis - w w and has been the war horse of AAD since Army has issued another RFI in June, but system : Kvadrat is the current system which tral of France.

8 SP’s LAND FORCES 1/2011 OEM << Tackling Airborne Threats The Raytheon-Kongsberg team will offer India a set of solutions, or system of systems, tailored to each requirement

ware and software simplifies the challenges enables positive airspace and battle manage - air defence elements into a fully integrated of training and sustainment across the air ment, integrating and optimising weapon system, as well as communication interfaces and missile defence forces. systems performance. C2 integration with with adjacent and higher echelon com - The Raytheon-Kongsberg team will offer multiple adjacent sensors and higher-eche - mands. This robust architecture allows each India a set of solutions, or system of systems, lon units, as well as the Indian Integrated Air node on the net to be digitally connected tailored to each requirement. A network of Command and Control Systems defence thereby overcoming terrain obstacles, and n SANJAY KAPOOR sensors supplying data to this common com - structure, will ensure a robust and effective minimising the effects of combat losses of an mand and control architecture provides a air defence architecture. individual node. Capabilities are mixed and single correlated air picture (SCAP) that Digital communication network links all organisations are designed to meet specific

he Indian Ministry of Defence has not yet released the requirement for quick reaction surface-to-air mis - sile (QRSAM), and hence it would be premature to specify an exact TBM sTolution. However, some insights can be pro - LRSAM vided into the approach that the Raytheon- Engagements Kongsberg team will take in response to any Patriot Fighter requirement released by India. Engagement Zone Airborne threats today are many and varied. They range from the familiar high speed fixed wing fighters and bombers to hovering helicopters, low radar cross section Fighter-Bomber cruise missiles, loitering unmanned aerial Altitude vehicles (UAV), and lethal tactical ballistic missiles (TBM). Combine this broad array of MRSAM TBM QRSAM/SRSAM threats with the wide range of assets to Engagements Zone Hawk XXI be protected, and the force commander Hawk XXI & faces a daunting challenge. The capabilities VSHORAD Zone SL-AMRAAM required to protect a manoeuver force are Cruise Missile Stinger Cruise Missile different from those required to protect a UAV port, population centre or an airbase. The capability required to defeat a large fighter- Range bomber is significantly different from that required for a TBM. It is for this reason that Figure 1: Layered air and missile defence capabilities can be mixed to meet multiple mission requirements and defeat the complete array of threats the Raytheon-Kongsberg team will offer India a set of solutions, or system of systems, tailored to each requirement. missions and defeat the entire range of The key to a successful air defence solu - Brigade BOC threats faced by the force. Higher tion is to employ a layered air defence strategy Echelon These tailored capabilities will have nits (Figure 1) that incorporates a mix of weapons te u many characteristics in common. First, a Unit (HEU) ina ord systems in order to counter this diverse air sub multi-spectral suite of sensors employing to 8 threat. Advanced countermeasure capabili - Up state-of-the-art technology for detection ties and multi-dimensional saturation attacks Battalion (Regimental) and tracking of low radar cross-section require a defensc in depth. The Raytheon- Operations Centre (BOC) and low altitude targets. Given line of Kongsberg concept for an air defence system sight, target acquisition can occur at for Indian armed forces offers an integrated ranges well in excess of that required to O O air defence system, providing point, area and EW Surveillance support specific target engagements. Using R R manoeuver force defence with common sen - Radar(s) a combination of radio frequency (RF) sor coverage and an integrated command and radars, electrooptical (EO), and infrared control (C2) architecture. Based on open (IR) sensors, in vehicle mounted or ele - hardware and software architectures, this C2 vated platforms, this suite of capabilities design will incorporate existing capabilities of provides a robust detection and tracking the Indian armed forces and will easily add capability that even the most sophisticated new capabilities in the future, regardless of Up to 8 Fire Distribution Centres (FDC) threats will be unable to defeat. the manufacturer. The effectors offered to meet these The fire distribution centre (FDC) config - requirements will also consist of a wide range ured as battery mobile command post of capabilities. The ranges will vary from the (BMCP) is the centerpiece in this state-of-the- very short range stinger class missile, the art C2 system that utilises extended commu - Figure 2: Integrated command & control (c2) provides an accurate picture of the battlespace and short- to medium-range SL-AMRAAM mis - nications and data link capabilities. The robust control of the available forces sile, the medium range Hawk and evolved sea unique battalion net data link (BNDL) estab - sparrow missile (ESSM), to the long-range lished between the FDCs provides improved Patriot missile. Missile guidance options are a combined sensor coverage and increased mix of passive, semi-active, active, and track- ECM survivability. The netting of FDCs via-missile (TVM) guidance. The final missile enables complete situational awareness by mix will be selected to defeat the specified creating and exchanging a local air picture threat in support of the required mission. (LAP), air space control measures and inte - With all the capabilities, the mobility of Single Vehicle Sentinnel EMCP Vehicle Options gration of external recognised air pictures the platforms are adaptable to meet the spec - (RAP); consequently producing a single cor - ified requirements. Employment on wheeled related air picture (SCAP). The FDC C2 solu - or tracked vehicles is available and as shown tion represents the latest in modern military in Figure 3, been demonstrated in numer - air defence technology based on open archi - ous configurations. tecture standards. This open architecture In summary, the solutions available from enables continuous system capabilities evo - Hawk in Desert Storm EMCP Fixed Facility the Raytheon-Kongsberg team will provide lution through the addition of elements and a robust air and missile defense capability modules, as new technology becomes avail - that can be tailored to meet the complete able, providing unlimited future growth array of specified requirements across the potential. This C2 element can be easily and Indian armed forces and defeat the full spec - quickly reconfigured to control operations at trum of threats. all levels of command from basic fire unit through battalion, regiment, brigade, or Self Propelled Hawk HUMCWAR The writer is Vice President, Patriot Programs, division (Figure 2). Commonality of hard - Figure 3: All system elements can be mounted on a wide range of platforms Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems

1/2011 SP’s LAND FORCES 9 >> TECHNOLOGY A Long Way to Go It is disconcerting to note that the three services are progressing on the path of acquiring networked capabilities individually with no coherent framework for joint service enterprise information architecture. What is required is to establish agencies and agents for implementation within each service and for effective tri-service architecture.

PHOTOGRAPH : US Army l Joint/Integrated organisations US future soldiers in action l Joint concepts and a joint doctrine to fight future conflicts l Induction of new technologies l Network enabled platforms [tanks, ships, aircraft, etc] l Attitudinal change to accommodate the concept of NCW Integrate New Technologies as War Fighting Systems Technology, which is one of the principle fac - tors that drives the change in the method of war fighting is one of the most important components of NCW. India is facing an entirely new technology era, generated through advancements in the field of mini - turisation, digitisation, material science, biotechnology, sensor technology, stealth, communications and information technol - ogy. India needs to integrate new technolo - gies as warfighting systems for which the requirement is to first evolve a new joint warfighting doctrine and concepts of joint warfighting and then decide upon the weapons and other systems to suit the for - mer. Employment of fully integrated task n LT GENERAL (RETD) V.K. KAPOOR vital parameters of this type of warfare. At catered for limited integration at appropriate forces in the future would require, in the first the national and military strategic levels, levels, the communication networks existing instance, introduction of three key technolo - n dealing with technical vocabulary, the we are continuing to underplay and ignore currently do not allow the type of inter-oper - gies. The first one involves long-range preci - first step is to get past the definitional these issues. Our so called jointness is nei - ability required. The completion of the sion firepower on the pattern used by the aspect. Network-centric warfare (NCW) ther functional nor formalised. defence communications network (DCN) Americans in the Gulf War, the war in is a concept of operations that generates will help in this regard if effective tri-service Kosovo and in Afghanistan. The strikes increased combat power by networking Challenges Related to architecture is well conceived, developed and which were carried out from naval platforms, sIensors, decision-makers and shooters to Net-centric Environment put into place by a suitably designated team passed through the medium of air, were achieve shared awareness and synchronised The threat to India from traditional adver - of operational and technical experts of the guided by space based assets, and struck land activity. NCW uses information for the benefit saries requires preparation and readiness for three services. targets. In the Indian context also there will of the war fighters in peace and in war. The high intensity conventional conflicts which be a variety of platforms. Networking of the military calls it situational awareness, which are likely to be rare. In the near and mid- Conducting Network-Centric Operations firepower resources of the three services will implies awareness regarding terrain (includ - term, the armed forces are more likely to The four fundamental requirements (capa - ensure optimum effect on the target while the ing objectives/targets), enemy, and own fight non-traditional conflicts involving bilities) for conducting network centric oper - choice is left to the integrated force com - forces. This information is passed from the counter-terrorism on land, at sea or in the ations are networked communications, mander to use the most appropriate and the sensors deployed on the ground, at sea, in the air; proxy wars supported and encouraged information sharing, advanced information most effective weapons. The second domi - air and in the space (satellites, unmanned by adversarial neighbours; and home-grown technologies such as agents and decision nant technology trend is in the field of inte - aerial vehicles, aircraft, radars, etc) through insurgencies as part of India’s turbulent support algorithms and networked-enabled grative technologies. The advances in the broadband digital communication networks internal security situation. Additionally, the platforms [vehicles, tanks, ships, aircraft and field of communications, computers, com - to frontline units and the decision-makers in armed forces may be called upon to stabilise other weapon systems]. The Indian armed mand and control, information and interop - the rear in real/near real timeframe, thus the volatile strategic environment around forces are neither integrated nor do they pos - erability (C4I2) have provided the military a making the battlefield transparent and reduc - India through a benign presence and if sess these capabilities, regardless of some capability to view the battle space as one ing the response time. required through force projection. Force “standalone” capabilities existing within composite whole and thus targets can be Network-centric operations have also may also have to be projected to secure our each service. Our desire to acquire the capa - tackled jointly or singly by any weapon of been described as high tempo; precise, agile offshore assets, island territories, assets and bilities is laudable, but if we wish to move any service, which is within range. Inter- style of manoeuvre warfare focused on Indian diasporas abroad, and to assist along this path of an Indian RMA, then our operability will be the essence for the different effects based operations (EBO) that derive friendly nations when invited. Hence, the promises must be backed by agencies and C4I2 systems of the three Services. The third their power from robust networking of geo - nature of wars, in the future, is going to agents for implementation. The military most important field relates to intelligence, graphically separated entities. EBO them - compel us to think big, but only with smaller, instrument of network-centric warfare will surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) that selves are coordinated sets of actions more manoeuverable, more precise, more have to be forged on suitably integrated will keep track of enemy and own forces directed at shaping the behaviour of friends, agile forces and above all integrated forces. organisations, new technologies, joint con - movements through advanced sensors and foes and neutrals in peace, crises and war. This will come about because technology cepts and doctrines, and joint training and platforms like aircraft, UAVs, and satellites This implies timely, appropriate and skillful will allow large forces to be replaced by ‘pre - joint communication architecture. Hence, assisted by global positioning systems (GPS). use of all or selected element(s) of national cision’ and ‘information’ highlighting the the important issues that the Services need These advances are making the battlefield power which include political/diplomatic, time factor as the critical issue. to examine in far greater details are: more transparent and the wars more precise. economic, technological, social, psycholog - A major challenge lies in the realm of l Jointly evolved communication archi - Some of the key technologies, from the point ical, information/media and military our currently well defined command and tecture of view of surveillance, in a net-centric envi - among others. Timely sharing of informa - control structure which would need a review ronment are synthetic aperture radar (SAR) tion and intelligence, results in increased because in a net-centric environment (NCE) and hyper spectral imaging (HIS) and a com - speed of command, higher tempo of opera - the military guideline of ‘one up and two The Indian armed forces bination of the two in a number of satellites tions, greater lethality and increased sur - down’ may not remain relevant. Moreover, would enable surveillance capability through vivability. In essence, therefore, NCW the dividing line between strategic, opera - have a long way to go to all 24 hours. Positioning of as little as four advocates and enables integration and tional and tactical levels will meet the same manoeuvrable satellites over a selected geo - t achieve a capability for e “jointmanship” in which the three Services, fate because the nature of net-centric oper - graphical area could provide battle damage n . s in the Indian context, are lagging behind ations will allow prosecution of operations assessment every six hours over a 24-hour e net-centric warfare c

