sign in sign up
<<
Home , DRDO Ghatak, DRDO Nishant, DRDO Rustom, Drone strike, K2 Black Panther, Loitering munition

Avail YOUR COPY NOW! `100.00 (-Based Buyer Only) Aero india 2021 SP’s special Yearbook 2019 AN SP GUIDE P UBLICATION SP’s MEET US AT Hall-E, Stall: E-4.6

www.spsmilitaryyearbook.com www.spslandforces.com ROUNDUP The ONLY magazine in Asia-Pacific dedicated to Land Forces

In This Issue >> Lead Story

Page 4 Swarm Drones — New Frontier of Warfare A new way altogether of releasing force on the enemy, Swarm Drones will play a dominant role in the conflicts of the future, Future Army and with more and more states and non-state actors using this technology Lt General Dushyant Singh (Retd) Page 5 Army Aviation Corps — Evolving Warfare Present Status and Modernisation Will human intelligence and creativity win the next or the leader in AI will rule the world? Technological innovations in the future would surely change the nature of warfare. Future conflict will take place in a that is shaped by Artificial Intelligence and other new technologies.

Photograph: Courtney Maxson, Army / defense.gov

With the motto Suveg and Sudridh (Swift and Sure), the youngest corps of the is growing in tactical importance, in the battlefield, as a force multiplier Lt General Naresh Chand (Retd) Page 6 Army’s Eye in the Sky Pilotless Aircraft or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), better known as Drones are rapidly growing in popularity in various military operations due to their high convenience in reducing losses and enabling the execution of high profile and time-sensitive missions Lt General Naresh Chand (Retd) Page 7 The Looming Drone Threat Drones provide an opportunity to getting close to the target and bring an “unmanned” platform from which force can be launched via remote control. Drones also provide maneuverability of the platform, in close vicinity to the target, allowing more precise targeting. In this age of technology, Drones were bound to happen and are here to stay. Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd) Page 8 Death Knell of : Fact or Fiction

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being viewed as the most disruptive technology of the current era that promises to change the face of warfare for years to come

 Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd) played a decisive role. Third was the assassi- The Islamic State used drones in - nation of Iranian nuclear physicist Mohsen and was even trying to develop rocket hree events were promi- Fakhrizadeh on November 27 for which assisted drones. Russian bases in Syria too nently covered in media during accused . Iran’s Tasnim news were subjected to swarm drone attacks. In 2020. First was the killing of Ira- agency quoting a senior Iranian military September 2019, -based Houthi reb- With attention shifting to cutting-edge nian General on official has stated that Mohsen’s assassina- els executed a coordinated massive swarm technologies like robotics, artificial intelligence and autonomous drones, the January 3 through precision tar- tion was carried out remotely with artificial on two ARAMCO oil produc- Tgeting by a US drone near Baghdad Inter- intelligence and a equipped tion facilities of Saudi Arabia defeating the logic behind maintaining large, legacy platforms has been brought into question national Airport while he was on his way to with a “satellite-controlled smart system”. Saudi air defence systems. Addressing stu- Lt General R.K. Jagga (Retd) meet Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mah- dents in Moscow during September 2017, di in Baghdad. Second was the - Changing Landscape President Vladimir Putin had famously said Plus conflict in Nagorno Karabakh in Use of drones with artificial intelligence that whichever country becomes the leader News / Appointments 11 which swarm drones used by Azerbaijan (AI) has been witnessed in recent years. in AI research “will become the ruler of the

Aero India 2021 Special SP’s Land Forces 1 Pinpoint Accuracy Always at Hand

Harop Mini Harpy Long-range tactical Medium-range tactical system weapon system

IAI’s Loitering Munitions Family. Search Like a UAS. Strike Like a .

• Backed by over 30 years of combat experience • Non-line-of-sight (NLOS) integral assault capability for the modern warfighter • Man-in-the-Loop, intuitive target acquisition and strike • Minimum collateral damage • Abort capability • Exceptional versatility www.iai.co.il • [email protected] >> lead story

While the world is cancelling what the future armies will look sively with an article on Swarm their utility in grounds and a host of leading shows, like. The author feels that rapid Drones by Lt General Dushy- if they have any future, given India has gone ahead with technological advances will con- ant Singh (Retd), Indian Army’s the technological advance- tinue to revolutionise the five di- use of Drones by Lt General ments. Read this analysis by unmatched conviction and is mensional conflict of aerospace, Naresh Chand (Retd) and the Lt General R.K. Jagga (Retd) to organising Aero India 2021 land, sea, cyber and electro- Looming Threat by Lt General find the answer. with not even a fraction of magnetic space. P.C. Katoch (Retd). The article As usual this issue wraps up change or an effect out of An area of newer technolo- on Swarm Drones, aptly called with the News Digest and Flag COVID-19 gies is the significant develop- the ‘New Frontier of Warfare’, Postings. Wish you all discern- ments taking place in the space deals with the concept of Swarm ing readers happy reading and in A distinct component of ma- of “Unmanned Systems”, popu- Drones, the developments tak- case you are in Bengaluru kindly jor defence and air shows, like larly called as Drones. Drones ing place in this field and how to visit us in Aero India 2021 at Hall- the upcoming Aero India 2021, can be used for intelligence counter them. E, Stall:E4.6. is the showcasing of futuristic operations, surveillance and The article on Army Aviation technologies under develop- reconnaissance (ISR), target Corps (AAC) traces its origin ment which on implementation acquisition, precision strikes and where it wants to reach in will be extremely useful to man and post strike damage assess- the future. AAC is growing in its

EDITORIAL and machine. Some of these ment. are operating tactical importance in the battle- technologies have the potential unarmed and armed drones; as field as a force multiplier. How- to shape the battlefield land- small as 16 gram Black Hornet ever it will need to accelerate scape. Keeping this in mind, the Nano with a 2 km range to the its pace of modernisation and lead story of this issue of SP’s 40 feet Wingspan Global Hawk capabilities to become Land Forces by Lt General P.C. - bigger than most commercial a battle winning factor. There is Katoch (Retd) is on the evolving airliners. This issue of SP’s Land also an article on Battle Tanks Jayant Baranwal trends in warfare and therefore Forces covers this subject exten- and whether they have outlived Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

Photographs: DARPA, PIB world”. Interestingly, has set itself the lites. This reportedly involves reflecting a goal of becoming leader of AI by 2030. sunbeam on the enemy satellite that will To the ongoing development and appli- over a long period heat the target satellite cation of information communications and causing it to fall out of its orbit and burn up technology (ICT) resulting in precision- on re-entry into the upper stratosphere. guided weapons and net-centric warfare The newest skin coatings for painting (NCW), technologies like stealth and hyper- the face in battle don’t just conceal the sol- sonic systems have been added in a major dier but also reduce the fighter’s visibility to way. In addition is cyber-warfare and ‘media thermal vision sensors by blocking the near- ’. Readily available new tech- infrared wavelengths those systems look for. nologies can be exploited and used by both Current camouflage can hide soldiers and state and non-state actors as large spectrum their vehicles from human sight but is close of new tools to inflict damage and disruption to useless against ever-more-common infra- not only on traditionally superior military red vision systems. But research is on with forces in the battlefield, but also on civilian structural protein called ‘Reflectin’ func- populations and critical infrastructure. tioning in the same wavelengths as night vision systems to overcome this problem. New Technologies China has also been reporting development Rapid technological advances will continue of invisible clothing. to revolutionise the five dimensional conflict (aerospace, land, sea, cyber and electromag- Future Battlefield netic), , electronic war- There is no doubt that future battle-space will fare, , all other forms be shaped and geminated by new technologies of operationalised cyberspace, radiation and AI. However, the view that AI will rule combat, robotic combat and nano-technol- conflicts and this revolutionary change will ogy combat. Information superiority is as witness humans being replaced by robots is important as land, sea, aerospace superior- misplaced. Humans who most quickly exploit ity. Nonlethal weapons (NLWs) of various the battlefield have invariably overcome tech- kinds, biological pathogens and other weap- nological disadvantages and delivered vic- ons of mass destruction (WMD), lasers and tory. Though AI and other technology will be particle beams, rail guns and long-range important in future conflicts, the best bet for kinetic strike systems, enabling technolo- future victory is developing the tactical, oper- gies such as nano-materials and additive ational, and strategic innovators who will printing or 3D manufacturing have arrived leverage battle-space conditions to achieve on the scene. High-powered microwaves victory, regardless of the technical balance. too are in use to destroy enemy electronics The US-Vietnam war is a perfect example of although they have certain limitations. this. But human intelligence will win the next Solid-state laser technology is afford- conflict, not technology. Perhaps, no one can able and will be deployed in the near future understand this better than Chinese Presi- to damage or destroy enemy systems on the dent Xi Jinping who understands the human battlefield at sea, air and ground. Ground deficit of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). vehicles will use them against , mor- That is why China is working on genetically tars, UAVs, and other proximate threats. developing super-soldiers. China’s biological bombing of the world In recent years, Chinese scientists, phys- by releasing the virus from Wuhan has icists and strategists have been emphasis- signaled the horrors of biological attacks. ing that biotechnology could become a new Such virus attacks can have many varia- strategic tool in conflict. US intelligence officials now say that China has already conducted human testing on PLA soldiers New technologies can be (Top) web closer to making its performance-improving suit a reality; (Above) DRDO successfully launched the Defence Interceptor missile, in an Anti-Satellite (A-SAT) missile test. hoping to develop soldiers with biologically exploited by both state enhanced capabilities. Chinese researchers tions. Ebola itself can be used as a biologi- ease. This would particularly make sniping have used the gene-editing tool ‘clusters of and non-state actors cal weapon. More dangerous research is on much more lethal and effective. Drone sub- regularly interspaced short palindromic synthesising DNA into viruses and other marine hunters have been developed as the repeats’ (CRISPR) used to treat genetic dis- to inflict damage and potential pathogens. China has integrated answer to submarines having added stealth eases and modify plants, but in conducting in such research by establishing a features. Laser cannons can fire repeatedly human testing “there are no ethical bound- disruption on traditionally Wuhan-like research facility in Pakistan. with just a truck-mounted diesel generator. aries to Beijing’s pursuit of power.” Western More advancement in military technolo- To protect against plasma weapon attacks, scientists consider it unethical to seek to superior military forces in gies is ongoing. In addition to loitering muni- plasma shields are being developed. Beyond manipulate genes to boost the performance tions already in use, sensor-packed bullets the testing of anti-satellite (ASAT) , of healthy people. the battlefield are being developed that can change course advanced technology is being developed to rapidly in midair hitting the target with silently hunt and “melt” the enemy satel- Continued on page 9...

