'I Have Laid Down an All-Encompassing Vision for the Indian Army'

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June-July l 2010 Volume 7 No 3 Rs 100.00 (India-based Buyer Only) SP’s AN SP GUIDE PUBLICATION

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WORD FROM THE PUBLISHER >> INTERVIEW

SP’s Land Forces , a unique concept, has come a long way since its launch during Defexpo 2004 held early February that year. The ‘I Have Laid Down an bimonthly has attempted relentlessly to satiate the thirst for informa - tion and knowledge of readers from the land forces, associated industry and OEMs. All-Encompassing Vision In keeping with trends and dynamics of the market, the magazine has made all the efforts to offer readers writeups steeped in knowledge and varied in information by experts and personalities from diverse, but for the Indian Army’ relevant backgrounds. The new edition 3/2010 comes with a PHOTOGRAPHS : Abhishek/SP Guide Pubns refreshing and soothing appearance. We, SP Guide Publications (SP’s): Having taken over as at SP’s, hope this look of the SP’s Land one of the largest and most combat experienced Forces will be more readable and user- armies of the world, what are your feelings as the friendly, and thus connect more efficiently Chief of Army Staff? with our readers. We believe in the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) : It is indeed a matter of honour and privilege for me to take over the dynamics of time and circumstances and, reins of the Indian Army, one of the world’s finest therefore, innovate accordingly. We hope fighting forces comprising absolutely dedicated our valuable readers will appreciate these and professional officers and men. It is indeed an efforts, and we would be delighted to onerous responsibility. I feel humbled by the trust receive your thoughts on our new design. reposed in me. I am conscious of the emerging security chal - Publisher and Editor-in-Chief lenges – both homeland and in the subcontinent. JAYANT BARANWAL The Indian Army will undertake all challenges to the nation’s security with utmost commitment and professionalism. The responsibilities and PAGE 4 challenges bring about a feeling of great concern Iron Fist and Velvet Gloves for the valiant men who make up our Army. Combating the Maoists/Naxals requires the most energetic steps, firm action and SP’s: What would be the major challenges that you leadership which operate up front ensuring will have to confront and how do you propose to avoidance of collateral damage tackle them? What are the key result areas that you propose to adopt during your tenure? Lt General (Retd) Harwant Singh COAS : At the outset let me assure you that the In - dian Army is fully prepared to meet the variety of PAGE 8 security challenges confronting our country. There has been a paradigm shift in the nature of Artillery Seminar conflict and emerging technologies with its cen - The 3rd International Seminar on Artillery tre of gravity now focussing towards Asia. Technology highlighted the latest Terrorism, proxy wars, militancy, insurgen - technological developments in artillery cies, fourth and fifth generation war are likely to and the need to take advantage of available be employed by the non-state actors against stable new technologies for the modernisation of and economically progressive nations. Conven - Indian Artillery tional conflicts in future will be reinforced by the Lt General (Retd) V.K. Kapoor inclusion of large force multipliers and PGMs. Our country, therefore, faces a large number of chal - lenges ranging from conventional land-centric PAGE 15 threats to fourth and fifth generation warfare and Face-to-Face internal security challenges. Loic Piedevache , Country Head, MBDA However, the fast-changing nature of conflict Group, in conversation with SP’s Editor-in- and emerging technologies require constant reap - Chief Jayant Baranwal spoke about building praisal and improvement. I have laid down an all- a reliable, strategic and long-term encompassing vision for the Indian Army, which partnership in India is to hone the Army into a well-motivated, opera - tionally-prepared, well-equipped force capable of General V.K. Singh took over as the Chief of meeting the security challenges faced by the na - Army Staff on April 1, 2010. In the first tion. Also initiate the transformation process to function in a networked joint services environ - installment of a candid interview with SP Guide ment to leverage technology and the human re - sources capital in consonance with the rich values Publications , General Singh shares his thoughts and traditions of the Indian Army. and perceptions on the security challenges facing Having said that, I would essentially focus on the following issues: the nation, modernisation and transformation l Enhance operational preparedness of the Army for future challenges. l Consolidate and address deficiencies l Enhance meaningful training to prepare for