r despite all their diplomatic eloquence from in a simultaneous and non-linear manner, period. Other advances in space technology o f time to time. The final aim is to achieve throughout the battle space, thus hastening such as transmission of huge amounts of d despite the fact that the n strategic (political) objectives of war with the process of achieving the strategic aims data by vehicles like the transformation satel - a l s the least amount of tactical effort which and objectives of war. ‘strategic moment’ for lite system (TSAT) would enable the dissemi - p s

. incidentally is also the essence of “opera - Another challenge is that while the three nation of large packets of data such as HIS w tional art”. Hence jointness and integration services are modernising their respective change had arrived pictures. Today, it takes a few minutes to w

w together with innovative operational art are networks and suitable gateways are being receive, typically 500 MB data [one scene]

10 SP’s LAND FORCES 1/2011 ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE.

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from satellites. In the future with TSAT, at ties. Such moments by themselves may not grated commands. The Army must also data rates of 10 to 40 GBPS, it would take less be the main event but they provide the hint Timely sharing of think of flatter organisations as both the than a second to transmit of what may be feasible. information and nature of future wars and future technolo - Step 6 : “Institutional agency” explains gies suggest such a solution. Nine Steps in the RMA Process the need for RMAs to have agencies and intelligence results in While each Service should plan to con - The military analysts have established that agents for implementation. These include duct intra-service trials for their respective RMAs of all kinds, of any magnitude, and in appropriate military organisations and with increased speed of C4I2SR systems, inter-service developments any period are likely to share a common suitable military cultures, joint doctrines should be conducted apace. I recommend an structure with common structural-func - and innovative operational concepts derived command, higher tempo inter-services team of dedicated professionals tional dynamics. Colin S. Gray in his seminal through “operational art” and intensive from the General Staff, with one or two tech - work on RMAs—“Strategy for chaos: Revo - training. of operations, greater nical hands along with scientists of the lution in military affairs and evidence of his - Step 7 : “Instrument” describes that not lethality and increased DRDO, at the level of Colonels and equiva - tory”, explains nine steps in the RMA only do the RMAs have to be conceived and lents under a two star General/Admiral/ Air process which could assist the Indian mili - forged but their military instruments also survivability Marshal, be formed immediately to look into tary in coordinating and improving their have to be procured. Regardless of the all aspects of interfacing and interoperability integrated NCW project. potency of the military instrument, it has to under the aegis of the Integrated Defence Step 1 : “Preparation” implies that be of a size which is appropriate for executing Staff. As far as an inter-services “test bed” is RMAs occur following lengthy periods of operational concepts in the Indian context. our strategic convergence with the United concerned, the integrated Andaman & Nico - reform and extensive preparatory work is Step 8 : “Execution and evolving matu - States must help us in obtaining the tech - bar Command could be nominated. They necessary. rity” clarifies that the only test that really nologies that we lack through direct transfer should have under them the tri-service mil - Step 2 : “Recognition of challenge” counts, in the pragmatic world of strategy, is or through joint development projects. itary instrument of “force projection” com - explains that RMAs occur for a wide variety the detailed consequences of the use of the prising operational formations of all three of reasons judged important. They are a RMA i.e. its trial by combat. This step essen - The Approach to Implementation services. This experience, after due modifica - manifestation of radical political-strategic tially refers to the military and strategic effec - The cost and complexities of such a project tions, can later be applied to other force lev - reorientation which in our case was pro - tiveness achieved by implementing the RMA. will not allow all platforms of the Indian mil - els on the continental land mass of India or vided by the Kargil conflict. Step 9 : “Feedback and adjustment” itary to be network-enabled simultaneously for other contingencies outside the Indian Step 3 : “Parentage” which means must have the potential of fuelling a com - and hence priorities will have to be laid boundary limits. RMAs should be successful in requiring plete renewal of the RMA cycle. down. As far as the Army is concerned, pri - It is quite disconcerting to note that the political clout or the patronage of those with The nine steps explained above are just ority should be given to offensive formations three services are progressing on the path of political clout. A case in point is of the infor - an analytical tool and could be termed as a as these may be called out at short notice to acquiring networked capabilities individually mation-led RMA of 1990s in the US where conceptual tool kit for understanding an deal with developing crises. Selected offen - with no coherent framework for joint service Andrew W. Marshall was the intellectual RMA process such as the NCW. It needs reit - sive formations should be network-enabled enterprise information architecture. Cur - parent and patron who was keenly sup - erating that the NCW phenomenon involves in the first instance. Let us take the example rently, the Indian armed forces have a long ported by the Secretary of Defence William J. much more than mere networked commu - of mechanised infantry division group [a way to go to achieve a capability for net-cen - Perry and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs nications. In fact, it involves a totality of sys - future thought]. In such formations, 100 per tric warfare despite the fact that the ‘strategic of Staff William A. Owens. tems which can be abbreviated as cent command and control and combat moment’ for change had arrived. Hence, Step 4 : “Enabling spark” implies that an command, control, communications, com - vehicles will be network-enabled, while what is required is to establish agencies and RMA like NCW has to be constructed by rev - puter, intelligence, interoperability, surveil - troop carrying, repair and recovery vehicles agents for implementation within each serv - olutionary effort and for this a vital lance and reconnaissance (C4I2SR). Our and logistics vehicles may be networked ice and for effective tri-service architecture. “enabling spark” is needed which may be armed forces would do well to study this phe - selectively. The key factor should be that The cost of transformation will be formidable individuals or vital inventions. nomenon carefully and conduct the devel - when networked even 60 to 70 per cent and hence tri-service organisational synergy Step 5 : “Strategic moment” spells out opmental process through tri-service solutions should deliver a capability that far and prioritisation of resources will be vital that RMAs typically contain a “strategic integrated inquiry, research and analysis to outstrips the sum of its parts. This will also aspects of development. Military and political moment” which reveals, as in a flash of bril - arrive at contextual frameworks and struc - happen when ground, air and naval plat - awakening and acceptance to bring about liance, new and exciting strategic possibili - tures for NCW. This is also an area where forms are networked and placed under inte - this change is also a fundamental necessity. SP’s

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12 SP’s LAND FORCES 1/2011 CYBER SECURITY <<

FIRST OF A SERIES OF ARTICLES TOWARDS A CYBER SECURITY STRATEGY Insecurity Rising As a country, we are yet to grasp the significance of cyber warfare. There is no cohesive policy for cyber security at the national level.