Aero India 2021 Special SP’s Land Forces 3 >> Technology Swarm Drones — New Frontier of Warfare A new way altogether of releasing force on the enemy, Swarm Drones will play a dominant role in the conflicts of the future, with more and more states and non-state actors using this technology

Photographs: DARPA  Lt General Dushyant Singh (Retd) once again has upheld the supremacy of air power in a future battlefield against a legacy Introduction large ground forces with relatively poor air Drone Warfare is being extensively and defence forces. effectively used by many countries to con- At present air defence guns and mis- duct against their adver- siles are being used to counter drone threat saries. For example, the US has employed however, they are practically ineffective drones with telling effect in the against hundreds of Swarm drones. But as war to target the fighters and leaders of Al- it happens with any path breaking tech- Qaeda and Taliban. Recently it targeted the nology, in the initial stages it pays rich divi- Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani. dends for example dynamite, guns, tanks, Other countries that have used drones aircrafts but soon counter measures are are against the Kurdistan Work- also invented to neutralise or minimise ers’ Party, Nigeria against Boko Haram, the impact of such technologies. Research Iraq against the Islamic State in Iraq and is on to counter swarm drone threats. An Syria (ISIS), and Saudi Arabia in and area which looks most promising to coun- Yemen. Swarm drone attacks with loiter ter such threat may lie in the electronic capability have made drone warfare even and communication domain - it is just a more deadlier and lethal. A classic exam- matter of time when an effective counter ple of swarm drone attack was conducted UAV system would be developed. Even in by Yemeni Houthi rebels on two Aramco the physical destruction domain efforts installations of Saudi Oil Companies by 18 are on to find suitable weapon systems. Role: Strike drones and three low-flying missiles which The number of flaws that were noticed in CODE assets are Target Target many believe was actually conducted by locally controlled the Chinese demonstration of the world's Iran given the sophistication of the attack. Role: Strike largest swarm display on May 1, 2018 jus- However, drone warfare shot into limelight Role: Electronic tifies this conclusion. 496 drones in the during the recent Azerbaijan - Armenian Warfare May 1, 2018 demonstration deviated from conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. Dur- their path and few of them just returned ing the conflict drones were used by Azeri back after taking off. This was attributed defence forces against the Armenian land to GPS jamming. The other limitation of forces with telling effect. the Chinese drones is their limited scope in Role: Comms/Nav fix terms of range and GPS denied area oper- Proliferation of Drones ability. On the other hand, the US drones The , China, , and Brit- are air launched and can be recovered by ain are in advance stages of developing this aircrafts, operate upto 300 nautical miles Role: Comms relay technology. In 2017, the US carried out tri- and continue on their mission even in a als with 103 ‘Perdix Quadcopter Drones’ GPS denied area of operations. Although functioning as a swarm. As per Lt General (Top) MANNED-UNMANNED – the control of unmanned systems from a manned aircraft the Chinese are actively pursuing research Bali Pawar, a well-known aviation expert, (Above) DARPA's CODE (Collaborative Operations in Denied Environment) in making their drones jamming resistant the US research agency DARPA has devel- and capable of operating in GPS denied oped micro drones of the size and shape of Swarm drones are of two types: first “Fixed UAV swarms comprising 1,374 UAVs on areas there is a scope to disrupt this disrup- missiles designed to be dropped from planes. Wing Swarms” and second Quadcopter April 29, 2018. China recently conducted tive new warfare capability. The US Navy is also working on ‘Low Cost Swarms. China holds the world record a test of Stealth attack Swarm tech drone. Tech- in both categories beating the US in the The state of the art drone is capable of being Advantages Offered by Swarm Drones nology’ (LOCUST). Russia is also working process. In fixed wing UAV swarms it has launched from trucks, helicopters, and Sea Greater Survivability as the drones on the concept of drone swarming and is flown 119 UAVs in June 2017 by Chinese platforms. It is about 1.2 meters long, maxi- are difficult to detect hence chances of probably trying to integrate drones with Electronic Technology Corporation (CETC) mum speed 150 kmph and an operating their survival is far greater as compared its ‘Sixth Generation Fighter Aircraft’. beating the US record of 103 fixed wing radius of 15 km. These type of drones func- to manned aircraft. Similarly, being a Similarly, the UK is also working on Swarm UAVs in January 2017. The fixed wing UAV tion like normal drones during recce mode network of weapon systems of multiple attack technology. While qualitatively the swarm divided into different groups, with but transform into a and drones, even if they get detected and a few US is still world leader in drone technology, each group circling over its intended target launch suicide attacks when they receive of them shot down, the function of the it is the Chinese who have taken the lead and thereafter, manoeuvring as a group to the order. Swarm drones attack the target destroyed is taken over by other UAVs in in manufacturing and proliferating drones ascertain the viability of carrying out coor- by integrating two critical technologies: the Swarm. However, if they get detected in the world. As per an article published in dinated reconnaissance, distributed surveil- machine and artificial intelligence. they are easy to shoot down. Houthi rebels November 2020 by a New York based For- lance and saturated strikes over ground tar- The concept of swarm drone opera- have shot down a few drones of the US. An eign Affairs article that prior to 2011 only gets. Similarly, the Chinese company Ehang tion envisages integrating and flying a important conclusion that can be drawn three countries possessed armed drones demonstrated the world largest quadcopter large number of UAVs carrying sensors, from this is that the system may not sur- but between 2011 to 2020 there are 18 weapons/munitions and communication vive against a contested battlefield environ- countries that have armed drones of which equipment on board and obtaining inputs, ment with robust AD systems and offensive 11 countries have been supplied drones by Swarm drones are building a comprehensive battle picture cyber-attack capabilities. China. What is of even greater worry is that and communicating to multiple users in Cheaper Options to Armed Forces most of the countries who have procured multiple unmanned aerial a simple manner and in real-time. Such a especially that do not enjoy conventional these drones are non-democracies. There- concept increases the probability of success weapon superiority over their adversaries fore, its employment for hybrid warfare and flying platforms integrated of a mission as there are built in redundan- such as Pakistan over India or India over by militants or terrorist organisations is as a single networked cies in the concept. For example, if an UAV is China. The drone technology is gaining likely to increase. The Iran backed Houthi shot down or jammed its functions get taken popularity rapidly over countermeasure swarm drone attack on Saudi Oil Company system self contained over by another UAV. Swarm drones are systems to such threats such as air defence facility is a recent example. multiple unmanned aerial flying platforms or electronic countermeasure systems. As for communication, integrated as a single networked system self- discussed weapon systems to counter drone Swarm Drone: Chinese Activities contained for communication, reconnais- technologies will be developed in the short China is also working towards developing reconnaissance and sance and weapons/munitions to strike an term. Swarm drones are likely to rule the a swarm drone operational concept of war enemy ground based target. The successful roost and if India is not to be left behind fighting.T owards this end it has started weapons/munitions to use of drones by Azerbaijan which was sup- then at least in this technology it must testing swarm drone attack technology for ported by Turkey and Israel has comprehen- quickly catch up with the world leaders. warfighting since 2017 on a regular basis strike an enemy target sively validated the employment of drones

www.spslandforces.com as reported by Global Times a Chinese Daily. in a conventional setting beyond doubt. This Continued on page 10...