3/2010 SP’s LAND FORCES 1 >> INTERVIEW

Naxalites have launched an undeclared war their level and in the states and the consequences Satellite and UAV reconnaissance should keep L against the Indian State. Last month, they killed 76 of military action. The disturbed Areas Act and the selected sectors under constant surveillance. A security personnel in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958, must be complete intelligence picture of each sector should A district. On May 17, they blew up a bus there, promulgated in the states concerned in the first be updated at all times. Training of Central forces killing civilians and special police operatives and instance. Meanwhile, the nation must prepare itself including the senior police officers (who are the I then came the shocking news of the derailment of for the military mission apart from the developmental weak links) must be hastened. Army, if employed, Gyaneshwari Express. The death toll has already effort. Intelligence grids should be established in the must only be used offensively to cause maximum

R crossed the 140 mark. The Maoists are getting affected states. All data about Maoists, their leaders, causalities in Naxal ranks. Employment of small more audacious due to poor response by the and those who provide logistics should be obtained teams with heavy firepower for rapid offensive

O State. The bleeding hearts intelligentsia is only and they should be under constant surveillance. The actions based on prior intelligence will prove worried about the criminals but does not seem to national intelligence grid (Natgrid) must be estab - successful. We need to be pro-active. Do we have be disturbed by the innocent people killed, the peo - lished at the earliest. The National Counter Terror - the national will to do so? T ple for whom the State exists. ism Centre must take under its wings all intelligence

I It is high time that our political parties speak with agencies functioning for internal security. one voice. Let all of us unite to defeat the Maoists Defence intelligence should keep itself fully en - goal to overthrow the authority of the government meshed with national intelligence. Counterinsur - D through armed liberation struggle. If a military re - gency grids must be established and Central sponse is essential, so be it. However, the govern - paramilitary units positioned with clear-cut com - E ment must fully comprehend the actions required at mand responsibilities of senior police officers. Lt General (Retd) V.K. Kapoor