PHOTOGRAPH : af.mil media gallery n LT GENERAL (RETD) P.C. KATOCH

he Frankenstein of ‘cyber security’ or rather ‘cyber insecurity’ is strik - ing fear across the lengths and breadths of the globe. Cyberspace has become a major potential land - sTcape of insecurity, courtesy hackers, phish - ing, malware, botnets, bing, ghostnet, conficker, stuxnet, logic bombs, EMP attacks and the like. While experts and governments grapple with the problem, it is well acknowl - edged that critical infrastructures including distribution systems of electric power trans - mission, water, oil, gas and the like are very much susceptible to cyber attacks. A major vulnerability has emerged in the use of Internet. It is use of Internet that made Wik - ileaks possible. Without the Internet, Wik - ileaks would not have managed to propagate such classified information at this massive scale. On the other hand, penetration of Internet is fast becoming an instrument of exercising operational art. It is for such rea - sons that China has mastered control of the Internet as part of her cyber security policy. The general belief in India is that rele - vance of cyber security is mainly in the defence sector. This is a myth. Economy of a country in the modern era has a lot to do with security of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), which in turn is heavily dependent on cyber security especially when cyber attacks have the potential to kill or US Cyber Command maim critical infrastructure. Technology, management procedures, cyber laws, organ - forced to shut down on account of cyber most attractive channel of attack is the Inter - down of satellites and GPS, power cuts, ces - isational structures, cyber security culture, attacks on the European Union’s Emissions net. Hackers take full advantage of poor pro - sation of communications, freezing of stock skills and competence of human beings are Trading Scheme. Such attacks highlight the gramming on a website and install malware exchanges and other service interferences. some of the factors around which cyber secu - vulnerability of the critical infrastructure that infects the visitors. Website builders gen - Lack of cyber security can actually permit rity revolves. If our economy is to grow expo - including the vital energy sector due to their erally do not include adequate security in global catastrophes through cyber attacks. nentially and if India is to attain its desired connection and interdependence of their design philosophy which leads to exploitable In cyberspace, information gets instantly position in the comity of nations, we need a information systems with the Internet. The flaws. The originators of cyber attacks could conveyed to servers around the world. coherent approach to cyber security. For such US and surely other countries have been be the States or their arms (like intelligence Though the signals are impersonal, they coherent approach, a National Strategy for exercising simulated cyber attacks against agencies—both military and civil), defence connect the real world. It is not possible to Cyber Security needs to be defined in sync her critical infrastructure including power forces or hackers employed as information achieve cyber security by individual experts with international norms. Such a strategy grids, communications systems and financial and cyber warfare actors/warriors to inflict or even by countries/governments independ - should be supported with operational organ - networks in order to arrive at a suitable disruption, map adversary’s capabilities and ently. It is for the latter reason that groups of isational structures and a roadmap to develop response roadmap. The major problem is pin - assess one’s own capacity to attack whenever countries are aiming to develop partnerships the necessary cyber security culture. We are pointing the origin of the cyber attacks with conflict situations arise. Besides industrial for achieving regional cyber security. The at a nascent stage of developing a policy all the advantages such attacks have in terms espionage in cyber space that has been ongo - importance of public-private partnership response to the threats of cyber spying, if not of unpredictability, timing, stealth and ing for several decades, cyber attacks can also and the need to increase cyber security cyber war, and it would be useful to track anonymity, all of which make threatening be politically motivated. awareness requires little elaboration. The developments elsewhere and keep mapping retaliation extremely difficult. Such retalia - phenomenon of cyber attacks has affected the related capabilities and weaknesses of cor - tion is doubly difficult sans the means to Cyber Security all parts of the globe; from the most responding Indian institutions. establish whether the cyber attack(s) is state- Cyber warfare has emerged as a potent threat advanced to the developing counties. sponsored or the act of pranksters. How both in conventional and non-conven - Absolute cyber security is a myth as Cyberspace and Cyber War would you define such acts as an act of war tional/asymmetric war scenarios. Hacking security is a challenge, it is dynamic and Future battlegrounds will undoubtedly be or how can you judge that these attacks are spearheading cyber attacks and cyber terror - manifests in newer forms. The threat today inclusive of cyberspace. Cyber warfare has no a prelude to actual war? Global escalation of ism have become daily occurrences globally. is to cripple a nation in all its manifestation defined boundaries. I is all pervasive, more cyber attacks and continuing penetration of Conventional war can actually be won in the and covers a broad spectrum which includes penetrating and detrimental and by far much scores of networks has far outpaced the fifth domain even before the war is declared, infrastructures like railways, national power more complex than conventional warfare. Its research in finding suitable deterrent. much ahead of commencement of hostilities. grid, national information grid, aviation, manifestations include attacks on critical The spate of cyber attacks indicates one The power to take control/interfere with the surface transport, nuclear/atomic centres, infrastructure, equipment and weapon sys - of the objectives is to gather information and adversary’s networks, not only affects the lat - the financial institutions and their networks, tem disruptions, web vandalism, penetrative test vulnerabilities of actors, networks and ter’s defence potential but can actually crip - defence installations and their networks— data gathering or cyber espionage, distributed infrastructure. Such mapping of the web and ple a nation, bringing almost everything to a today’s security dimensions are quite differ - denial-of-service attacks, compromised coun - accumulated information would help identify standstill. Security is vital since methods of ent from the erstwhile conventional ones. terfeit hardware, etc. With various surveys cyber warfare targets and refine attack tech - cyber attacks have become more complicated Lack of evolving requisite cyber security assessing that over a hundred countries are niques for use at opportune time to paralyse and sophisticated. In India, cyber attacks deterrent, since ‘prevention’ was found to be developing ways to use the Internet as a the adversary’s critical infrastructure. The - have been experienced by the Prime Minis - ineffective has led experts to advocate ‘pre- weapon and target financial markets, govern - ter’s Office (PMO), Central Bureau of Investi - emption’ albeit this is at present sans the ment computer systems and utilities, cyber - gation (CBI), Defence Research and legal cover and is facing absurdity of pre- space would naturally become the battlefield Hackers take full Development Organisation (DRDO), National emption in the face of foolproof evidence. of choice in not only gaining information advantage of poor pro - Informatics Centre (NIC), military establish - Offensive Information Dominance is the new superiority but also global supremacy. ments, defence installations, nuclear instal - buzzword and enormous amounts of The past two years (2009-10) saw the US gramming on a website lations, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry finances and resources are being poured into electrical grid being penetrated by allegedly of Home and Dalai Lama’s Secretariat, to this to achieve perfection/ near perfection. It the Chinese. Similarly, the US oil companies and install malware that name a prominent few. Lack of cyber security goes without saying that this implies invad - Marathon Oil, ExxonMobil and Cono - can cause critical loses in system data and ing foreign computers and networks, not coPhillips were the targets of cyber attacks. infects the visitors information, resulting in failure of weapon that it will provide foolproof security to own Registries in 13 European countries were systems, curtailed military activity, shutting side; damage to both sides is inevitable in the

1/2011 SP’s LAND FORCES 13 >> CYBER SECURITY

event of cyber attack(s)/ counter attack(s) in fast paced technological developments can process, engineering requisite resistance varying degrees. be unpredictable. Today, vulnerability in the Malware embedded in into a system ab initio adds little to the over - We must be able to prevent cyber attacks domain name system (DNS) can already hit both software and all cost. Given the incapacitating potential and if this happens, contain them and effect foundations of the Internet, allowing the of these weapons, we need to develop such swift recovery. Malware embedded in both hackers to reroute users to any website or hardware including at capability indigenously. software and hardware including at manu - block them. Servers can be systematically Finally, across the world, developed facturing stage can prove grave risks to killed. The functionalities of malwares are the manufacturing stage nations focus their efforts on making their national security. We must develop foolproof growing in numbers, performing more cyberspace more secure and adopt strategies mechanisms to check our system for mal - stealthily and increasing in complexity. can prove grave risks to for it, we need to examine the nuances of ware, a capability that is non-existent in the Security of networks would include basic these strategies and see what can be adapted country today. physical protection, partitioning and pro - national security in the Indian context. This would be covered tecting network boundaries with firewalls, in the next part of this series. Defining Cyber Security Strategy having workstation firewalls, basic host Over the years there have been suggestions to security to include port lockdown and min - ogy to ensure security. Create a National Cyber Command evolve deterrence for cyber warfare. However, imising running services and access control The US has adopted an unambiguous Cyber warfare provides the means to conduct the problem is identifying the actors that are lists. Measures for controlling access to Offensive Cyber Warfare Policy. We must do attacks and weaken enemy capabilities even perpetuating cyber attacks. While conceptu - devices and systems should include user likewise and make ‘cyber dominance’ an before the declaration of war. The world of ally deterrence is of great importance, how authentication for network devices, cen - essential component of our war doctrine. In cyber-security is faced with certain asymme - can we apply the theory of deterrence to the tralised authentication and methods and 2008, the Russia-Georgia conflict became a tries. Hacking is easier than defending. To cyber domain? Whom do you attribute cyber securing network data with encryption and defining event in network warfare. As per defend its universe of websites, any govern - attacks to especially when cyber attacks are authentication; secure access protocols and reports, altered Microsoft software was fash - ment requires three things— an appreciation not bound geographically and yet have global refining and instituting basic practices for ioned into cyber weaponry and hackers col - for the challenge it faces, determination to reach? While we may not be able to attribute network security. Of vital importance is to laborated on the US-based Twitter, address the challenge, and good counsel on the source accurately, would we be able to do address the enhanced risk of the society due Facebook, and other social-networking sites how to address the challenge. If the first two so in case of cyber war by our adversaries? to increasing interdependence on Informa - to coordinate the attack on Georgian digi - are absent, the third is almost irrelevant. Should a nation go in for pre-emption, espe - tion Technology (IT) in curtailing leakage of tal-based targets. A striking revelation for As a country, we are yet to grasp the sig - cially when dependence on cyberspace is information and preventing penetration in the researchers was how quickly a common nificance of cyber warfare. At present, there becoming vital? Should securing cyberspace order to protect critical infrastructure. Keep - citizen could be transformed into a foot sol - is no cohesive policy for cyber security at the not be our main objective and in order to ing in mind the increasing vulnerabilities on dier in a cyber conflict. The cyber attacks national level. As our dependence on cyber - achieve this objective, should not all the com - account of the IT explosion due focus needs were carried out by civilians with little or no space increases, who will control and ensure ponents of the nation go proactive to control to be given towards development of technol - direct involvement by the Russian govern - security of the vast networks at the Centre, the Internet and develop a comprehensive ment or military, aimed to disable the Geor - state, military and civil establishments? These understanding of cyber warfare? gian government, banks and media outlets. needs to be defined, an appropriate organisa - Evolving a cyber security strategy should We are at the nascent We need to guard against such threats. tion created and made responsible for it. essentially begin with a threat assessment stage of developing a Other than hackers/cyber attacks, our net - While creation of at least a unified Cyber and having defined and understood the works will face serious threats even from Security Task Force at the Services level needs threats; arrive at a strategy to mitigate those policy response to the non-nuclear electro magnetic pulse to come up in requisite dimensions at the threats. The assessment of threats should weapons and microwave weapons even interim level, creation of a National Cyber include both the military and civil domain threats of cyber spying, before the battle is joined. E-bombs are a real Command to include a Tri-Service Cyber and cover the short –, medium – and long- threat now. Although, electro-magnetic Command on the lines of the US Cyber Com - term threat scenarios. Axiomatically, these if not cyber war pulse and high pressure microwave harden - mand appears to be an inevitable move. Both will need to be periodically reviewed since ing by retrofitment is a very expensive need to progress concurrently.

FIRST will also allow Joint Tactical Air Con - response. The system works in both urban trollers to forward exact locations of the and mountainous terrain, without the enemy to fighter pilots for an air strike. need for user input. Its ability to quickly Quick & At only 12 ounces, the Warrior-X sys - and reliably identify the location of enemy tem automatically alerts the individual of firing locations provides the intelligence hostile small arms fire and accurately necessary to minimise threats and avoid iable localises the shooter’s position, allowing human casualties. Rel for a rapid, informed, and coordinated Incoming shot announcements are heard from either a built-in speaker or Boomerang Warrior-X is smaller, through an earpiece. The light-weight light weight, and integrated with visual display provides range, and azimuth tactical vests of the hostile shooter. As the individual moves, the system automatically compen - sates for the individual’s motion and con - ritish soldiers now have a new device tinually updates the threat’s location on which can pinpoint the exact posi - the display. Advanced shot recall technol - Btion of enemy snipers 1,000 yards ogy is built into the system’s computing away. The device Raytheon’s Boomerang technology for rapid after action review or Warrior-X is a cost-effective compact dis - to update bearing and location to a previ - mounted shooter detection system. ous shooter’s location while an individual The detector’s powerful acoustic pro - manoeuvres in an engagement area. cessing technology evaluates the enemy Boomerang Warrior-X provides the position by determining the target’s co- same reliability, features, and advanced ordinates on a small screen with an arrow product benefits as the widely fielded vehi - indicator. Simultaneously, it bleeps a cle-mounted Boomerang III system—sig - warning into a headset connected to the nificantly smaller, light weight, and device. The small square-shaped detector integrated with tactical vests. PHOTOGRAPHS : Raytheon

PHOTOGRAPH : BAE Systems TEC KNOW For Multi-role Worldwide Operations BAE Systems Bv206S can move in extreme terrain and weather conditions

n service with Swedish, French, German, Italian and Span - ment tasks, peace enforcement, peacekeeping and humani - t e ish Armies and under evaluation by other armies, the tarian aid programme. n . s Bv206S armoured all-terrain vehicle can move in extreme The Bv206S vehicle is a further development of the suc - e I c

r terrain and weather conditions. Available in various configu - cessful Bv206, and is designed to meet tough military require - o f rations, it can be used to transport 12 combat equipped sol - ments for extreme mobility under ballistic protection in all d n diers and can safely get through into areas where most other climates, with high reliability and low maintenance cost. a l s vehicles and aircraft cannot go. The Bv206S is designed for air transportation in aircraft p s