4 SP’s Land Forces Aero India 2021 Special >> Army Aviation Army Aviation — Present Status and Modernisation With the motto Suveg and Sudridh (Swift and Sure), the youngest corps of the Indian Army is growing in tactical importance, in the battlefield, as a force multiplier

Photographs: Karthik Kumar / SP Guide Pubns, Boeing  Lt General Naresh Chand (Retd) operations. The intended roles of IMRH are to support , air transport, com- he present Army Aviation bat logistics, combat search and rescue and Corps (AAC) originates from the casualty evacuation operations. Air Observation Post (AOP) which was part of Indian Artillery. The Attack Helicopters role of AOP was to act as spot- The holds and operates Tters to direct artillery fire on to the enemy attack Helicopters like the Mil Mi-25/Mi-35 targets which the ground based observers but are under the operational control of could not see. The introduction of helicop- the Army. AAC has plans to acquire its own ters to replace fixed wing aircraft revolu- armed helicopters. HAL is developing brief tionised the AOP’s role. The AAC was raised details of which are given below: as a separate Corps on November 1, 1986 Lancer. HAL has developed a light and became the youngest Corps in the Indi- attack helicopter ‘Lancer’ which is a cost- an Army. It now draws officers and other effective air mobile area weapon system. The ranks from all ranks of the Army. basic structure of the Lancer is derived from Multiple Roles. The main roles of the reliable and proven Cheetah helicopter. The AAC on the modern battlefield are recon- helicopter has bullet proof front panels and naissance, observation, casualty evacua- crew seat. It is optimised for anti- tion, logistic support including carrying operations, close air support, suppression of of underslung loads, combat search and enemy fire, attack on vehicular convoys, rescue (CSAR) and Humanitarian Aid and destruction of enemy machine gun posi- Disaster Relief (HADR). It can also act as tions and anti-armour applications. It can an airborne command post and communi- carry two jettisonable combination gun- cations relay station. It plays a vital role in cum-rocket pods-one on each side, each pod counter insurgency and counter carries one 12.7mm gun and three 70mm operations. Military helicopters are becom- rockets and has a gun sight provided for ing a key element in the success of opera- accurate aiming and firing by the pilot. tions and with the fast developing technol- Rudra. Rudra is the weaponised version ogy, will gain more importance. of the Advanced Light Helicopter (Dhruv) designed and developed by HAL to meet the Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) requirements of Indian Army and Indian Current inventory. Presently AAC has Air Force. The multi role light combat heli- about 185 helicopters (all types) in its copter (LCH) of 5.8-tonne class is powered inventory which include HAL’s Chetak by two Shakti Engines. It can perform multi- (Aérospatiale SA 316 Alouette III), Chee- ple roles like Anti-, Scout, Fire support, tah (Aérospatiale SA 315Alouette II) and Armed reconnaissance and surveillance, Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv. Escort and EW platform. The main inventory still consists of Chetak Apache AH-64E. During June 2018, six and Cheetah. (Top) Indian Multi Role Helicopter (IMRH) by HAL Apache AH-64E armed helicopters were con- Cheetah. Cheetah is performing hero- (Above) Boeing AH-64E Apache for India tracted to be purchased from the US for induc- ically on the Siachen Glacier since 1984. It tion into the AAC. Earlier in 2015, orders for is of French origin and now manufactured more than 300 HAL Dhruv have been pro- established at Tumakuru, Bengaluru. Out purchase of 22 Apache for induction into the by HAL. It has been upgraded many times duced for domestic and export markets. of the 200 helicopters 135 were meant for IAF were placed and the order for Apaches but is now in need of urgent replacement. the AAC. For the 200 Kamov Ka-226T heli- for the Army will be completed only after the Cheetal. It is the re-engined version Future LUH copters production in India, Indo-Russian delivery to the Air Force of 22 helicopters. of the Cheetah helicopter to enhance high Kamov Ka-226T. During 2012, the Army Helicopters Limited (IRHL) and Russian The AAC has plans to procure 39 AH-64E altitude operational capabilities and main- started the evaluation process for the selec- Helicopters Holding Company (part of Ros- helicopters which would be adequate for tainability as well as to provide a mid-life tion of a LUH which included Kamov, Euro- tec State Corporation) had signed a road- three AAC squadrons earmarked for the three upgrade for safe and reliable operations. copter and AgustaWestland. In December map during February 2020. However, the Strike Corps. The Apache will be a major force The Artouste-IIIB engine of Cheetah was 2014, the Kamov Ka-226T was selected as aspects of indigenous content of the heli- multiplier for the Strike Formations adding replaced with the modern fuel efficient the light utility helicopter to replace Chetak copter deal has yet to be resolved thus the tremendous fire power to their capabilities. TM333–2M2 engine with FADEC for better and Cheetah while the HAL Light Utility project is on hold since 2016. Some other future plans of the AAC are:- performance. Helicopter was being developed simulta- LUH. LUH is designed and developed as Special operations squadron. A spe- Chetak. It entered operational service neously. It was also announced that the a replacement for Cheetah and Chetak heli- cial operations squadron is being raised to in France during July 1971. The Alouette Kamov Ka-226T helicopter deal is the first copters by HAL. It is a new generation heli- provide dedicated integral aviation support III was principally manufactured by Aéro- major ‘Make in India’ project. The inter- copter in the 3-tonne class incorporating the to the Special Forces. spatiale and was also built under licence government agreement was inked in Octo- state of the art technology features like Glass Heli-borne early-warning. Raising of by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) ber 2016 and a production facility was to be cockpit with Multi-Function Displays (MFD) a Heli-borne early warning flight has been in India. HAL Chetak and has done great and powered by single Turbo Shaft engine planned for employing . service to the Armed Forces as a utility and with sufficient power margin to cater to the Light fixed-wing aircraft. The army logistic support helicopter but now it needs In December 2014, the demanding high altitude missions. LUH will is also planning to induct light fixed-wing urgent replacement. meet the emerging needs in this class of heli- aircraft in future for surveillance, command Dhruv. Dhruv is a utility helicopter Kamov Ka-226T was copters in the coming decades.The helicop- and control, and communication tasks. designed and developed by HAL. The devel- selected as a light utility ter will be capable of flying at 220 kmph; In October 2019 President Ram Nath opment of HAL Dhruv was announced in service ceiling of 6.5 km and a range of 350 Kovind presented the President’s Colours to November 1984 and it was subsequently helicopter to replace km with 500 kg payload. the Army Aviation Corps. With the motto designed with assistance from MBB in Ger- Indian Multi Role Helicopter Suveg and Sudridh (Swift and Sure), the many. Dhruv entered service in 2002. It is the Chetak and Cheetah (IMRH). The preliminary design of youngest corps of the Indian Army is grow- designed to meet the requirement of both 10-tonne IMRH has been taken up by HAL ing in its tactical importance in the battle- military and civil operators. Military ver- while the HAL Light Utility to meet the requirement of the Indian field as a force multiplier. However it will sions are in production including transport, Defence Services. Dedicated versions to need to accelerate its pace of modernisation utility, reconnaissance and medical evacu- Helicopter was being meet the requirements of Airforce/Army and offensive capabilities to become a battle ation variants. HAL’s LUH and LCH, which as well as Navy are planned. The helicopter winning factor. Chief of the Army Gen- are currently under development, are based developed simultaneously. will be powered by twin engines and will eral MM Naravane announced recently that on the Dhruv platform. As of October 2020, feature blade folding option for ship deck AAC will induct women pilots as well. SP

Aero India 2021 Special SP’s Land Forces 5 >> Unmanned Aerial Systems Army’s Eye in the Sky Pilotless Aircraft or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), better known as Drones are rapidly growing in popularity in various military operations due to their high convenience in reducing losses and enabling the execution of high profile and time-sensitive missions