existing and emerging challenges asymmetric provocations has seriously SP’s: You have just handed over the Command Necessary measures as required have l Uphold the image of the Army, and en - eroded its deterrence and credibility. May we of the Eastern Army. At present, what is the been initiated for the upgradation of our in - sure inculcation of core values of self - have your views on this issue? status of insurgency in the Northeast? How frastructure which includes roads, railways lessness and professionalism COAS : It is not prudent to assume that we does it compare to the previous years and and air fields as well as enhancement of op - l Provide dignity to the art of soldiering have failed to evolve a suitable response to what are the new characteristics which have erational capabilities of the Army to secure and restoring pride in all ranks any asymmetric provocations. A number of been noticed about the groups which are op - the desired national security objectives. We l Speed up modernisation process and en - regional and international factors have to erating in the Northeast? Are they getting any are well prepared to tackle the challenges sure refinement of procedures and work be considered while formulating our op - support from outside? posed and the modernisation of the PLA is culture tions and the government takes all these COAS : The prevailing security situation in factored into our preparation. l Improve quality of life, habitability and into consideration. the Northeast (NE), owing to the continuous living conditions in forward deployment As far as the Army is concerned, it is efforts by security forces and other govern - SP’s: There have been a political move to re - areas capable of responding adequately to meet ment agencies, is under control. The insur - move the Armed Forces Special Powers Act l Enhance synergy with other services any threat today and those that may gency related incidents have shown a (AFSPA) from J&K. Such a move could seriously l Commence transformation process for a develop in the future. I can assure you that downward trend in all NE states other than jeopardise the safety and credibility of the IA more agile, lethal, versatile and net - the Army is prepared to mete out deter - Manipur. Overall, there has been a decline in operating in J&K. What is the stand taken by worked force rence in conformity with our politico- explicit violence due to better security envi - the Army Headquarters on this issue? l Contribute towards nation building strategic decision process. ronment in Tripura, dwindling support base COAS : While the security forces have through through initiatives on environmental of the ULFA, and surrender by Dimasa and relentless operations substantially controlled issues, greening programmes and sports SP’s: Considering India’s current operational Karbi groups. the violence levels in J&K, the terrorist threat projects status, which are the key technologies that The insurgency in NE is no longer ideol - remains real and the terror infrastructure the Indian Army wishes to acquire and what ogy-driven. These fringe outfits thrive on ex - across the borders remains active. In such an SP’s: What, in your view, are the major oper - are we doing about it? tortion, smuggled arms and muted response environment, the security forces are required ational challenges confronting the Indian COAS : The Indian Army for the last decade of the populace. Broadly, the consistent sus - to undertake operations in challenging cir - Army currently and what additional chal - has been on the steady road to modernisa - tenance of insurgency in NE can be attrib - cumstances against highly trained terrorists lenges do you foresee in the future? Is the tion and considerable progress has been uted to ambivalence of local establishments, armed and equipped with sophisticated Army structured to take on the challenges made in this regard. However, emerging inter-community trust deficit, tardy criminal weapons. Therefore, we need requisite legal likely to be encountered in the future? What threats makes it imperative to upgrade our justice system, extortion, abundance of protection. Any dilution/withdrawal of is the type of transformation that the Indian technological threshold to meet the loom - weapons in SE Asian markets and conven - AFSPA will lead to constraining our opera - Army should undergo to confront these ing challenges. ient havens across Indian borders. Overall tions. AFSPA is a misunderstood act and all threats and challenges? who ask for its dilution/withdrawal, probably COAS : The Indian Army needs to prepare for do so for narrow political gains. We are very challenges across the spectrum of conflicts. ‘Any dilution/withdrawal clear on the subject that soldiers operating in It has to be prepared to fight a conventional hostile environment need legal protection to war and also fight insurgencies. At the same of AFSPA will lead to ensure that they perform their task efficiently. time, we have to fulfill our commitments to Adequate measures have been instituted UN peacekeeping, contribute to regional se - constraining our at organisational and functional levels to en - curity and stability, and undertake humani - sure that the powers entrusted through the tarian assistance and management. operations. AFSPA is a Act are not misused. With these challenges emerging, it is im - perative on our part to develop matching misunderstood act and SP’s: Serious delays have occurred in equip - military capabilities in consonance with its all who ask for its ping the Army with critically required weapons growing economic and technological ad - and equipment whose non-availability could vancements so as to provide a peaceful and dilution/withdrawal, severely impact operational efficiency now and conducive environment for ensuring a self- in the future. This includes long range artillery sustainable economical growth and prosper - probably do so for guns, air-defence weapons, suitable rifles and ity. Hence, operational challenges range carbines, night vision equipment for infantry from ensuring constant vigil on the border, narrow political gains.’ and tanks and other weapons and equipment preparing for conventional land-centric for special forces among a host of other re - threats from super high altitude areas to the quirements. What action are you going to take deserts, constant engagement to fight proxy We have formulated our plans and are the security forces have achieved great to overcome such delays in the future? wars and insurgencies, and be prepared to evolving our implementation philosophy and amount of success in last two years. We need COAS : I am conscious of the voids in equip - assist the nation in internal security situa - roadmap to acquire net-centric capability. politico-administrative and developmental ment, weapon systems and its upgradation. tions as also disaster relief operations. The Projects have been undertaken to modernise initiatives to ensure long-term stability. You are aware that the process of acquisition Army is well structured for these challenges and automate the battlefield functions at the is complex and also influenced by budgetary and we have also worked out changes to unit and individual soldier levels. Battlefield SP’s: Considering the disputed border in the allocations. Delays occur due to necessary make ourselves agile, lethal and capable of management system (BMS) and future in - Eastern theatre, how well are we prepared to checks and balances as well as the procedures. functioning in a digitised, network, joint fantry soldier as a system (F-INSAS) are two confront a conflict in the region? What are the Procurement of equipment, upgradation service environment. We are looking at such projects in the making. Similarly, at tac - areas of focus as far as military preparedness to new generation technology and better making ourselves better by reducing our lo - tical and strategic levels, steps have been of this theatre of war is concerned? What is equipment is an ongoing process and I con - gistics tail and yet ensuring a functional and taken for battlefield automation and defence our operational status as compared to the fast sider this as my thrust area. The DPP is peri - efficient logistics grid to sustain our forces. communication network. Project Kranti has paced modernisation of the PLA? odically reviewed and I have given directions been taken up to enhance communication COAS : China has focussed itself towards for refinement of our own, in service proce - t e SP’s: India has been absorbing internally all connectivity. All this is to achieve networked building its comprehensive national strength dures, to facilitate meeting the time lines of n . s punishment meted out by the jihadis/terrorist joint service compatibility. Some of the areas through economic development along with our modernisation process. The government e c

r elements unleashed by Pakistan and this pas - of interest are better situational awareness impetus to military modernisation. They have has also adopted various measures to o f sivity has encouraged the terrorist groups op - through cutting edge technologies in the field been carrying out rapid infrastructural devel - strengthen the defence equipment production d n erating inside Pakistan-occupied Kashmir of surveillance and night vision capability; opment as per their overall infrastructural de - capabilities of both public and the private sec - a l s (PoK) to escalate their activities on Indian increasing own lethality through PGMs and velopment plan. We are fully seized of the tor within the country. In synchronisation p s