. BAE Systems Bv206S is designed for multi-role world - like C-130, C-17, CH-47, and CH-53 helicopters and is w wide operations and is an ideal concept for rapid deploy - amphibious with minor preparation. w w

14 SP’s LAND FORCES 1/2011 NIGHT VISION << Seeing Through Darkness Research and development is being undertaken globally to enhance the reach, improve the resolution and reduce the weight of night vision devices in order to provide a better edge to own side

PHOTOGRAPH : ITT Defense more common as their light amplification technology uses the small amount of ambient light like moon/stars light and converts this light energy (photons) into electrical energy (electrons). These electrons pass through a thin disk that’s about the size of a small coin and contains more than 10 million channels. As the electrons go through the channels, they strike the channel walls, releasing thou - sands of more electrons. These multiplied electrons then bounce of a phosphorous screen which converts the electrons back into photons, letting you see an impressive night time view even when it’s really dark. To understand thermal imaging it is important to understand that infrared (IR) can be split into three categories; first, near IR with wavelengths from 0.7 to 1.3 microns, or 700 billionths to 1,300 billionth of a meter; second, mid-IR with wavelengths ranging from 1.3 to 3 microns; third, ther - mal IR with wavelengths ranging from three microns to over 30 microns. Near IR is clos - est to visible light. Both near-IR and mid-IR are used by a variety of electronic devices, including remote controls. Thermal IR occu - pies the largest part of the infrared spec - ITT Night Vision manufactures a variety trum. The key difference between thermal IR of multifunctional night vision binoculars and other equipment for both aviation and the other two is that thermal IR is emit - and ground systems ted by an object instead of being reflected off it. IR light is emitted by an object because of n LT GENERAL (RETD) P.C. KATOCH corps in sufficient numbers. The philosophy for night vision accessories too needs refin - he term night vision device (NVD) ing if we are to learn from the mistakes of usually refers to a complete unit, the past. For example, when the HHTIs were including an image intensifier tube, first imported from Israel and France only a protective and generally water- one charger per four HHTIs were procured. resistant housing, and some type of This created major problems with widely dis - Tmounting system. Many NVDs also include persed deployments in Jammu & Kashmir High Performance Equipment... sacrificial lenses, IR illuminators and tele - and forced the infantry to improvise charg - scopic lenses. ers, which may have caused inadvertent ...for Demanding Environments A vital ingredient of battlefield trans - damage to the equipment. Another example parency is the ability to see by night. The side was of artillery which went in for numerous that can see better by night will have greater laser target designators but only one charger Vision Solutions - Image intensified advantage. Research and Development (R&D) that was kept centrally at the School of and uncooled thermal surveillance, is being undertaken globally to enhance the Artillery and every time charging was reach, improve the resolution and reduce the needed, individual designators had to be target acquisition and engagement. weight of night vision devices in order to pro - flown in and out. Additionally, our Defence vide a better edge to own side. Research and Development Organisation • Fully ruggedized and military qualified • Low power and low maintenance • Compact and light weight • Cost effective high performance The Indian Army too has night vision (DRDO) and public sector undertakings devices (NVDs) on its inventory in various (PSUs) are way behind in the field of NVDs categories and quantities albeit ideal equip - compared to their foreign counterparts, Weapon Sights: Weapon Sights: Surveillance: ping both in terms of quantity and quality whose night vision products are bulkier and Image Intensifiers Uncooled Thermal Imagers Uncooled Thermal Imagers are still a far cry. Say, for example, the hand of lesser resolution. KITE VIPIR-2 (CQB) VIPIR-2S held thermal imagers (HHTIs) that are in high concentration in insurgency afflicted Inside the NVD MAXIKITE-1 VIPIR-2 areas like Jammu & Kashmir and which are NVDs are of two types—image intensifiers VIPIR-2S+ yet to reach infantry battalions of strike and thermal imagers. Image intensifiers are MAXIKITE-2 VIPIR-2+

The US military is experimenting with MERLIN-SR panoramic night vision goggles (PNVGs) S-VIPIR-2+

which double the user's field of view to MERLIN-MR around 95 degrees by using four 16mm DRAGON-C image intensifiers tubes, rather than the more standard two 18 mm tubes MERLIN-LR VISIT OUR WEBSITE: DRAGON-LR www.qioptiq.com s c i t p o p Qioptiq Limited R

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1/2011 SP’s LAND FORCES 15 >> NIGHT VISION

PHOTOGRAPHS : Photonis, Qioptiq, Sagem what is happening at the atomic level. Most The Photonis Group is a global Accessories for night thermal imaging devices scan at a rate of 30 business serving the photo-sensor times per second. They can sense tempera - technology needs of world-leading vision need to provision tures ranging from 20 degrees Celsius to customers in the areas of night 2,000 degrees Celsius and can normally vision, industry and science and in a manner that users detect changes in a temperature of about 0.2 Medical Imaging degrees Celsius. have no need to look Thermal imaging devices are generally ‘uncooled’ or ‘cryogenically cooled’. The over their shoulders uncooled ones are more common wherein the IR detector elements are contained in a unit that operates at room temperature. Arsenide (GaAs) photocathode; second, These devices are noiseless, activate imme - ion barrier coating to the MCP. This gen - diately and have inbuilt batteries. Cryogeni - eration was implemented to reflect the cally cooled devices have the elements change in the photocathode; tri-alkali sealed inside a container that cools them to replaced with GaAs. The third generation below zero degree Celsius. The advantage of image IITs are of high quality. They have such a system is the incredible resolution a micro channel plate, GaAs photocath - and sensitivity thesult from cooling the ele - ode, and a completely self-contained inte - ments. Though more expensive and more gral high-voltage power supply. These susceptible to damage from rugged use, third generation tubes provide a com - these systems enable a soldier to see bined increase in resolution, signal to whether a person is holding a gun more noise ratio and photosensitivity over tubes than 300 metres away. Unlike the tradi - with a multi-alkali photocathode. The tional ones, most night-vision equipment GaAs photocathode increases the tube’s which uses image enhancement technology, sensitivity to light from the near-infrared thermal imaging is great for detecting peo - range of the spectrum, enables it to func - ple or working in near-absolute darkness tion at greater detection distances and with little or no ambient light. improves system performance under low light conditions. Application of a metal- Generation Chain oxide ion barrier to the MCP increases the NVDs are generally being classified into four life of the image tube. The operational life categories albeit with differing —some clas - of third generation tubes is in excess of sify them as generation 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 (yet Merlin-SR (short range) by Qioptiq is 10,000 hours, compared to that of to be defined) while others classify them as a lightweight night vision adaptor for second generation tubes which is about Generation 1, 2, 3 and 4. Advanced version military and law enforcement opera - 2,000 to 4,000 hours. Over the years, of Generation 3 is also being referred to as tors who want to retain the use of there have been significant improvements their existing day scopes Generation 3 Ultra. Since the image intensi - within the third generation NVDs that are fier tube (IIT) is the heart and soul of the loosely being referred to as third genera - NVD, classification of the NVD depends on tion ultra. what type of IIT is used in the particular l Fourth Generation : In 1998, gated filmless device. The generation chain of NVDs has technology was created by removing the progressed as under: ion barrier film and “gating” the system l Zero Generation : These comprised basi - power supply. The technology demon - cally of sniper scopes that came into use strated substantial increases in target during World War II and the Korean detection range and resolution. The film - conflict though these were not true less micro channel plate provides a higher image intensifiers in the real sense. These signal-to-noise ratio than standard third scopes were image converters, which generation IITs, resulting in better image required a source of invisible IR light quality under low-light conditions. An mounted on or near the device to illumi - auto-gated power supply further improves nate the target. image resolution under high light condi - l First Generation : The sniper scopes of zero tions and a reduced halo effect that min - generation were succeeded by “starlight imises interference from bright light scopes” developed during the early sources. The reduced Halo maximises the 1960s for use in Vietnam. These were Moskito is the newest multifunction handheld effectiveness of the night vision device in actual image intensifier devices. In these from Vectronix AG, subsidiary of Sagem Group, dynamic lighting conditions such as those incorporating a laser rangefinder, image devices, three IIs were connected in intensifier, digital compass, inclinometer and experienced, for example, in night opera - series, making each unit longer and internal GPS. This electro-optical product tions in urban areas. heavier than future night vision units. combines all essential day and night viewing, The primary difference between the sec - This equipment produced an image that measuring and geo-location functions into one ond and third generations is the photocath - was clear in the centre of the field of compact and user friendly device. ode. The second generation uses a multi-alkali view. However, it suffered from large opti - photocathode while third generation uses gal - cal distortion around the periphery. The lium arsenide. The latter provides a significant first generation equipment was also sub - increase in photo response and tube life. ject to “blooming or “halo effect” —loss Other differences in performance are image of the entire night vision image, parts of tube resolution, tube gain and signal to noise it, or small parts of it, due to IIT overload - ratio. The third generation devices offer ing by a bright light source wherein the greater clarity but are more expensive than entire night vision scene, or parts of it, the second generation devices. While the sec - become much brighter, “whiting out” ond generation NVDs work well in most situ - objects within the field of view. ations, third generation NVDs achieve high l Second Generation : Development of the performance in all conditions. micro channel plate (MCP) in late 1960s Smart technology, designed according to ushered the second generation NVDs. the latest computer technology, now pro - The second generation tubes are high vides the user total control in the high-tech quality with exceptional brightness and industry of night vision. resolution. Each tube has a micro chan - nel plate, multi-alkaline photocathode Choosing NVDs with built-in power supply. The MCP While choosing NVDs, three important per - accelerated and multiplied electrons sub - formance parameters that need to be borne stituting coupling of three IIs of the first in mind are—signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), res - generation. This enabled reduction of the olution and modular transfer function (MTF) IITs, enabling design of smaller night and lifetime. SNR is by far the most important t e vision goggles and hand-held devices. parameter for an image intensifier. It is a n . s The MCP also provided much more measure of the light signal reaching the eye e c

r robust operation when bright lights divided by the perceived noise as seen by the o f entered the field of view though same tri- eye. For night vision devices it is measured at d n alkali photocathode was used in the IIT a light-level of 108 ulx. The value of the SNR a l s as in first generation devices. determines the resolution at very low light- p s

. l Third Generation : Fielded in the early levels. Therefore, the higher the SNR, the bet - w 1980s, these devices saw two major tech - w

w nological improvements; First, Gallium continued on page 22

16 SP’s LAND FORCES 1/2011 Image Intensifier Tubes

www.photonis.com >> UNMANNED GROUND VEHICLES Unmanned Machines at War With modern warfare increasingly moving towards an era of complex technologies such as stealth and network-centricity, there is an increasing trend amongst modern land forces to evolve themselves into lighter and more responsive forces that are at once lethal and survivable