Photographs: DRDO, ideaForge  Lt General Naresh Chand (Retd) being procured under fast-track procure- ment. The contract marks a strategic shift in here was a blitz of unmanned the Indian defence procurement process as aerial vehicles unleashing their the Indian Army goes on an aggressive mod- fire power on simulated targets, all ernisation drive. ideaForge is an IIT-Bombay destroyed with pinpoint accuracy incubated company, which manufactures on Army Day 2021. This was a UAVs. With this contract ideaForge becomes Tlive demonstration of technological prow- India’s largest manufacturer of drones for ess of India’s young engineers which made defence, homeland security and industrial every Indian proud. The live demonstra- applications. SWITCH UAV is an indigenous tion of Drone Swarming capability using system built to cater for the most demanding 75 indigenously designed and developed surveillance operations of the Indian Forces. drones which executed an array of Arti- This Fixed Wing VTOL (Vertical Take-off ficial Intelligence (AI) enabled simulated and Landing) UAV can be deployed at high offensive missions and close support tasks. altitude and harsh environment for day and This demonstration is also a recognition night surveillance in ISR missions. It is man- of the Indian Army’s steady embrace of portable and has the highest time on target emerging and disruptive technologies to compared to any other UAV in its class. The transform itself from a manpower intensive high-altitude variant of Switch UAV is small to a technology enabled force to meet future enough to be used by soldiers. It has security challenges. This was also a great an endurance of > 120 minutes, line of sight milestone for the Army and demonstration range of 15 km, weighs < 6.5 kg, maximum of the role of unmanned aerial vehicles launch altitude is 4000 m above mean sea (UAVs also termed drone) on the battlefield. level and maximum operating altitude of The term drone was first used in 1920 1000 m above ground level. It can operate for remotely-flown target aircraft used for during day and night. It has user friendly practice firing of a battleship’s guns. From Ground Control Station (GCS) which features providing target practice to carrying out high range communication box, hand held intelligence, surveillance and reconnais- controller and a laptop/tablet with required sance (ISR) to being armed with a variety software like pre flight check, graphic maps of armament; UAVs have come a long way with video and real time streaming. due to the infusion of technology. From the Indian Army’s in House Development. smallest size equal to an insect to giants In 2019 it was reported that a team of two sol- like Northrop Grumman’s Global Hawk (Top) DRDO's Rustom–II; (Above) ideaForge’s SWITCH UAV diers have developed a UAV, called quadcopter and RQ-180; and from fixed wing to rotary and has been used in live operations along the UAVs; all types are in service. They are used tem enables the aircraft to fly in autono- capable of carrying out ISR, Target Acquisi- LOC. Other details are not known. by armed forces, coast guard, police and mous Way Point Navigation mode. A few tion/Tracking and Image Exploitation mis- civilian organisations alike. Nishant UAVs were inducted in the Indian sions. Rustom-1 is the first Indian RPAS Armed UAVs Army but have crashed. to have conventional take-off and landing General Atomics MQ-1 Predator that was UAVs with Indian Army DRDOs Micro & Mini UAVs. Micro capability. It has autonomous flight mode used primarily by the US Air Force and Target Systems. The first UAV was RUM UAVs and Mini UAVs have been developed and Get-To-Home features. Rustom-1 RPAS Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for aerial 2MB of Bulgarian origin which was used by by ADE along with Council of Scientific and has completed 65 flights and demonstrated reconnaissance and forward observation the Army Air Defence (AAD) for target prac- Industrial Research-National Aerospace flight endurance of 10 hrs, range of 200 km but later on, it was modified and upgraded tice. This was followed by Northrop Grum- Laboratories (CSIR-NAL). These vehicles and an altitude of 20,000 ft. Upgradation of to carry and fire two AGM-114 Hellfire mis- man’s KD2R5 also used as a target for AAD. have an endurance of 20 minutes to one SR-RPAS with Automatic Take-off and Land- siles or other munitions around 2001. Since The development of Lakshya by DRDO was a hour. Three Micro UAVs namely Black ing (ATOL), Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) then there has been no looking back by the great achievement to provide high subsonic Kite, Golden Hawk and Pushpak have been and load carrying capability is possible. US and the armed UAVs have been exten- aerial target system for air defence missile designed and developed. These are fully Rustom-II. This is an Air Force require- sively employed in the Middle East, Afghani- systems of the Army as well as for the Indian autonomous air vehicles. Two variants of ment but at some stage Army may also use stan, Pakistan and in many other conflicts. Air Force and the Navy. Army Air Defence two kg class FWMUAV are developed - the it. Rustom-II (Tapas), is a medium-altitude also acquired BTT-3 Banshee which is an Imperial Eagle and Slybird. A gimbaled pay- long-endurance (MALE) UAV. Rustom-II Indian Perspective aerial target system for training their crews. load provides ISR information and a video has achieved eight-hour flight endurance at DRDO. Rustom II with its heavier frame, Searcher UAV. Searcher UAV of Israeli tracking system ensures the continuous ISR 22,000 feet and efforts are now on to take greater payload capacity and higher endur- origin was procured by Surveillance and information during the flight and a state of the endurance closer to 24 hours at 30,000 ance is likely to be the indigenous platform Target Acquisition (SATA) units of Artillery the art Ground Control station controls the feet, as per the user requirement. Earlier of choice for an Indian armed UAV fleet. for acquiring targets in depth and provid- entire mission from launch to recovery. An Rustom-II had flown in the satellite commu- Work is already underway to integrate ing post firing battle damage assessment. Image processing system provides the pro- nication (SATCOM) mode for the first time. It Helina anti-tank missile with Rustom. It is developed by Israel Aerospace Indus- cessed data in near real time, to take action, had also flown with the long-range electro- Autonomous Unmanned Research Aircraft tries and the upgraded version i.e. Searcher on the available ISR information. Imperial optical payload. It is understood that it has (AURA) is another project of the DRDO Mark II is operated by . Eagle and Slybird are comparable in the also flown with a 250-km line of sight mis- which is an autonomous unmanned com- It can carry a payload of 70 kg and endur- same class such as Raven. sion in 2020. A proposal for a high-altitude bat air vehicle (UCAV). The design work on ance is 18 hours. DRDO’s Rustom-1. Rustom-1 is an long-endurance (HALE) UAV is likely to be the UCAV is being carried out by Aeronauti- Nishant. Developed by Aeronautical all composite, 800 kg class Short Range sent to the government this year for which cal Development Agency (ADA). Details of Development Establishment (ADE) of the Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (SR-RPAS) HAL will provide the engine. Additional the project are classified but it is likely to be DRDO. Nishant is a multi-mission UAV flight trials of Rustom-II have been planned called Ghatak. Currently it is meant for the launched through a Mobile Hydro Pneu- this year to prove various endurance, range Navy and the Air Force. Army may acquire matic Launcher with Day/Night capability. The Indian Army has just and altitude specifications set by user. it in the future if required. Its role is battlefield surveillance, recon- signed a contract for ideaForge’s SWITCH UAV. The Indian Heron. It is learnt that the MoD has naissance, target tracking and correc- Army has signed a contract in January 2021 approved the upgrade of Heron UAVs for tion of artillery fire. It has a sophisticated approximately $20 million for approximately $20 million (about `140 the Army, which will include a few of them image processing system for analysing the crores) for undisclosed quantities of a high- being armed. This decision comes amid the images transmitted from the UAV. The air (about `140 crores) for altitude variant of ideaForge’s SWITCH UAV India-China standoff at the LAC. vehicle has autonomous flight capabili- which will be delivered over a period of one Army Day Parade 2021 Live Dem- ties and is controlled from a Ground Con- undisclosed quantities of year. ideaForge has been awarded this con- onstration. It has not been disclosed as to trol Station. Nishant is a highly mobile, tract after it emerged as the only vendor that the Armed UAV which carried out the live compact and easily deployable system. a high-altitude variant of qualified over Indian and Global manufac- firing demonstration on Army Day Parade It is recovered with Aero Conical Para- turers in meeting the operational require- 2021. That UAV will also be most suitable to chute and impact attenuation system. An ideaForge’s SWITCH UAV ments after an evaluation done in actual carry out the surgical strikes and other fire

SP www.spslandforces.com onboard flight control and navigation sys- terrain and conditions of employment. It is missions across the LOC and the LAC.

6 SP’s Land Forces Aero India 2021 Special >> Unmanned Combat Systems The Looming Drone Threat Drones provide an opportunity to getting close to the target and bring an “unmanned” from which force can be launched via remote control. Drones also provide maneuverability of the platform, in close vicinity to the target, allowing more precise targeting. In this age of technology, Drones were bound to happen and are here to stay.

Photographs: SP Guide Pubns, US Army  Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd) world. The expanding array of relatively low-cost drones can offer countries air power he combat swarm drone at a fraction of the cost of maintaining a tra- demo on Army Day 2021 with ditional air force. The situation in Nagorno- drones engaging multiple targets Karabakh also underscored how drones can brought home the realities of suddenly shift a long-standing conflict and new age warfare to most Indi- leave ground forces highly exposed. Tans. However, this was just a glimpse of the complexities of future employment of China-Pakistan large-scale unmanned platforms in con- China’s PLA operates both medium alti- flict by opposing forces, particularly for a tude long endurance (MALE) and high alti- country like India with vast borders and tude long endurance (HALE) drones. The inimical neighbours. MALE drone fleet consists of three main types; BZK-005, GJ-1 and GJ-2 drones. GJ-1 Background and GJ-2 are the domestic in-service vari- Some historians trace employment of ants of the original export oriented Wing drones back to the mid 1800’s when bal- Loong I and Wing Loong II systems. Both loons were used by European armies albeit are equipped with electro-optical (EO) tur- others cite Chinese using bamboo-drones rets and can launch air-to-ground missiles - as far back as 202 BC. The US developed KD-9/10 laser guided ATGMs. GJ-2 is able to drone weapons in 1917 during the WW I carry a larger payload and is equipped with but these were not deployed prior to the end synthetic aperture radar for target acquisi- of the war in 1918. In WW II, drones were tion. GJ-1 and GJ-2 are considered to be PLA deployed as surveillance craft. Post WW II, equivalents of America’s MQ-1 Predator the witnessed extensive use of and MQ-9 Reaper drones respectively. drones for spying and surveillance by both PLAs HALE drone fleet consists of the the US and USSR. WZ-7, WZ-8 and GJ-11. WZ-7 is primarily In late 1970s and 80s, Israel developed for reconnaissance but there is speculation the ‘Scout’ and ‘Pioneer’ drones – leading it will be fitted with sensors suitable for des- to a shift towards glider-type drones in use ignating naval vessels for targeting by anti- today. During the Yom Kippur War in 1973, ship ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. Israel deployed target drones (Ryan Firebee) The WZ-7 was deployed during the Doklam fooling Egypt into firing all the anti-aircraft Standoff with India in 2017. Since 2018, missiles thus enabling Israel to exploit WZ-7 with supporting infrastructure have depleted Egyptian defences. In late 1980s, been reported at bases - Shigatse Airbase in Iran deployed a drone armed with six RPG-7 Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), Lingshui rockets during the Iran-Iraq War. Airbase on Hainan Island and Yishuntun In 1982, Israel Air Force integrated Airbase near the China-North Korea bor- drones as weapons, reconnaissance tool (Top) DRDO's Rustom–II; (Above) General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper der. The GJ-11 stealth drone and WZ-8 and decoys into the battlefield during the supersonic reconnaissance drone were both Lebanon War. Exploiting drones for surveil- lised in the air. Remote based (or even pro- Houthis launched multiple drone strikes unveiled at the 2019 National Day parade. lance, electronic warfare, and decoys under grammed) manual control is used to guide on two Aramco oil facilities in Saudi Arabia The GJ-11 internal weapons carriage capac- Operation ‘Mole Cricket 19’, Israel com- the drone on the desired course. causing extensive damage. On January 3, ity could accommodate two 500 kg guided pletely neutralised the Syrian air defence A combat drone can be used for intel- 2020, a US drone strike killed General Qasem bombs or eight 100 kg guided bombs. with not a single pilot casualty to Israel; ligence operations; reconnaissance, target Soleimani, Commander of Iran’s Quds Force, On January 12, 2021, China tested its depicting highly successful Suppression of acquisition and precision strikes using a outside the Baghdad International Airport jet-powered ‘WJ-700’ HALE drone that can Enemy Air Defence (SEAD) campaign. variety of ordnance like missiles, anti-tank along with some Iraqi officials. fire missiles.T he WJ-700 was first unveiled at Above innovative tactics by Israel led to guided missile (ATGM) or bombs/mines Above are just few examples, but the China’s main airshow at Zhuhai in November other countries investing heavily in drone in hard points. These drones are usually Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict over Nagorno- 2018. The turbo-jet powered WJ-700 with research and development. US gradually under real-time human control, with vary- Karabakh in 2020 brought to fore how maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 3,500 added systems, weapons, and sophisticated ing levels of autonomy. Without onboard drones can be effectively uses to destroy kg and endurance up to 20 hours has two precision controls to its drone arsenal cul- human pilot and associated equipment, enemy troops, tanks, and artillery and air ‘hard points’ under its wings to enable car- minating in the Predator MQ-10 drone sys- these drones can be smaller than a manned defence systems. In the instant case, Azer- riage of missiles to hit ground and sea targets. tem. Today, drone systems have emerged as aircraft though not always necessary. Mili- baijan had a clear advantage. Videos of In May 2018, China demonstrated a a favored way of delivering precision strike taries are operating unarmed and armed destruction being caused became a daily swarm drone of 1,374 quadcopter flying autonomously or with some human control drones; as small as 16 gram Black Hornet affair on social media while the conflict together which was a world record. Dur- at the point of contact. Drones have proven Nano with a two kilometre range to the 40 was on. Azerbaijan also had the benefit of ing PLA exercises in 2020, the new Aoshi effective and reliable across a wide range of feet Wingspan Global Hawk bigger than Turkish-Pakistani intervention by way of XC25 electric attack drone was observed, climates, terrain, and battlefield environ- most commercial airliners. Drones, espe- mercenaries and regular troops in covert which can fly for two hours up to 75 kilo- ments. Technological advances have led cially smaller varieties, can also be tasked for mode fighting on its side.T he maximum meters without recharging batteries. Chi- a continuous line of military, civilian and cyber attacks, with onboard casualties Azerbaijan inflicted on Armenia na’s unmanned helicopter AR-500C for commercial applications. facial recognition capability, delivering was through drones; Israeli Harop loitering plateau operations was successfully flown chemical, biological and radiological leads, munitions ‘Kamikaze Drones’ and Turkish which can be used for reconnaissance and Types and Tasks as well as logistics support in the battlefield. Bayraktar TB2 armed drones. Azerbaijan communications relay with optional func- Drones can be multi rotor, fixed wing, single also innovatively deployed a decoy drone- tions including electronic disruption, target rotor helicopter of fixed wing hybrid verti- Post 2000 Employment biplane causing Armenian military to acti- indication, fire strikes, cargo delivery, and cal takeoff and landing (VTOL). Multi-rotor The US used drones against the Al Qaeda vate their radars and missile batteries dis- nuclear radiation and chemical contamina- drones are the easiest to manufacture and in Afghanistan. Coalition forces have used closing their positions before unleashing the tion reconnaissance. PLA conducted series cheapest available commercially. Multi- drones for bombing operations in the Middle main armed drones’ assault. of utilisation training with an integrated rotor drones can be Tricopter, Quadcop- East, Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as A news report from Moscow in November drone swarm-armoured vehicle combat ter, Hexacopter or Octocopter. In the fixed targeting terrorist leaders. The ISIS used com- 2020 read: Drone strikes — targeting Arme- system. China has demonstrated launch wing drone category many countries have mercial drones for monitoring movement and nian and Nagorno-Karabakh soldiers and of over 200 swarm drones from a 48-tube converted military and civil use planes to inflicting casualties on Iraqi and coalition destroying tanks, artillery and air defence launcher and from a helicopter. drones – like China converting Russian forces’ troops, deployed in ISIS controlled ter- systems — provided a huge advantage for The NESCOM Burraq is Pakistan’s pri- AN-2 to drones. Hybrid VTOL’s are a play of ritory. In January 2018, Russia’s airbase and Azerbaijan in the 44-day war and offered mary drone which carries multiple imagery automation and manual gliding. Gyros and naval base in Syria was struck by terrorists the clearest evidence yet of how battlefields and motion sensors, and is equipped with accelerometers work in automated mode using drone swarms. Hezbollah too has been are being transformed by unmanned attack (autopilot concept) to keep the drone stabi- using drones frequently. The Yemen-based drones rolling off assembly lines around the Continued on page 10...