. soil, both in Jammu & Kashmir, and in the hin - smart munitions; ensuring efficacy of our security needs of the country as well as the with the MoD, we are taking measures to has - w terland of the country. India’s failure to evolve soldiers by lighter and multimode combat requirement of the development of the infra - ten up the acquisition. w

w credible conventional responses to Pakistan’s support systems. structure in the border areas. – To be continued

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www.harris.comcom RFRF CCommunicationsommunications • GovernmentGover nment CommunicationsCommunications SystemsSystems • BroadcastBroadcast CommunicationsCommunications >> INTERNAL SECURITY Iron Fist and Velvet Gloves Combating the Maoists/Naxals requires the most energetic steps, firm action, and leadership which operate upfront ensuring avoidance of collateral damage

Senior leadership is CRPF’s weakness The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has 210 battalions and many more are now being raised. Most of these units and the state police forcecs in the Red Corridor have been fighting Maoists/Naxals; so they ought to have learnt enough about fighting insur - gents and have had own schools for counter- insurgency training. The answer to this intriguing question perhaps rests in the fact that the higher hierarchy in the CPOs and the affected state police have no ground level experience in counter-insurgency opera - tions, there is no accountability and there is little Central and state policy or doctrine on the subject. The hype created over the Dantewada in - cidents portends ill for the developing situa - tion. Elimination of Maoists has become the top priority without regard to means and methods. Terms like revenge, enemy and war are being freely bandied about. What may follow are excesses by the police, provincial h t a

m and CPOs. Arrests, interrogations, torture a K

p and torching of villages, dislocations and o o

n fake encounters, etc will become common A

N occurrence; more so, when the senior lead - O I T

A ership stays away from the field. Troops with R T

S low morale and poor discipline are more U L L I prone to brutalities. Remember the My Lai massacre in Vietnam. n LT GENERAL (RETD) HARWANT SINGH targeting of a civilian bus in the same region Fighting insurgency is a serious business Fighting insurgency killing over 35 people, suddenly everyone and leadership in the forces has to be led is serious business, has come to life and all manner of solutions from the front, setting an example in disci - early 200 districts in the country to the problem are being fielded. The media pline and risk-taking. The military has been are in the grip of Maoists/Naxals. and leadership in the has gone into an overdrive, demanding all- in this business and the casualty ratio be - This situation developed over a out and immediate action against the insur - tween troops and officers in these operations period of time and all this while forces has to be lead gents. Wisely, as of now, the deployment of is 1 to 13.4. The figure of officers killed in the state governments and the Centre the military is not being considered as an op - last decade and a half is by now well over Nturned a Nelson’s eye to the emerging scene. from the front, setting tion, but there is demand both from the 560. These are commissioned officers, from There appears to be no one accountable for Home Minister and the affected states for de - Lieutenants to Colonels, and in a few cases the current state of affairs. No heads ever an example in discipline ployment of the Indian Air Force (IAF). Use even of higher ranks. The military has been rolled, but all those who failed the State kept of helicopters, even in a logistic support role, combating motivated, well-trained and climbing the promotion ladder. Now when and risk-taking could result in casualties as these will often hardcore insurgents in the Northeast and the Home Minister has named some police of - fly low over insurgent-infested areas. Given Jammu and Kashmir. ficers who had failed policemen at Dantewada the terrain conditions and poor intelligence, Maoists are a ragtag force in their pres - and wants action against them, we are told solved, leaving them with no means of liveli - gunship helicopters will not be that effective ent state. Yet success has eluded the police that these officers are the very best. hood. Forced evictions from their dwellings and could cause considerable collateral dam - and there are hardly any casualties among If they are so good, then how did we and land had become a routine affair. No age. Use of offensive air support will throw IPS officers while policemen (including those reach this sorry state, where policemen, roads, no schools, no hospitals, nothing were up a whole range of wrong signals to the from CPOs) have died in thousands. To state and central police organisations (CPOs) built in these areas. world and adversely affect foreign invest - achieve results, the police leadership will are easily targeted, their weapons taken There has been a gradual withdrawal of ment in the country. The fact is that Maoists have to be upfront and run the same risk away, they face regular ambush, and police governance at the district level. To stay in will have to be defeated, essentially, by the their subordinates routinely face. During the stations and CPO camps are routinely raided. power, the political class found it more prof - security forces in ground action. There is no Punjab problem in the 1980s, only when the How have the police, both state and CPOs in itable to keep the people in a state of poverty, getting away from this. Army was deployed, the police started oper - the Red Corridor, descended to such poor ignorance and deprivation. Turmoil and un - The call for talks with the Maoists is mis - ating in a meaningful manner. Such a sys - state of training and low morale. This state rest in these areas made siphoning of funds placed and inopportune. Such renegade tem should not become a pattern and CPOs of affairs does reflect on the quality of lead - much more easy. At the same time, these groups should be invited to the table for talks and state police forces should not require ership in these forces. There is no accounta - conditions created fertile grounds for the when they have been driven against the wall. military crutches all the time. bility and there are no sackings, while more Maoist/Naxal groups to spring to life and Only then there can be a hope of arriving at and more senior level posts are sanctioned, find wide ranging support among the dispos - viable and acceptable solution. To expect Combating requires energetic steps making the police extremely top heavy. sessed. Maoists terrorrised the locals to draw them to shed arms when they are on ascen - While law and order remains a state subject, their support on the one hand, and to deny dancy is a bit unrealistic. Often, as has been the present situation cannot be considered Lack of inclusive growth their support and intelligence to the police our experience in the past too, this period of as a mere law and order problem. Though The Indian State has been painfully slow in and security forces on the other. ceasefire and talks is used by the insurgents the Centre would extend all help to the states waking up to the Maoist/Naxal threat. There As governance shrank, police high hand - to regroup and reorganise themselves. We to combat Maoists/Naxals, the states will is large-scale disaffection, deprivation and de - edness increased and allocations for poverty should seek talks once we have put them have to show greater involvement. To take spondency amongst vast sections of margin - alleviation schemes ended in the pockets of completely on the defensive and in a bind. this challenge head-on, there is a need to alised and dispossessed population. All corrupt officials and colluding politicians, bring in legislation where the Centre can development and poverty alleviation schemes Naxals ranks kept increasing. District offi - take over direct control over operations have simply bypassed them. For them, there cials never stirred out and functioned from Maoists will have to against Maoists/Naxals in the Red Corridor, has been no “inclusive growth”. No one in within their high security residences and of - create central controlling authority which t be defeated, essentially, e Delhi, Ministry of Finance (MoF) and Plan - fices and on return to Delhi, became experts coordinates intelligence and operations of n . s ning Commission, etc, bothered to find out in dealing with Maoists. Given such condi - CPOs with the state police and administra - e by the security forces c