PHOTOGRAPH : Abhishek / SP Guide Pubns MARS, and WARRIORS are some of the com - bat UGVs that have been employed success - fully by the US military in theatres like Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq. The Israeli military too is using the Guardium, a ground- based robots, to patrol along the Gaza and Lebanese borders. The Guardium is essen - tially an armoured off-road golf cart with a suite of optical sensors and surveillance gear. It was put into the field for the first time 10 months ago. Given the huge enthusiasm that robotics has generated worldwide, especially among various armed forces that the time is not too far when fighter jets and main battle tanks will become fully automated military robots. Taking the lead in robotics for military appli - cations, way back in 2003, the US had launched the most ambitious project ever for Army modernisation, the future combat sys - tem (FCS), envisioning new brigades equipped with new manned and unmanned vehicles linked by an unprecedented fast and flexible battlefield network and aided by various pieces of other gear. The FCS has since been curtailed to Army Brigade Combat Team Modernisation Programme either because funds are not available or because the pro - gramme looks too far away. ROV Daksh, developed by the DRDO in Pune Innovation Is the Key Robotics is still a nascent science in India. n SANJAY KUMAR did. Following the dastardly terrorist attack on Combat Engineering, DRDO, recently The use of robotics in the Indian military, the twin towers of the World Trade Center in announced at Avadi, Chennai, that 20 particularly in the Indian Army, is almost ACHINES HAVE ALWAYS New York on September 11, 2001, ground indigenously developed, remotely operated negligible. However, robotic technology been known to supplement robots fitted with laser cameras saved many vehicles (ROVs) are currently being tested by holds great significance for security person - human efforts in diverse innocent lives that remained trapped under the Indian Army. The ROV, Daksh, developed nel. Deployment of robots to perform sentry walks of life. However, the the debris of fallen twin towers. Later, during by the DRDO in Pune, is the first stepping tasks at key locations which are vulnerable quest for intelligent machines the Afghanistan war, the US army used Talon stone for 1.1 million strong Indian Army to suicide terrorist attacks would substan - bMy armed forces across the globe is aimed at UGV effectively to gather useful intelligence aiming towards employment of unmanned tially reduce physical risks to security per - reducing human interface with machines on about Al-Qaida operatives hiding in the Tora systems across the entire future battle spec - sonnel at the first point of contact with the battlefield. With modern warfare increas - Bora caves near the Pakistan-Afghanistan trum. DRDO’s two-foot Daksh is a battery- terrorists. India’s present security chal - ingly moving towards an era of complex borders. Inputs gathered from Talon were sub - run robot which can be remotely operated lenges require keeping constant surveil - technologies such as stealth and network- sequently used for mopping up of terrorists from a distance of 500 m. It weighs 350 kg lance all along the border including the centricity, there is an increasing trend hiding in those caves. and can raise an object weighing 20 kg from most inhospitable Siachen Glaciers. amongst modern land forces to evolve them - a distance of 3 m. It is reported that Daksh The spread of red-wing extremism across selves into lighter and more responsive forces Alternatives to Human Soldiers has a robotic arm which can lift improvised 220 districts in India, especially the use of that are at once lethal and survivable. Intelli - Robots, including unmanned ground vehicles explosive devices (IEDs) even from a con - IEDs by the leftist guerillas has already taken gent machines are useful strategic assets as (UGVs), have many valuable attributes that gested place, examine the same with its X- a heavy toll on the security forces in terms of they can be used for a variety of land opera - will aid and complement soldiers on the bat - ray component for verifying whether it is an casualties. As the leftist guerrillas are deter - tions including search and rescue missions, tlefield. They are well suited to perform rou - IED device and it can diffuse the explosive by mined to fight protracted conflicts with the surveillance, carrying additional loads tine and boring tasks. They are fearless and using the in-built water-jet disrupter. The security forces, it makes great sense to develop (mules) and self-contained killing machines. can work tirelessly 24x7 without knowing robot can even move up the stairs for assess - robots which can also fire guns. It would be hunger or fatigue. They do repetitive tasks ing dangerous objects. There is however prudent to keep the robots in the first line of Low Visibility with speed and precision. They can be another version of Daksh that can work in a fire, especially in terrains which are difficult While unmanned aerial vehicles or ‘drones’ designed to avoid or withstand enemy arma - nuclear, biological and chemical environ - to negotiate. have been around for quite sometime and ments and to perform specific military func - ment. The next stage in development is Robotics is a dual-use technology with these are also increasingly becoming norms tions. Robots can reduce casualties by ‘robotic mules’, part of the Army’s ambitious tremendous potentials for commercial spin- with a growing number of air forces around increasing the combat effectiveness of soldiers modernisation programme for the future offs. The young scientific community in the the world, unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) on the battlefield. More importantly, they infantry soldier as a system (F-INSAS)’ country needs to be encouraged in taking up are yet to make their presence felt on the bat - don’t demand salaries and perks. The US mil - aimed at reducing the logistic burdens for R&D on futuristic military technologies. tlefield with the same force as their aerial itary’s success with unmanned combat sys - the foot soldiers of the Indian Army. These India has huge scientific talent spread across counterparts. Despite their low visibility, UGVs tems, especially on the battlefields in remotely-controlled robotic mules will also the length and breadth of the country. Com - have proved their combat worth in Afghanistan and Iraq has galvanised global carry automated-weapons to launch con - petitions need to be encouraged, especially Afghanistan and Iraq by saving precious focus towards research, development and centrated firepower on the enemy. The among young students. The student robotic human lives. With their ability to see the purchase of unmanned systems in order to Indian foot soldiers are notorious for carry - competition held recently at Avadi is a laud - threat around the corner, UGVs are proving add them to the fabric of their armed forces. ing 20-30 kg extra weights than their coun - able step to usher in key innovations for mil - themselves as an important asset for the sol - It is estimated that currently there are about terparts in technologically advanced armies. itary purposes. The DRDO perhaps would do dier by increasing his personal safety and 50 countries, including India that are pursu - However, these soldiers can perform much well by holding student competitions annu - enabling him to neutralise the threat quickly ing robotic technologies for their armed better in terms of mobility, agility and fire ally, simultaneously, raising the bar of the and accurately without too much of collateral forces. As the modern warfare becomes power with the equivalent of a mechanical competition as well as increasing the prize t e damage. The terrorist attack of 26/11 in increasingly irregular in nature and the mule following behind them. money. Even if there are no winners in a par - n . s Mumbai is a case in point to underline the threat of terrorism remains globally rampant, ticular year, competitions still need to be e c Leaders in Technology r importance of combat UGVs for the special there is growing demand for technologies that held. Students and other private entrepre - o f operations forces. If the special operation help keep human soldiers including other law Currently, the US and Israel are the front-run - neurs who participate in such events would d n forces that were used during 26/11 attack enforcing personnel, out of harm’s way. ners in robotic technologies insofar as the use at least build upon their previous experi - a l s only had access to military robots, equipped of robots for military purposes is concerned. ences and come out with something better p s Indian Scene . with laser cameras and machines guns, the The US military is believed to have around next time around. w operations could have resulted in fewer casu - Sundaresh, the Chief Controller, Research 7,000 UAVs and 12,000 UGVs in its inven - The writer is an experienced researcher and w

w alties and completed much earlier than they and Development (R&D), Armament and tory for different operations. SWORDS, military analyst.

18 SP’s LAND FORCES 1/2011 SPECIAL FEATURE <<

 Vladislav V.Mentschikov, Director General, Almaz-Antey Air Defense Concern

– Automated control systems Senezh- – Integrated missile systems Kalibr-NKE, M1E, Rubezh-ME, Baikal-1ME, PPRU-M; Kalibr-PLE, as well as other defense – Air defence radar stations 96L6E, items from the whole range of the Con - 6C19M2, 9C15MV3, Gamma-DE, Gamma- cern manufactured products. C1E, Kasta-2E2; Concern is entitled to be engaged in – Ground reconnaissance radar stations independent foreign trade activity in partic - Zoopark-1, Credo-1, Fara-1, meteorology ular carrying out negotiations and signing system Ulybka; contracts on after-sale service/ maintenance – Ship-borne air defence systems: Rif-M, of manufactured and previously delivered Shtil-1, Klinok; armament and defence equipment. n

Almaz-Antey Russia’s answer for secure skies

lmaz-Antey Air Defense Concern PMU2 Favorit, S-400 Triumph and was created in 2002 and cur - S-300VM (Antey-2500); rently has more than 50 enter - – Medium-range air defence systems: prises making it as one of Buk-M1-2, Buk-M2E; Pechora-2A; ARussia’s leading holding defence – Short-range air defence missile systems companies and the world’s major supplier Tor-M1, Tor-M2E; of air defence systems. According to the top 100 annual rating of the US-based Defense News Weekly the Concern’s place is among top 30 largest defence companies in the world. One of the latest Concern develop - ments is S-400 Triumph long-range new generation ADS which became operational in August 2007. After upgrading this system will become the major weaponry for the Russia’s aerospace defence concept for a number of years. Nowadays Almaz-Antey Air Defense Con - cern is involved in the development of the future common system of anti-aircraft and anti-missile weapons of the fifth generation and in the implementation of the Concept of the aerial-space defence of the Russian Federation. Concern has a wage export potential with an existing portfolio around $6 billion. The Almaz-Antey-made ADS have been operated by more than 50 countries in South East Asia, Middle East, Europe, Africa and Latin America. The list of arms and military equipment being offered for export by Almaz-Antey includes the following items: – long-range air defence systems S-300

1/2011 SP’s LAND FORCES 19 >> ATTACK HELICOPTERS Helicopters in Combat Operations With the ALH WSI and the LCH being indigenously developed by HAL and likely to enter service in the coming years, the Indian armed forces will have formidable and state-of-the-art armed helicopters in their kitty—a useful force-multiplier which can turn the tide in battle