Aero India 2021 Special SP’s Land Forces 7 >> ARMOURED Death Knell of Tanks: Fact or Fiction With attention shifting to cutting-edge technologies like robotics, artificial intelligence and autonomous drones, the logic behind maintaining large, legacy platforms has been brought into question

Photographs: Wikipedia, Wikipedia / Vitaly V. Kuzmin, Nexter Systems, UK MoD, bmc.com.tr, KNDS  Lt General R.K. Jagga (Retd)

he recent conflict in Azer- baijan - Armenia region and the exaggerated claims of the tank kills has once again brought into focus the debate on the relevance Tof armour on the battlefield. The analysis of photos and videos in social media of battle in the region points to the fact that not only tanks but all types of other vehicles includ- ing dug in infantry are at risk. Therefore, to conclude based on these videos about the tank’s demise is contentious.

The Ongoing Debate The discussion on the relevance of armour has got intensified because the UK army is debating the role of heavy armour in their context. The UK delayed the moderni- sation of its tank fleet and is now facing the dilemma of an expensive upgrade or replacement programme. The present fiscal constraints of UK are exacerbating the issue and driving the reappraisal of the role of armour. So, the debate in UK defence circles is because of resource crunch and has noth- ing to do with the importance of armour in the modern-day battlefield. It is not the first time that the relevance of tank is getting debated in defence circles. Since the tanks came onto the battlefield this debate has raged off and on. The Attack helicopters came and consequently many a naysayer predicted the demise of tanks. However, the relevance of the tank did not diminish but increased with new concepts and combined arms operational philosophy. The tank fleet all over the world militaries kept expanding because, in any war which is fought on the ground and for the ground, the tank is undisputedly the most flexible and versatile weapon system. Cometh the war clouds, all commanders at all levels want more and more armour - the deploy- ment of tanks in High altitude by both India Modern Battle Tanks are Equipped with latest weapon systems and have tremendous ground combat capability: and China is a testimony to this fact! (Top left) K2 Black ; (Top right) T-14 Armata Tank; (Middle left) Leclerc ; (Middle right) Battle Tank; (Above left) Tank; (Above right) European Main Battle Tank (EMBT) Upgrading the Armoured Fleet All over the world, countries have been mod- to wrong employment, bad tactics in open sensors and it is becoming easy to pick up Relevance of Tanks ernising their Main Battle Tanks. Russia has barren terrain, poor skills as well not adhering adversaries’ movement, both by day and The modern battle space demands changes been steadily modernising and expanding to the principles of combined arms warfare. night; the sensor and shooter integration can yet abandoning tanks will be a grave mis- armoured forces. The German’s too are focus- Nonetheless, there is no denying the fact inflict heavy losses on advancing armoured take for any army. Any country which ing efforts on its armoured force. And so are that the paradigm of ground warfare has forces. But all these threats can be countered retires tanks thinking that drones/air/ US, France, China, Israel, and most other changed with the arrival of drones, the other - electronic jamming of sensors and drones, electronic jammers/long-range artillery/ militaries. The modernisation is happening precision weapon systems, and the increased Air Defence weapon system to fitting active missiles would win them would face despite the advent of sensors and shooters. lethality of anti-tank weapons. There is no protection system on armoured vehicles; bet- strategic costs and will be left behind. The large-scale destruction of armour in the gainsaying that in the ever-changing modern ter tactics and good training skills can over- Militaries world over continue to invest Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was mainly due battlefield, the combined arms fighting con- come the terrain disadvantages. The group- in armoured forces as they carry a great cept needs revision. The tank needs to improve ing of forces for any operations will be critical punch, are potent versatile weapon system technologically to increase its survivability to success; jammers and adequate air defence and have tremendous ground combat capa- There is no denying the and the tactics will have to be modified.T he weapons will be an essential component of bility. Land warfare is about holding and main threat to a tank today besides another any combined arms force. As per reports, capturing ground. To capture the ground, fact that the paradigm tank is the air and other precision weapon Russia has deployed its ‘Belladonna’ drone you need to assault the ground; armour of ground warfare has systems. And this is especially true in the open killer system in Armenia to counter Azer- remains a critical component of the terrain. Every military equipment has some baijan’s use of Turkish-made Bayraktar. The assaulting forces. The classical changed with the arrival inherent limitations and tank is no exception. Russian system is ascribed with knocking out II tank vs tank may not take place, No one can fight and win wars alone. At the at least nine Turkish Bayraktar armed drones but the tanks will remain the centrepiece of of drones, the other National strategic level, it is whole of nation used by Azerbaijan to target Armenia. This the array of weapon system employed on approach which leads to strategic gains in goes to show that well trained combined the modern battlefield. Only time will tell precision weapon systems world affairs; similarly, in the war zone, all arms forces can counter this threat from air. what changes will take place in the tank’s weapon systems must be integrated and However, the fact remains that the density design, size, shape, form etc but in the end, and the increased lethality employed in a manner to achieve victory. of drones is going to increase in the modern it shall always be called tank. The death battlefield and the composition of combined knell of tank is a sheer exaggeration - the of anti-tank weapons Changed Battlefield arms forces will have to find the balance to Tank is here to stay and will continue to be

SP www.spslandforces.com The modern battlefield is getting filled with achieve the desired result in the battlefield. part of new-age warfare.