PHOTOGRAPH : Indian Army n LT GENERAL (RETD) B.S. PAWAR Cheetah helicopter including high altitude. The weaponised ver - in Siachen sion of the ALH called the ALH weapons sys - rmed helicopters or combat heli - tems integrated (ALH WSI) is currently copters can be classified into two undergoing weapons integration. The categories i.e. the armed helicop - weaponised version is fitted with the more ters/gunships and the modern- powerful Shakti engines being manufac - day dedicated attack helicopters tured by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) A(AH). Both are military helicopters, wherein in collaboration with the French Turbomeca. the armed helicopters are normal utility, This engine has also been trial evaluated for cargo or reconnaissance modified with high altitude operations on the utility ALH. weapon mounts for defence against enemy Basically, the ALH WSI is a new generation fire from the ground as well as air and for armed helicopter duly modified for fitment attacking targets on the ground. The pur - of all types of weapon sub-systems which pose of modification could be field expedi - can be fitted on a modern-day AH. The ALH ency and the need to maintain helicopters WSI has a 20mm gun turret, 70mm rockets for missions that do not require weapons. and the Mistral air-to-air missile. The inte - On the other hand, the AH is specifically gration firing for the above sub systems has designed and built to carry weapons for already been successfully carried out. How - engaging targets on ground and air with spe - ever, the anti-tank missile Helina, the air ver - cial emphasis on anti-tank role. The weapons sion of NAG being developed by the Defence include machine guns, cannons, rockets and Research and Development Organisation guided missiles for air-to-ground and air-to- during 1979-89 saw the emergence of the AH is in this class. The carriage of the arma - (DRDO) is still not ready. To meet the interim air engagement. Modern-day AH have two Mi-25/ Mi-35 AH, a variant of the Mi-24. We ment and type will depend on the mission and requirement, the Army is scouting in the main roles of providing direct and accurate have in our inventory the Russian Mi-25/ Mi- area of operations. The armed helicopters world market for a suitable missile. The close air support for ground troops and anti- 35 AH which are vintage, though certain will have to be fitted with countermeasures Helina once developed is stated to be a fire tank role to destroy enemy armour. Spe - amount of upgradation has been carried out suite to include radar and missile detectors, and forget missile with seven km range and cialised armed helicopters flying from ships at to make them night capable. infra-red jammers and chaff and flare dis - would compare with the Hellfire missile. The sea are equipped with weapons for anti-sub - pensers, depending on the degree of threat ALH WSI will carry eight anti-tank guided marine and/or anti-shipping operations. Types of Armament Systems perceived for their own defence and survival. missiles, four air-to-air missiles or four rocket The most common weapons are machine pods for 70mm rockets and a 20mm gun, The Concept of Arming Helicopters guns and rockets for use against soft targets Modern Attack Helicopters making it a formidable armed helicopter. The concept of arming helicopters evolved on the ground and for self-defence while AH 64D: The American apache longbow Light combat helicopter (LCH): The with the French during Algerian and first transporting troops over conflict areas. While (AH 64D) demonstrates many of the HAL has also embarked on the development Indo-China wars (1954-62) in the form of armed helicopters have mostly used direct fir - advanced technologies being considered for of the light combat helicopter. The LCH is modified armed helicopters. The first use of ing weapons with bombs considered more deployment on future AH. The longbow using the technology of the ALH and its con - armed helicopters by USA in large-scale appropriate for fixed-wing aircraft, certain apache AH is an upgraded version of the AH figurations, except the fuselage which is combat operations was in Vietnam. Until armed helicopters have successfully lent 64A Apache and is the most sophisticated streamlined and suitably modified for tandem Vietnam conflict, military helicopters were themselves to use with heavy bombs. The US AH in the world today. The Longbow AH has seating of pilot and weapons system operator mostly used for troop transport, observation Army used the Chinook helicopters for drop - a radar dome atop the main rotors, which with adequate armour protection. The and casualty evacuation. These helicopters ping bombs to clear landing zones and satu - facilitates firing of Hellfire missiles in full fire weapons and systems will be the same/similar while flying missions often came under rate base camps and infiltration routes during and forget mode, allowing the AH to stay to the ALH WSI. The above approach has an heavy fire resulting in the need for arming Vietnam War. Armed helicopters today can masked behind terrain as it acquires and inherent advantage as most of the critical sys - them. The Huey UH-IC troop transporter also be fitted with mine dispenser/mine clear - engages targets. The earlier Apache had to tems have been proven either on the ALH or was modified with stub wings attached to its ance systems. The mine dispenser system is pop up to scan the battlefield leaving it the ALH WSI. An indigenous AH like the LCH fuselage and kitted with machine guns and fitted on the US Black Hawk 139. The system exposed or rely on target data from other is a step in the right direction as it can be tai - rockets. The other helicopters modified as is composed of racks on both sides of the hel - sources such as scout helicopters. The Long - lored to suit the terrain and climatic condi - armed helicopters were the Sikorsky and icopter for up to 40 canisters. Each canister bow armament consists of a 30 mm cannon, tions of our area of operations. The first flight Chinook CH-47. This was a quantum jump contains six anti-tank and one anti-personnel 70 mm rockets, longbow Hellfire missiles of LCH took place on March 29, 2010, and from the manned door fitted machine guns mine. The rapid airborne mine clearance sys - and Stinger/ Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. the AH is likely to enter service by 2014. The of the earlier versions of armed helicopter. tem is another armament sub-system where It has the Honeywell integrated helmet and LCH once fielded should compare well with During the 1960s, the Soviet Union also the intended targets are naval mines. The sys - display sighting system with state- of-the-art Eurocopter’s Tiger, Italian Mangusta and Bells felt the need for armed helicopters and mod - tem comprises of a single modified, 30mm countermeasure sensors. Huey’s Cobra. ified the military Mi-8 troop transport heli - cannon for targeting and neutralising the Ka-50 and Mi-28 : The Russians have copter with weapon pods for rockets and mines in depth and is fitted on the US Navy also developed the state-of-the-art AH in the Future Conflicts machine guns. This subsequently led to the Black Hawk helicopter. Ka-50 and MI-28. This decision was taken Armed helicopters and dedicated AH will be development of a dedicated armed helicop - On the other hand, the AH carries guns, after their experience in Afghanistan with extremely relevant in future conflicts which ter/gunship, the Mi-24, which saw active rockets and guided missiles both air-to- the Mi-24 AH, which was basically an will be short notice, short duration and high action in Afghanistan during the 1980s. ground and air-to-air. The gun is normally a armed helicopter and hence not suited for a intensity with emphasis on depth battle. The India had earlier Mi-8 and Ranjeet (modified 20mm/30mm weapon and is located in the typical AH role. The Ka-50 is the world’s first 9/11 bombings and subsequent American Cheetah helicopter), fitted with machine chin of the helicopter. The gun provides sup - coaxial, single-seat AH. The Mi-28, on the foray in Afghanistan has put this class of hel - guns fired from the side doors. At present, pressive ground fire while the AH carries out other hand, is roughly equivalent of the icopters in centre stage due to their inherent the Mi-17 and Lancer (Cheetah helicopter) its anti-tank mission. The unguided aerial Apache Longbow but without command characteristics. The battle proven Apaches are modified for armed role capable of rockets complement the short-range gun and and control linkup. The Mi-28 has a 30mm from their anti-tank role in Iraq have got into mounting guns and rockets. the long-range anti-tank missiles. The rockets chain gun, Ataka anti-tank guiding missile infantry support role against the Taliban in With the armed helicopter/gunship con - are cheap and effective as an area weapon. and rocket pods for S-8 and S-13 rockets. Afghanistan. However, whatever may be the cept battle proven, began the development of The rockets can also be used to attack and The Ataka is an improved version of the weapon systems and capabilities of these hel - dedicated AH with the primary aim of engag - destroy soft ground targets that are not vul - Vikhr anti-tank guided missile fitted on the icopters, their vulnerability to ground fire is a ing tanks. The late 1970s/early 1980s saw nerable to anti-tank missiles like depots and Mi-25/ Mi-35 AH. It also has in its arma - major concern in their employment. Proper the advent of AH like the American Apache anti-aircraft gun sites. In emergent situations, ment the Igla/ Vympel air-to-air missiles. planning and coordination can take care of (AH 64A) and upgraded Huey Cobras (AH 1), they could also be used in the air-to-air role. The other dedicated AH operating are these aspects and enable effective employment the Soviet MI-24 and the Italian Mangusta Today, there are rockets with sub-munition the Italian Augusta Westland AW129 (Man - even in extremely hostile environment. The t e (A-129). While some questioned the rele - warheads which can disperse a number of gusta), Bell helicopter’s Viper (the latest ver - use of armed helicopters in counterinsur - n . s vance of these dedicated AH due to increased grenades/bomb lets over specified target sion of Huey Cobra) and Eurocopter’s Tiger. gency operations can pay rich dividends as e c

r cost over gunships, the 1991 Gulf War put at areas. The air-to-air missile system is basically they facilitate carriage of troops as well as suit - o f rest these doubts. Fleets of Apaches and Huey to counter the threat from other AHs and is Indian Scenario able weapons for use against insurgents/ ter - d n Cobras dominated Iraqi armour in the open more of a defensive armament system. The Advanced light helicopter (ALH): It also rorists. Both the armed Mi-17 and Lancer a l s desert during the war. In fact the Apaches anti-tank guided missile is the main punch of known as the Dhruv and is already in service have been used in some operations though to p s

. fired the first shots of war destroying early the AH. The advent of fire and forget missiles with the armed forces. The Army Aviation a limited extent due to concern for collateral w warning radars and SAM sites with Hellfire is the greatest asset of the AH which increases Corps has four units of ALH fully opera - damage. The Mi-17V currently being acquired w

w missiles. The Soviet operations in Afghanistan its lethality. The Hellfire missile on the Apache tionalised and operating in different sectors by the air force is capable of armed role.

20 SP’s LAND FORCES 1/2011 AFGHAN WAR << Looking Back at 2010 There is cause for satisfaction as one surveys the course of the battle in 2010. The stage is being set for some crucial choices to be made in the Afghan campaign and these could well hinge around the US response to Pakistan’s continued sanctuary support to the Afghan Taliban. n MAJOR GENERAL (RETD) G.D. BAKSHI istic level and has now dashed them rudely. election in Marjah was below 18 per cent (it levels, only offensive air support can tilt the General Kayani and the Pak Military- was generally 40 per cent in other areas). balance, especially if the window of opera - HE YEAR 2010 WAS crucial for the ISI Complex were dreaming of a complete This clearly highlighted the failure to pacify tions is so limited and the sensitivity to casu - final outcome in Afghanistan. victory of their Taliban protégés in the area and effect administrative penetra - alties is so high. President Barack Obama finally Afghanistan. There was a quixotic air of tri - tion of the population. Nevertheless, the Unlike the Marjah operations, the Kan - approved a half-way surge. Instead umphalism in Islamabad. In fact, they were major gain of this battle has been to bring dahar offensive was launched quietly by the of the 60,000 troops asked for by almost dictating the terms of surrender to the Taliban to battle and hopefully impose end of August. Reportedly, operations had Tthe US Army, he provided some 40,000 addi - their American interlocutors. Pakistan’s significant attrition. commenced in Mehla Jat (South West of tional troops in two waves. zero-sum game could prove to be its final Kandahar) in the last week of August. These There were two major changes in the undoing. The Pakistani military is highly The Kandahar Offensive were followed by operations in the neigh - military leadership. Special Forces Com - subjective in its estimates and habitually The second phase of the American offensive bouring areas of Kandahar, to include mander Lt General Stanley McChrystal was tends to overreach far beyond its capabilities. was anticipated in June, in the key Taliban Argandhab, Zhari (birth place of Mullah brought in to replace Lt General McKiernan. The key factor, however, would now hinge stronghold of Kandahar. However, the Tal - Omar) and Panjwaye districts. These led to McChrystal tried to convince the US and upon the US and European stamina to iban’s unexpected resistance in Marjah fierce fighting in the vineyards, pomegran - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) absorb the casualties. Frankly, if they do not delayed the launch of this operation. The ate orchards and over 10 feet high fields of forces to operate without close air support want a resumption of terrorist strikes on Afghanistan government anticipated heavy marijuana. A brigade of the US, 101 air - and hence reduce collateral damage and their homelands, they have very little option civilian collateral damage and was dead set borne divisions commenced operations in civilian casualties. This led to serious dis - left, but to persist with their engagement in against this assault. Therefore, this was con - the Zhari district along with an Engineer quiet amongst the US and NATO troops, who Afghanistan. The two major offensives of the verted to a Military Civic Action Programme Battalion to clear mines/IEDs and 18 US sol - were highly uncomfortable with the idea of year 2010 in Afghanistan are: called Operation Hamkari (Dari for “coopera - diers were killed in these operations. The operating without the advantage of respon - PHOTOGRAPH : www.ng.mil sive air power. The initial offensive in Marjah encountered stiff resistance and resulted in heavy US and NATO casualties, which raised political alarm in the US and Europe. General McChrystal made some very outspoken remarks about the political lead - ership and this was utilised to remove him from the command. General Petraeus, the hero of the Iraq campaign, was virtually demoted from Theatre Commander to lead the campaign in Afghanistan. He was the author of the ‘clear, hold and build’ strategy. His assumption of command saw the restoration of close air support (largely by attack helicopters) and after several delays, the resumption of the long heralded assault on Kandahar (Operation Dragon Strike). The centre of gravity of the Taliban had been correctly estimated and instead of melting away, they have stood up and fought in the hope that by 2011, the US-ISAF forces would withdraw anyway. This has resulted in fairly heavy attrition, which forced some semblance of peace offers from the Taliban. Convinced that they had won this war, the Pakistanis refused to launch the coordinated attack on North Waziristan (which was sup - posed to coincide with the Kandahar offen - sive) on the plea of the floods and the Indian A security forces member in bogey. This toned down the effect of the US Afghanistan’s Paktia province offensive in Kandahar. However, the greatest anti-climax came with the US President’s announcement that the date for handing The Marjah Offensive tion”). General McChrystal had tried to newly arrived 22 Armoured Regiment lost over charge to the Afghan National Army As part of General Petraeus’ clear, hold and restrict civilian collateral damage by curtail - five men on August 30, 2010 to a roadside (ANA) had been put off to 2014. The threat build strategy, the US had launched a major ing the employment of air power. This had led IED blast. The main offensive was launched of a resumption of Al Qaeda/Lashkar-e- offensive in the Helmand province of to a sharp increase in US/ISAF troop casual - on October 2, 2010. Hard fighting ensued. Toiba (LeT) attack on American/European Afghanistan in February this year. Taking a ties and considerable resentment in the rank The fact that the Taliban did not roll with targets was responsible for this perceived leaf from the Pakistani military offensives in and file of the US Army/Marines. It appears the punch but put up pitched battles, indi - shift in strategy. The attack on the European Swat and South Waziristan, it was a well that the new Commander, General Petraeus cates the significance it attaches to this key targets has already commenced, with the advertised operation that was announced in was forced to restore close air support (largely opium producing terrain that funds its oper - latest terrorist strike in Sweden. This the media, weeks before its launch. Little in terms of attack helicopter sorties) and in ations. Therefore, it provides a major oppor - prompted the NATO allies to endorse the attempt was made to hide the preparations general restore the use of air power to sustain tunity for the US forces to inflict high levels 2014 withdrawal deadline and even promise with the hope that news of the coming troop morale and operational effectiveness. of attrition on the Taliban. General Petraeus to stay engaged (economically, at least) in major offensive would induce the Taliban to The military force to insurgent ratio is not has stated that the operations launched in Afghanistan well beyond that date. melt away and thus conserve the US casual - adequate in Afghanistan. With these force Kandahar are more nuanced. He is opti - This has come as a considerable shock to ties. Surprisingly, the Taliban stood up and mistic that these will force the Taliban to the Taliban and Pak Military-ISI complex. fought. Helmand is the key poppy growing negotiate with the Afghan government and Their military thinking is invariably area and hence was critical for the Taliban. in fact, he cited the attempts by high level coloured by a high degree of subjectivity. The town of Marjah was cleared by a major The year 2010 was Taliban leaders to reach out to the Afghan They were fully convinced that come 2011 heliborne assault. However, the Taliban government. The problems, however, are and the US and its allies would cut costs and seeped right back and the much hyped gov - crucial for the final twofold—the heavy casualties the US/NATO run. They were keenly anticipating a Taliban ernment in the box could not consolidate outcome in Afghanistan. troops are taking in the heavily mined ter - victory. This sudden volte-face could affect itself in the wake of the military operations. rain and the political pressures on the the Taliban’s morale. It leads one to specu - The resistance in Marjah was far higher President Barack Obama Obama Administration to end the Afghan late whether the US announcement of with - than anticipated and the NATO and ISAF engagement as announced in July 2011. drawal of deadline was a deliberate troops took heavy casualties. As a result, finally approved a General Petraeus knows he cannot ask for deception exercise. Even if it was unin - troops could not be lifted for the Kandahar more troops (which are certainly needed). tended, the end result has been the same. It operations as per the original schedule. half-way surge. He has been asking for more time. The with - stirred up the Taliban’s hopes to an unreal - Despite the major effort, the turn out for drawal in July 2011, therefore, is likely to be

1/2011 SP’s LAND FORCES 21 >> AFGHAN WAR

PHOTOGRAPH : US Air Force and three Pakistani troops were killed and The second phase of US soldiers in Helmand province, three injured. Pakistan, in turn, reacted the American offensive Afghanistan, during Operation Helmand Spider strongly and even stopped US/NATO supply convoys and tacitly encouraged attacks on was anticipated in June, these convoys to underline its resentment. The floods had given it a very viable excuse in the key Taliban to put off the long sought offensive in North Waziristan, which was to coincide with the stronghold of Kandahar Battle of Kandahar. There are credible reports of Al Qaeda’s preparations for 26/11 type attacks on European cities. The very cosmetic/token in nature. In fact, Pres - United States has warned that any attack ident Obama has clearly indicated that the on its homeland will lead to serious retalia - date for handing over the charge to the ANA tion and has apparently drawn up a contin - is 2014. The NATO allies have endorsed this gency list of 150 insurgent camps/targets and in fact, have promised to stay engaged in Pakistan that will be hit in such an even - (economically, at least) for well beyond that tuality. Leon Panetta, the CIA Chief, date. They fully realise that any precipitate recently visited Afghanistan and Pakistan withdrawal would well be seen as victory of and then made a surprise visit to India. The the Taliban. jihadi groups are observing radio silence The American/ISAF strategy is to put and that is ominous. In the light of all these sufficient military pressure to force the Tal - developments, the outcome of the ongoing iban to the negotiating table. General offensive in Kandahar will be crucial to the Petraeus said, “Negotiated peace agree - final outcome in Afghanistan. The Ameri - ments are ultimately the way the CI efforts cans will have to go beyond the existing have been concluded.” However, a public ambiguity and clearly decide on their declaration of a withdrawal deadline incen - response to Pakistan’s persistent provision tivises the insurgents to stay the course and of sanctuaries and support to the Afghan hold on. It fails to let the military and psy - Taliban (especially the Haqqani, Hekmatyar chological pressure build up and in a way and Mullah Omar groups). The Americans defeat the very purpose of the surge. Hel - are also seeking help from Russian and Cen - mand and Kandahar, however, have been tral Asian countries to develop alternative identified correctly as the key centres of routes of supplying their forces in gravity of the Taliban. These are key nar - Afghanistan. This will reduce their critical cotic markets and bomb producing areas. dependence on Pakistan, for logistical sup - Their concerted engagement will yield good port. The European countries should be results. However, the US/NATO will have to encouraged to explore alternative routes via be prepared to pay the cost in terms of casu - Iran, and more closely engage the state and alties. This is the American Achilles Heel. other regional powers like India and Russia Hence, the US is increasingly getting impa - to influence the final outcome in tient of the Pakistani sanctuary support to Afghanistan. There is cause for satisfaction the Afghan Taliban. Accordingly, 140 miles as the stage is being set for some crucial to the North of Kandahar, the US/NATO choices to be made in the Afghan campaign attack helicopters had crossed in hot pur - and these could well hinge around the US suit and claimed to have chased and killed response to Pakistan’s continued sanctuary some 30 insurgents of the Haqqani Group. support to the Afghan Taliban. A Pakistani post at Torkham was attacked The author is a well known military analyst

Continued from page 16 PHOTOGRAPH : Selex Galileo ter the ability to resolve image details under level visible sensor and an un-cooled long- low light-level conditions. The SNR is related Nimos Night Mobility Subsystem: wave infrared sensor onto a single colour dis - to the specific design of the tubes. MTF is the Nimos is a modular, lightweight, play located in front of the soldier’s eye. Till maximum line density on a target that can helmet mounted display (HMD) such time that NVGs are procured to required be resolved by a human eye and is expressed integrated with a low light level levels, voids should be filled with monocular digital TV for soldier night mobility in line pairs per mm (lp/mm). A more objec - night vision that can also double up as night tive performance indicator is given by the sight of individual weapon of the soldier. Dig - modulation transfer function (MTF). High ital technology should provide improved MTF values at low spatial frequencies pro - image quality. Application of advanced tech - vide—like for the XD-4 tubes—sharp images nology should aim at using NVDs for shooting with a good contrast. The lifetime of image around corners, reading maps, and laser des - intensifier is an extremely important param - ignation, etc incorporating sensor technology eter for night vision applications. A number used in thermal weapon sights. All weapons of different definitions are used depending on (individual and crew served) must have NVDs the manufacturer. to enable function as by day. Similarly, ade - All image tubes provide a green illumi - quate NVDs are required for spot and area nated picture and no night vision tube is sim - surveillance and for laser designation of tar - ilar to another. All tubes have different gets in order to optimise use of smart ammu - cosmetics in terms of small spots or specs, nition. Accessories for night vision need to photocathode colouring or a chicken wire provision in a manner that users have no need effect from the micro channel plate. Most cos - to look over their shoulders. metics are only noticed during viewing in high light situations such as viewing with the Enhanced Capabilities daylight filter on in a lit room. Most commer - Future conflict situations demand that we cial and military systems are thoroughly provide the wherewithal to our soldiers to tested by manufacturers to ensure reliability. observe and fight in poor light/darkness, including through rain, fog, mist, snow, sand - Required Philosophy storms, blizzards, as effectively as by day. Dig - We need to review our night vision philoso - ital technology should provide improved phy. Conflict situations including when coun - image quality and enhanced capabilities to tering terrorism and in asymmetric warfare meet battlefield conditions. We need to refine conditions will provide fleeting targets includ - our night vision philosophy and equip the ing in poor light conditions and darkness. Army accordingly. The paucity of night vision t e Every soldier, particularly the fighting arms, devices even with the National Security n . s must be able to observe and fire. Enhanced Guard (NSG) was quite apparent on national e c

r night vision goggles (NVGs) that use digital television. We required NVDs for all our secu - o f imagery to improve mobility and situational rity forces countering terrorism and insur - d n awareness under all lighting conditions are gencies yesterday. The Indian Army must take a l s required for overcoming battlefield obscurants the lead, fill up the voids in night vision and p s

. that would generally hinder vision. These exploit digital fusion technology, benefitting w should be helmet-mounted systems that digi - the war-fighters and help them succeed in w

w tally combine video imagery from a low-light- their mission.