8 SP’s Land Forces Aero India 2021 Special >> TECHNOLOGY / MUNITIONS Loitering Munitions - Meeting the Challenge of Time-Sensitive Targets

Mini Harpy during launch Mini Harpy loitering munition ROTEM quadcopter

n modern battlefields, it ble an alert hunter on the prowl, patiently dual-homing capabilities - utilizing anti- is relevant for units up to the battalion level. is critical to quickly spot the watches, and waits for its target to reveal radiation and electro-optical seekers. Lightweight, compact, and affordable, enemy and act on real-time itself, then pounces just at the right time. Weighing 40 kilograms, the Mini Harpy Rotem enables individual soldiers to put information. The precise loca- Loitering munitions can stay in the is vehicle-launched, like the Harop. With a eyes in the sky, over the hills, beyond the line tion of the enemy in modern relevant area of combat operations for an broadened capability spectrum, Mini Harpy of sight, and strike the enemy as soon as tar- Ocombat is not always known, even if the extended time, and use sensitive electro- can utilize all sensors simultaneously. By gets appear. general area of their activities can be deter- optic or anti-radiation sensors to cover employing the radiation-sensors, day and The Rotem provides tactical field units mined. and acquire an entire area in which enemy night, and electro-optics sensors at the with a new advantage against adversaries. Persistent surveillance of a broad area, activity is known to be happening. same time, the Mini Harpy enables the user If it does not receive authorization to attack, timely detection, and quick engagement of Ground forces can operate loitering to cover broader areas, and look for targets the Rotem can fly back and be retrieved the enemy, immediately as targets emerge, munitions from a distance, further back more effectively, rather than searching for safely, have its battery replaced, and imme- are imperative to dominate the modern bat- behind the frontline, or on the frontline, them through a straw. The Mini Harpy has diately deploy on a new mission. It carries tlespace. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) using portable tablet-based controls. an anti-radiation sensor which cues the electro-optical day and night sensors. loitering munitions specialize in missions camera on-board. The Mini Harpy carries a IAI's loitering munitions don't just such as these. A Legacy of Loitering Munitions warhead with eight kilograms of explosives. hover in the sky. Like alert hunters, they The loitering munitions weapons are In the 1980s, IAI pioneered the loitering It can strike targets within a one-meter ensure that ground forces are monitor- designed to operate in complex arenas and munitions field with its development of the accuracy. Its operating range is 100 kilome- ing the right area, waiting to detect and to detect moving targets on foot or in a vehi- Harpy platform, as a method to overcome ters, enabling ground units to extend opera- pounce on targets as soon as they appear. cle. Having a loitering munition in the sky intelligence gaps around enemy activity. tions deeper into a hostile area or employ By empowering the tactical and opera- with the right sensors is the most efficient Later, the larger Harop platform was born. offensive weapons from far back if needed. tional level, loitering munitions enable way to deal with such adversaries. IAI's In recent years, IAI has continued to act as a IAI's Rotem quadcopter munition is the ground forces and special operations ele- family of loitering munitions is the ideal trailblazer in the area, introducing several loi- second tactical loitering solution offered by ments to arrive at the battlefield with match for the time-critical, elusive, and eva- tering platforms that serve the tactical level. IAI, designed for employment by the ground game-changing advantage, by overcoming sive fleeting enemy targets of the modern Among others, these include the electri- forces and the individual soldier at the small intelligence gaps and dealing effectively battlefield.T hese loitering munitions resem- cally powered Mini Harpy, equipped with unit level. With a range of 10 kilometers, it with the elusive 'disappearing' enemy.' SP

>> lead story

Future Army and Evolving... continued from page 3

Militaries world over are developing ‘Exo- aggression launched in Eastern Ladakh dur- striking targets in a jamming environ- the report of the Standing Committee on skeleton Suits’ to lighten the load of soldiers ing May-June 2020 has served as a wakeup ment: it allows receiving detailed informa- Defence tabled in Parliament on March 14, and help provide support for muscles and call for India. There has been a flurry of mis- tion on the targets under active jamming 2018 had brought out that 68 per cent of joints, enabling soldiers to walk longer with sile and rocket tests but it will take continued with changing intensity. Next generation the Army’s equipment holdings were in less muscle fatigue and to minimise risk of focused research and development (R&D) to munitions with the function of artificial ‘vintage category’. Nothing much is likely injury when lifting something heavy. Syn- equip and modernise the military that was intelligence are the most effective means of to change in the near future notwithstand- thetic textile innovations and sensors will deliberately put in the cold storage over the destruction in present-day conflict. ing what rhetoric is ‘planted’ in media. sense when a joint is being stressed and past decades. R&D in defence has suffered The Indian Army is aware of the above But we must use our national resources to provide more support to the area instantly. because the private sector is not given a fair developments but modernisation has been develop future military technologies in con- Work is under way also on development of opportunity other than fake promises. Had constrained with successive yearly defence junction our strategic partners bilaterally. brain implants to monitor and control the the private sector been given a free-hand, allocations that have been negative in The US National Security Commission on emotions of mentally ill subjects, including our military would have been equipped with actual terms. Military in India has been Artificial Intelligence has recently proposed soldiers with post-traumatic stress issues and indigenous drones for multiple tasks years kept away from strategic security formu- a US-India strategic technology alliance personality disorders. Research is being done back. Our government-owned ordnance lations by the bureaucrats who rule the for developing a technology strategy and to develop microscopic devices that could be factories waste crores of rupees producing roost and on whom the political hierarchy research on emerging technologies in the injected through a needle into specific areas faulty ammunition and cannot meet the is dependent for advice. Reduction of man- field of defence and security. We must take of the peripheral nervous system where they military’s requirements. power of PLA by China was cited for reduc- advantage of such offers. would monitor and regulate nerve signals, ing the size of our Army as also technology At the same time, we must be ready helping to treat injured organs. A futuris- Indian Scenario substituting for the soldiers. No one asked for fighting the new-age war including tic face mask with special software that can It is a shame that with the size of govern- where the ground threat to China is and swarm drones and hypersonic platforms, reduce a soldier’s perception of pain simply mental defence-industrial set up that we what is the technology fielded in the Indian both in defensive and offensive opera- through engagement in virtual game to dis- have, India was the second highest defence Army to substitute the soldiers. Yet the cur- tions. In terms of drone warfare, we need tract the mind during physical therapy to importer in the world during 2019 after rent Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), when both ground and air-based anti-drone sys- reduce pain is being developed. Super-packed Saudi Arabia. We have isolated successes Army Chief, went for changes in the Army’s tems, not just for close protection like the blood cells are being researched to infuse like the recent demonstration of quantum structure and reduction of manpower in SMASH 2000 rifles being procured by the modified blood cells packed with vaccines, communications between two laboratories complete isolation without touching the Navy. The character of war will continue antitoxins, antibodies and synthetic and but that is not much consolation. We are bloating civilian-defence employees eat- to evolve. The Indian Army is making natural healing agents designed to quickly years behind China in many aspects of mili- ing into the defence budget, even making changes and adapting to the new changes neutralise pathogens. tary technologies including drone warfare. bizarre recommendations like promoting as best as it can. However, it needs the sup- Technology has always been used to Interestingly, Russia has developed ana- Colonels directly to Major General Rank. port of the government and no unneces- produce improved tools of warfare. The lytical software for smart munitions that In the Army’s context, too much talk sary interference by the CDS. Government present knowledge age, is unfolding an makes them resistant to electronic warfare of coming AI-enabled systems which will must also shed its inhibitions and give the unprecedented revolution in technologies systems. The new system of radio-electronic take years to be fielded can create blind Army free hand for launching cross-border as described above. The ongoing Chinese protection has increased the accuracy of spots. This should be avoided. Recall that sub-conventional operations. SP

Aero India 2021 Special SP’s Land Forces 9 >> Technology / Unmanned Combat Systems