22 SP’s LAND FORCES 1/2011 Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Jayant Baranwal News in Brief Editor Lt General (Retd) V.K. Kapoor Assistant Group Editor US TO DEPLOY NEW INTELLIGENCE also thought to have increased the number ISRAELI DEFENCE FORCES TEST R. Chandrakanth DRONE IN AFGHANISTAN of its tanks by 200 to about 4,100 for the TROPHY ACTIVE DEFENCE SYSTEM Senior Technical Group Editor The US military plans to deploy a new intelli - past two years, the White Paper says. The The Israeli defence forces have successfully Lt General (Retd) Naresh Chand gence drone in Afghanistan, which military White Paper confirms that the North has tested the abilities of the trophy active Contributing Editor experts say will allow the US troops to moni - deployed a new battle tank, named defence system by firing anti-tank missiles Air Marshal (Retd) V.K. Bhatia tor much larger operational theatres than “Pokpung-Ho” (storm) apparently based on at a manned Merkava 4 tank. The military Sr. Copy Editor & Correspondent before. The airborne surveillance system is the Soviet-built T-72, and dubbed as M-2002 training exercise was conducted with Sucheta Das Mohapatra called Gorgon Stare and will be able to trans - as the tank is presumed to have been rolled kinetic missiles without warheads, which Assistant Correspondent mit live video images of physical movement out in 2002. Agency for Technology and simulate the missile’s path, so that the sys - Abhay Singh Thapa across an entire town. The system consists of Quality, an affiliate of the Defense Acquisi - tem will intercept and destroy aerial Assistant Photo Editor nine video cameras mounted on a remotely tion Programme Administration, the threats. Trophy uses special radars and sen - Abhishek Singh piloted aircraft, which can transmit up to 65 Pokpung-Ho is known to be armed with sors to identify various threats, such as live images to soldiers on the ground or to either a newly developed 125mm or 115mm incoming missiles, and launches a special Contributors India analysts tracking enemy movements. By con - main gun. The tank would also be mounted explosive to neutralise them. It is expected General (Retd) V.P. Malik, Lt General (Retd) trast, the current air force drones today shoot with a 14.5mm KPV anti-aircraft machine that the system will be integrated into all Vijay Oberoi, Lt General (Retd) R.S. Nagra, video from a single camera over a narrow gun. The total number of North Korean units and be fully operational in the comi - Lt General (Retd) S.R.R. Aiyengar, Air area. Gorgon Stare will be looking at a whole troops remains unchanged at about 1.19 wng months. The trophy active tank Marshal (Retd) Vinod Patney, Major General city, so there will be no way for the adversary million, the Paper says, but the North has defence system has been jointly developed (Retd) Ashok Mehta, Major General (Retd) to know what we’re looking at and we can see added four new divisions and one brigade. In by Rafael, Elta and GD. G.K. Nischol, Brigadier (Retd) Gurmeet everything. addition, the Paper noted, Pyongyang has Kanwal, Brigadier (Retd) S. Mishra, 2,500 to 5,000 tonnes of chemical weapons, IRAQI ARMY AVIATION RECEIVES Rohit Sharma NORTH KOREA UPGRADES MILITARY presumably stored across the country. FIRST COMBAT HELICOPTERS Chairman & Managing Director CAPABILITY Concerns about the North’s nuclear The Iraqi Army Aviation Command has Jayant Baranwal North Korea has increased the number of its weapons programme deepened last month, received its first three Bell-407 armed training Administration & Coordination special warfare forces and battle tanks over when Pyongyang, which conducted two combat helicopters from the US Government. Bharti Sharma, Survi Massey the last two years as part of efforts to improve nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009, revealed a The Bell-407 armed helicopters have been Senior Art Director both conventional and asymmetrical mili - uranium enrichment facility to a visiting US designed to fire Hellfire air-to-ground missiles, Anoop Kamath tary capabilities against South Korea, accord - scientist. The uranium enrichment pro - and are also equipped with intelligence and Design ing to Seoul’s latest Defence White Paper. The gramme could give the North a second route data-link capabilities. The aircraft will be used Vimlesh Kumar Yadav, Sonu Singh Bisht Ministry of National Defense here released to build a nuclear bomb. to train Iraqi Army pilots to fly the Bell-407, Sales & Marketing the biennial defence report reviving the which is scheduled for delivery over the next Director Sales & Marketing : Neetu Dhulia description of the North Korea as an INDIA MAY ACQUIRE 22 AH-64D 18 months. The Iraqi Army has prepared two Head Vertical Sales : Rajeev Chugh “enemy” in six years. The description follows BLOCK III APACHE HELICOPTERS instructor pilots to develop a cadre that would SP’s Website a series deadly provocation from North operate and maintain the helicopter fleet. Iraq Sr. Web Developer : Shailendra P. Ashish Korea, including the sinking of a South has also ordered another 27 armed Bell-407s Web Developer : Ugrashen Vishwakarma Korean patrol ship in March and shelling of for the Army’s 21st Squadron, with deliveries Published bimonthly by Jayant Baranwal on a border island in November. According to scheduled for 2011 and 2012. behalf of SP Guide Publications Pvt Ltd. All the 2010 Defense White Paper, the number rights reserved. No part of this publication of North Korean special warfare forces has ARMY OPTS FOR 124 MORE may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval increased by 20,000 to 2,00,000. The spe - MBT ARJUNS system, or transmitted in any form or by any cial operations troops could infiltrate the In a major thrust to the indigenisation pro - means, photocopying, recording, electronic, South through underground tunnels or by gramme, the Army decided to place a fresh or otherwise without the prior written AN-2 aircraft to strike major targets or assas - order for an additional 124 MBT Arjun Mark- permission of the publishers. sinate key figures in the South. The North is 2 tanks. This followed the success of the Printed in India indigenous tank in the gruelling desert trials by Kala Jyothi Process Pvt Ltd >> SHOW CALENDAR in the first quarter of this year. The 124 tanks © SP Guide Publications, 2011 now being ordered are over and above the Annual Subscription existing order of an equal number of MBT Inland: `600 • Overseas: US$180 7-10 February Email: [email protected] International Armoured Vehicles 2011 The Defense Security Cooperation Agency Arjun Mark-I placed with the Heavy Vehicles Letters to Editor ExCeL Centre, London, UK (DSCA) notified the US Congress on December Factory, Avadi. [email protected] www.internationalarmouredvehicles.com 22 of a possible foreign military sale (FMS) to the Government of India of various engines, For Advertising Details, Contact: [email protected] 9-13 February equipment, weapons, training, parts and >> APPOINTMENTS logistical support for a possible Direct Com - [email protected] Aero India 2011 [email protected] mercial Sale of 22 AH-64D Block III Apache Air Force Station Yelahanka, SP GUIDE PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD Bengaluru, India helicopters. The complete package is worth approximately $1.4 billion ( `6,300 crore). POSTAL ADDRESS www.aeroindia.in Post Box No 2525, New Delhi 110 005, India The Government of India has requested Corporate Office 20-24 February proposals from several foreign suppliers, including the United States, to provide the A 133 Arjun Nagar, Opp Defence Colony, IDEX 2011 New Delhi 110 003, India next generation attack helicopter for the ADNEC, Abu Dhabi, UAE Tel: +91(11) 24644693, 24644763, www.idexuae.ae Indian Air Force. In this bid, the Government 24620130 of India is yet to select the Boeing-United Fax: +91 (11) 24647093 States Army proposal. This notification is 28 February - 1 March Regd Office Border Security 2011 being made in advance so that if the Boeing- Fax: +91 (11) 23622942 US Army proposal is selected, the United Sheraton Hotel Balkan, Sofia, Bulgaria Email: [email protected] States might move as quickly as possible to www.smi-online.co.uk Representative Offices implement the sale. VICE ADMIRAL D.K. JOSHI TAKES OVER AS CISC BENGALURU , INDIA 8-9 March Air Marshal (Retd) B.K. Pandey INDIAN ARMY TEST FIRES TWO Vice Admiral D.K. Joshi has taken over as 534, Jal Vayu Vihar, Kammanhalli Main Rd, International Seminar-cum-Exhibition PRITHVI-II MISSILES the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to on Military Modernisation Bangalore 560043, India. The Indian Army has successfully test-fired Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee Tel: +91 (80) 23682534 Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi, India two nuclear-capable Prithvi-II ballistic mis - (CISC) from Air Marshal S.C. Mukul. Ear - MOSCOW, RUSSIA www.ciionline.org siles from the integrated test range at lier Vice Admiral D.K. Joshi was Com - LAGUK Co., Ltd, Yuri Laskin Chandipur, Odisha. The missiles, which mander in Chief of Andaman and Nicobar Krasnokholmskaya, Nab., 14 - 17 March have a strike range of 350 km, were Command. Vice Admiral Joshi is a special - 11/15, app. 132, Moscow 115172, Russia. Soldier Modernisation Asia mounted on a mobile launcher and test- ist in anti-submarine warfare and a grad - Tel: +7 (495) 911 2762, Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa, fired from launch complex-3 in the inte - uate of the staff course from Naval War Fax: +7 (495) 912 1260 Singapore grated test range. The two indigenously College, USA. He is also an alumnus of the www.spguidepublications.com www.soldiermodasia.com developed surface-to-surface missiles have National Defence College, New Delhi and www.spslandforces.net already been inducted into the armed forces. College of Naval Warfare (NHCC). He has RNI Number: DELENG/2008/25818 23 - 25 March They are capable of carrying a payload of commanded three frontline units in the Future Artillery 2011 500-1,000 kg and can deceive anti-ballistic Western Fleet viz. the Missile Corvette Olympia Conference Centre, London, UK missiles. The test-firings were part of rou - Kuthar, the Kashin Class Destroyer Ranvir www.future-artillery.com tine user trials conducted by the personnel and the Aircraft Carrier Viraat. of the Strategic Force Command.

1/2011 SP’s LAND FORCES 23 SHOCK-PROOF. VIBRATION-PROOF. AANDND EVENEVEN FUTURE-PROOF.

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