Swarm Drones — New Frontier... continued from page 4 Effectively beats legacy AD Systems can operate with impunity after achieving and we better be amongst the leaders in this needs to be closely watched whether this ini- as proved in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict air superiority or favourable air situation domain. While there are a number of stra- tiative will be taken forward on high priority. especially when faced with swarm drone but in a swarm drone battle space this may tegic lessons to be learnt from the Nagorno- Meanwhile, HAL is also working in collabo- attacks. However, their chances of success just be partially true. The primary weapon Karabakh conflict, it is military lessons high- ration with a startup “New Space Research against integrated AD systems of leading platform of the ground forces, the tank, also lighted above that should be of concern for Technology.” The proposed system is named powers like the US, Russia or China is highly came under fire from the drones thus sug- us. India is deadlocked into perpetual con- as ‘Air Launched Flexible Asset-Swarm’ debatable which are networked and layered gesting that probably tanks will now have to flict with Pakistan which greatly resembles (ALFA-S). It is likely to be a 1 – 2 meters comprising long, medium and short range carry a C-UAS system with them to ensure the setting of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. long canister based drone capable of being weapon systems to defend their air and land their security like an anti-missile system. Moreover, in recent times India is dealing launched from air crafts / helicopters. As per space. Without a networked and layered AD Limited effect of Terrain, Camouflage with an aggressive and expansionist China HAL, it may take upto two years to develop system even the US systems failed to detect the and Dispersion was distinctly visible as high- and locked into a prolonged eyeball to eyeball a prototype. Similarly, as discussed earlier Houthi drone attack on Saudi Oil Company lighted by Michael Kofman writing in Mos- conflict in Ladakh whose prognosis remains we need to develop the ability to deal with facilities. The Air Defence systems today must cow Times. The drones were able to overcome uncertain. We must also be cognisant of the such threats. Solutions have to be found be supported by electronic warfare and spe- the terrain and camouflage advantages of the fact that China today enjoys a significant both in terms of ability to shoot them down cialised counter unmanned systems (C-UAS) ground forces through onboard sensors and edge in drone technology in fact it is almost and neutralizing them through electronic to defend against Swarm Drone attacks. reconnaissance equipment of the drones. in league with the world leader the US. So warfare. Writing is clear on the wall, unless Disruptive Effect against Ground Similarly, with loiter capability and mass where does India stand. Sadly, while a num- we remain abreast with the world leaders in based Weapon Systems. During the Nago- drone employment the dispersion tactics ber of startups have sprung up in this sector, niche technology areas of defence we will rno-Karabakh conflict the Armenian tanks, was also neutralised. The Armenians Armed we have a long way to go. While interacting remain handicapped in any future traditional Mechanised Infantry vehicles, artillery guns Forces had no chance in hell to fight the with a few players and experts it was realised or non-traditional threats. India must ensure and limited Air Defence weapon systems Azeris who were larger in numbers (Azerbai- that a decisive public-private partnership that the “Swarm Drone Attack System” is were picked up and destroyed like ninepins jan is ranked 68th to Armenia being 100th backed strongly by the Ministry of Defence based on the principles of size of the swarm, by the Azeri drones supplied by Turkey and in Global Firepower Index) and better in qual- in collaboration with the world leaders (USA, survivability of the drones and the mix of the Israel thus proving a point that efficacy of ity due to strong backing by Turkey and even Israel or UK) in this technology is the only various types of drones in operations both for such weapons in a limited AD environment supported to a limited extent by the Israelis. way to catch up with China. conventional and unconventional threats. will do wonders. It also gives an opportunity Likewise, based on this emerging frontier of to countries like India to redefine their force Where does India Stand? Conclusion warfare India should review it's warfighting structuring and military capability devel- India recently demonstrated a swarm drone Fortunately, in keeping with the above doctrine, concepts, capabilities and if need opment. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict technology demonstration with Quadcopters approach India has also commenced devel- be modifying its force structure. It is a highly has proven that a small conventional force on Army Day 2021. However small it may opment of such a system in collaboration competitive and devastating battlefield of led by persistent drone attacks is not only a be but it has definitely indicated the intent with the US as part of the 2 Plus 2 Defence the future and we need to match up to the lethal and potent option but also a cheaper of the Indian Armed Forces to move in this Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI). changing dynamics of warfare and technol- option. Although critics might say that we direction. It is the next frontier of warfare However, with the advent of the Biden era it ogies associated with it. SP

The Looming Drone... continued from page 7

the laser guided air to surface missile ‘Barq’. deadly way to attack; swarm means there joint facility in Hyderabad for manufactur- technologies of countries like Iran and In October 2018, China’s state media would be many coordinated drones at their ing Hermes 900 and Hermes 480 medium Turkey are far ahead despite these coun- reported China will sell 48 x Wing Loong II disposal, and it would be very difficult to altitude long-endurance UAVs for the Indian tries under sanctions – why is this so? high-end reconnaissance, precision strike intercept all of them. and global market. l Is our total reliance on the DRDO that and multi-role long-endurance drones to has kept us behind, lack of policy direc- Pakistan and that these will also be jointly Indian Scene Countering the Drone Threat tive or both which is responsible for our manufactured by the two countries. Wing Indian Military has been using Israeli Heron An indigenous Anti-Drone System developed current state? Loong II has a range of 4,000 km with top drones which may be armed with lasers in by the DRDO was successfully tested on Feb- l Why have we woken up only because of speed of 280 km/h and is equipped with the future. SeaGuardian drones have been ruary 21, 2020 in destroying a drone. The the 2020 Chinese aggression in Ladakh satellite link. This was repeated recently by inducted in the Navy on lease recently. 75 system is equipped to instantaneously detect, despite the deployment of drones, past Chinese media. There has also been news indigenous drones that can also be used for identify and destroy hostile drones. The test so many years around the world? past two years about Pakistan buying Chi- combat missions to target enemy positions was done ahead of the visit of US Presi- l Isn’t it high time the private sector is na’s Cai Hong-4 (CH-4) MALE-class drones. have been inducted into the Indian Army in dent Donald Trump to India. The system fully integrated in equipping our defence With deepening Pakistan-Turkey relations, phases since August 2020 to boost Army’s was deployed during Trump’s 22 km long forces? Pakistan also has access to Turkish drones surveillance capabilities and undertake tar- road show accompanied by Prime Minister l In addition to indigenous drones and and counter-drone systems though not geted strikes to assist troops on the ground. Narendra Modi from Ahmedabad airport counter-drones technology for destroy- without payment. The Indian Army is in the process of sign- to Motera stadium to attend the ‘Namaste ing enemy swarm drones completely, ing a `140 crore deal for SWITCH drones Trump’ event. The Navy is procuring Israeli we should also be looking at technolo- Threat Envelope with indigenous firm IdeaForge and the Smash 2000 Plus rifles as anti-drone equip- gies for: capturing live enemy drones With increasing influx of drones, technol- Army Chief has stated that Army is work- ment to protect against attacking drones. electronically; identifying decoys to ogy empowering drones more and develop- ing with the Defence Research and Develop- India obviously is looking to procure/ conserve own effort; destroying enemy ments in India’s neighbourhood, the drone ment (DRDO) to meet Army’s drone require- develop other anti-drone systems including drones through electromagnetic pulse threat envelopes India’s internal and exter- ments. In October 2020, DRDO tested the lasers and the like in addition to the mili- (EMP) attacks individually and in nal security; given the China-Pakistan dual Rustom 2 surveillance drone. News reports tary’s existing air defence systems. In doing swarms. threat and -terrorism fanned of January 11, 2021 indicate progress in so, the focus should include destroying l Large influx of drones would merit and supported externally. At the top of this the DRDO’s drone programme ‘SWiFT’ every drone in the enemy swarm drone, not review of the set template is the drone swarm threat. Swarms which is stealth test-bed technology demon- just the capability to launch as big or bigger up in the military, to include procedures of small drones in future would be able to strator. SWiFT UAV is a scaled-down version swarms than the enemy. Partial destruction not requiring to look over the shoulder carry electronic warfare jammers, emitters of ‘Ghatak’ drone. of a large enemy swarm drone could still in emergencies like sudden swarm drone that mimic the signals of larger aircraft, In 2017, Hindustan Aeronautics Lim- leave the advantage with the enemy. There- attacks at high speeds. equipment capable of conducting cyber ited (HAL) began developing the Combat fore the need is to also have drones that kill l Mere mention of AI and robotics sends attacks, or other systems to confuse or over- Air Teaming System (CATS) in conjunc- drones. Russia is developing a helicopter our armchair strategists screaming for whelm an opponent’s defence ahead of or tion NewSpace Research and Technologies. drone to assist anti-aircraft weapon systems reducing strength of the Army. Let us during a more complex operation. US, Rus- Armed with stealth and artificial intelli- in their counter-drone missions. The project not be naïve and learn from the Divi- sia and China are leaders in drone swarm gence (AI), CATS is designed to fly nearly has been accelerated after commencement sions being rushed to plug gaps along technology. America’s Offensive Swarm 100 km ahead of conventional fighters to of the conflict between Armenia and Azer- the Line of Actual Control (LAC) while Enabled Tactics (OFFSET) programme engage enemy. One Sukhoi Su-30 can carry baijan began in mid-2020. This new drone the dual-front threat continues. We can and Low-Cost UAV Swarming Technology 30 to 40 of these kamikaze-type drones. helicopter will track down small and low- ‘right-size’ the Army after AI and robot- (LOCUST) can fly autonomously but can Three types of drones are being developed speed enemy drones at low and extremely ics have been fully fielded. also be controlled manually. including a glide bomb and an air-launched low altitudes, thus filling a void in Rus- Swarm drones can be launched not swarm drone system named ‘Alpha-S’ - a sia’s military capabilities. India definitely Conclusion only from air or from ground by an opera- metre-long drone carrying 1.5-tonnes of needs drone-killer drones. While seeking With their cost effectiveness and proven tor but also through systems like China’s explosives, designed to be air-launched from advanced counter-drone technologies, it lethality in operations, drones will form a drone swarm-armoured vehicle combat sys- fighter aircraft.T he drones fly in formation would be prudent to visualise that most definite part of militaries. Swarm drones tem. By releasing an interconnected drone at speeds of 100 kmp/h scouting targets of futuristic drones, big and small, may be with inbuilt redundancies should undoubt- swarm, the armoured vehicle on the ground opportunity including missile sites to attack based on stealth and moving at much faster edly a cause for worry. India has just begun can understand the battlefield situation them. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has done speeds than today if not all hypersonic. taking elementary steps for countering the much faster than using only a single drone, preliminary testing of CATS in Pokhran but vast drone threat. Future drones are going not to mention lowering the risk of casual- its fielding was estimated to take another Issues for Policy Makers to be much more lethal and agile. However, ties compared with sending troops. Drones two-three years. In December 2018, news Indian policy makers need to seriously with sustained focus and deliberate efforts, can also be armed or launch suicide attacks, reports indicated that the Adani Group and reflect on the following: we must aim to build requisite capacity in

SP www.spslandforces.com which will give the commanding vehicle a Israel-based had established a l India has the best of brains but drone the shortest possible time-frame.

10 SP’s Land Forces Aero India 2021 Special >> News / APPOINtMENTs

Meeting between Defence Minister 5th India-Singapore Defence ised and transported by sea and air in close Rajnath Singh and Foreign Minister Ministers dialogue coordination with all agencies. The exercise Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Nepal Pradeep Kumar Gyawali culminated with the beach landing opera- Jayant Baranwal tions by elements of Amphibious Brigade Deputy Managing Editor from INS Jalashwa, Airavat, Guldar and Neetu Dhulia LCU MK-4 class of ships with 600 troops Senior Editorial Contributor along with tanks, troop carrier vehicles and Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd) other heavy weapons.The areas in which Senior Technical Group Editor the exercise was conducted holds strategic Lt General Naresh Chand (Retd) significance for India.’ Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd) Principal Correspondent Russia’s Anti-UAV System "Rat" Ayushee Chaudhary Ruselectronics’ multifunctional mobile Contributors Defence Minister Rajnath Singh co-chaired system to combat UAVs called "Rat", India The Foreign Minister of Nepal Pradeep the 5th India-Singapore Defence Ministers was demonstrated at the Russia’s Army- General V.P. Malik (Retd), Lt General Vijay Oberoi (Retd), Lt General R.S. Nagra (Retd), Kumar Gyawali called on Defence Minis- Dialogue along with Dr Ng Eng Hen, Min- 2020 forum. The Rat is based on a special Lt General S.R.R. Aiyengar (Retd), ter Rajnath Singh in New Delhi on Janu- ister for Defence, Republic of Singapore on armoured vehicle and is equipped with a Major General Ashok Mehta (Retd), ary 16. The Foreign Minister is in India January 20, 2021. During their virtual full range of UAV detection and suppres- Major General G.K. Nischol (Retd), for the 6th India-Nepal Joint Commission interaction, both Ministers expressed satis- sion equipment to protect critical objects Brigadier S. Mishra (Retd), Rohit Sharma Meeting. During his interaction the For- faction at the progress of ongoing defence from unauthorised UAV intrusion. The Chairman & Managing Director eign Minister conveyed his greetings from cooperation engagements between the system includes a radar station, a complex Jayant Baranwal the leadership of Nepal and expressed two countries despite limitations imposed for automatic recognition and suppression Executive Vice President his desire to deepen the bilateral rela- by ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Defence of telecommunication channels, a system (Planning & Business Development) tions. He also expressed thanks for all the Minister conveyed his compliments on of directed ultrahigh-frequency (micro- Rohit Goel assistance provided by India. The Defence effectiveness of pandemic mitigation mea- wave) suppression and a system of directed Manager – HR & Admin Minister reciprocated the sentiment and sures implemented in Singapore. He also laser destruction. All the equipment is Bharti Sharma emphasised that India-Nepal relations are highlighted the role of our Armed Forces integrated into a single intelligent system Assistant Manager – HR & Admin underpinned by unique people-to-people in combating COVID-19 and various mis- for collecting, processing and displaying Pooja Tehlani linkages. Both the dignitaries expressed sions undertaken to assist in repatriation information. The system detects UAVs at a Deputy Manager – Circulation their satisfaction at the excellent military- of Indians stranded overseas. Both Minis- range of up to 3.5 km and can carry out Rimpy Nischal to-military cooperation. Defence Minis- ters also expressed satisfaction at the grow- directional suppression of UAV control Group Research Associate ter stated that India is ready to provide ing defence ties between the two countries. channels within a radius of up to 2.5 km. Survi Massey Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief The Ministers witnessed the Signing of the The operator of the system can also physi- Design training & capacity building of Nepal. Implementing Agreement on Submarine cally destroy the drone using a system of Vimlesh Kumar Yadav, Sonu Singh Bisht Rescue Support and Cooperation signed directed laser radiation. Group Director – Sales & Marketing India’s first indigenously 9mm between the and Republic of Neetu Dhulia Machine Pistol Singapore Navy. Defence Secretary Dr Ajay New Ammunition for Russian Deputy Director – Sales India’s first indigenous 9mm Machine Pis- Kumar was present during the meeting. Tornado-S Multiple Rocket Launcher Rajeev Chugh tol has been jointly developed by DRDO and The Tornado-S multiple launch rocket sys- Indian Army. Infantry School, Mhow and Indian Army signs MoU with SIDM tem is the successor to the Smerch MLRS SP’s Website Sr. Web Developer: Shailendra P. Ashish DRDO’s Armament Research & Develop- on indigenisation and innovation with improved tactical and technical char- Web Developer: Ugrashen Vishwakarma ment Establishment (ARDE), Pune have partnership acteristics. The main components of the Published bimonthly by Jayant Baranwal designed and developed this weapon using system are a modernised combat vehicle, on behalf of SP Guide Publications Pvt their respective expertise in the comple- based on the BM MLRS "Smerch" and a new Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this mentary areas in a record time of four guided missiles. NPO SPLAV has developed publication may be reproduced, stored in a months. The Machine Pistol fires the in- a 300mm guided missile with HEAT-frag- retrieval system, or transmitted in any form service 9mm ammunition and sports an mentation warheads. The missile flight is or by any means, photocopying, recording, electronic, or otherwise without the prior upper receiver made from aircraft grade controlled using a control system unit built written permission of the publishers. Aluminium and lower receiver from carbon on the basis of a strapdown inertial naviga- fibre. 3D Printing process has been used tion system associated with a satellite navi- Printed in India by Kala Jyothi Process Pvt Ltd in designing and prototyping of various gation system. Each of the projectiles can © SP Guide Publications, 2021 parts including trigger components made be assigned individual para metres is not Subscription/ Circulation by metal 3D printing. The weapon has only in terms of flight range but also along Annual Inland: `600 • Overseas: US$180 huge potential in Armed forces as personal An MoU between the Indian Army and Soci- the trajectory for their deployment to vari- Email: [email protected] weapon including for closed quarter battle, ety of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) ous targets. The range of guided missiles [email protected] counter insurgency and counter terrorism was signed on January 21, 2021 to provide is over 100 km. The firing accuracy of the Letters to Editor operations etc. The weapon is aptly named further impetus to indigenisation under the Tornado-S shells is 15-20 times higher than [email protected] “Asmi” meaning “Pride”, “Self-Respect" & Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Atmanirbhar that of the Smerch MLRS shells. The weight For Advertising Details, Contact: “Hard Work”. Bharat’. This MoU was signed on the occa- of the projectile is more than 800 kg, pen- [email protected] sion of 25 Years of Army-Industry Partner- etrates armour up to 140mm. [email protected] 13th India-Vietnam Defence Security ship with Confederation of Indian Industry SP GUIDE PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD Dialogue (CII). Collaboration between the Indian modernising armoured Corporate Office Army and industry started in 1995 with the recovery vehicles for the Dutch A 133 Nagar, Opp Defence Colony, indigenisation of spares and has progressed Army New Delhi 110003, India to major defence platforms and a wide range The Royal Netherlands Armed Forces have Tel: +91(11) 24644693, 24644763, 24620130 of weapons and equipment. The Army has awarded Rheinmetall an order for the sec- Fax: +91 (11) 24647093 reorganised itself by aligning both the rev- ond phase of the modernisation of their fleet Email: [email protected] enue and capital routes of procurement of Bergepanzer 3-Büffel/Buffalo armoured Representative Offices under Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Capa- recovery vehicles (ARVs). The operational Bengaluru, INDIA bility Development & Sustenance). Army effectiveness of twenty-one vehicles will be Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd) Design Bureau (ADB) has been established upgraded. The order is worth a mid-double- 204, Jal Vayu Vihar, Kalyan Nagar, to act as a direct facilitator with the industry digit euro million figure.T he work will start Bengaluru 560043, India. Tel: +91 (80) 23682204 and thereby connect the defence manufac- immediately and Rheinmetall will completely Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar, co- turers directly with the user. overhaul another 21 Bergepanzer 3 Büffel MOSCOW, RUSSIA LAGUK Co., Ltd, Yuri Laskin chaired the 13th India-Vietnam Defence ARVs of the Royal Netherlands Army. SP Krasnokholmskaya, Nab., Security Dialogue along with his Vietnam- ‘Tri-service Exercise Kavach and 11/15, app. 132, Moscow 115172, Russia. ese co-chair Sr Lt General Nguyen Chi Vinh, AMPHEX-21 in the Andaman Sea and APPOINtMENTs Tel: +7 (495) 911 2762, Deputy Defence Minister, Socialist Republic Bay of Bengal Fax: +7 (495) 912 1260 of Vietnam on January 12, 2021. During The above exercise was conducted under the l Lt General Chandi Prasad www.spguidepublications.com their virtual interaction, Defence Secretary aegis of Andaman and Nicobar Command Mohanty took over as the 42nd Vice www.spslandforces.com and the Deputy Defence Minister expressed (ANC) involving assets of Army, Navy, Air Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS) and RNI Number: DELENG/2008/25818 satisfaction at the ongoing defence coop- Force and Coast Guard and involved partici- will take over on February 1, 2021. eration between the two countries in spite pation and deployment of all forces of ANC, He was commissioned in June 1982 of the limitations imposed by COVID 19. elements of Amphibious Brigade of Army’s into the Rajput Regiment. They also exchanged views on the plan of Southern Command along with corvettes, MEMBER / PARTNER OF l Lt General Shantanu Dayal took action that has emanated from the recently submarine and amphibious landing ships of over as the first full Deputy Chief concluded Virtual Summit between Prime Navy’s Eastern Fleet and Marine Comman- Capability Development and Suste- Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minis- dos. Jaguar Maritime Strike and transport nance (CD&S) at Army Headquarters ter of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam H.E. aircraft from Indian Air Force and assets in January 2021. He was command- Nguyen Xuan Phuc in December 2020. of Coast Guard also participated. Prior to ing 4 Corps before he took over as New areas of defence cooperation were also amphibious landing operations, troops of DCOAS (CD&S). discussed. the Army, Navy and Air Force were mobil-

Aero India 2021 Special SP’s Land Forces 11