r where large funds being made available for tions, Maoists kept enlarging their foothold, tion. Gray Hounds, Cobras and Vipers, all o f inclusive growth have been disappearing. while Delhi and the affected states slept and should join the fight in a coordinated man -

d in ground action and n Among them, Adivasis have suffered the took no corrective action or held any one ac - ner. India can ignore the Maoist/Naxal a l s most. Their small land-holdings have been countable for this downslide. there is no getting threat at its peril. Combating Maoists/Naxals p s

. taken over by mining mafias, hydel projects, requires the most energetic steps, firm action w multinational corporations (MNCs) and some Aftermath of Dantewada away from this and leadership which operate upfront ensur - w

w others; whose forest rights have been dis - Now after the Dantewada ambush and the ing avoidance of collateral damage.

4 SP’s LAND FORCES 3/2010 TECHNOLOGY <<

THIRD OF A SERIES OF SIX ARTICLES ON BATTLEFIELD MANAGEMENT SYSTEM Multiplier Effect The key to NCW lies in communication infrastructure. For a BMS to be successful there is a need for a reliable, robust, resilient and efficient communication system that assures that the network is always functional. n LT GENERAL (RETD) P.C. KATOCH tion system. When pitted against the future l While it is certain that the legacy radios requirements, unfortunately, the legacy do not support a networked environment, uture wars will be fast paced and es - communication devices are physically in - how should the changeover from legacy sentially technology driven, and tech - compatible, follow different link protocols, to new generation radios be handled con - nology is changing very fast. The have issues of address, reach and quality of sidering the massive quantities and the Army is aware about this and is aim - service (QoS). In effect, the present family of expenditure involved? ing at the network-centric warfare radio sets do not meet the requirements of a (FNCW) capabilities. A few projects are already network-centric force that would facilitate Requirement p ongoing that will enable the commanders at transmission of voice, video and data simul - The Army’s current holdings of radio sets do u o r G higher level and staff officers with capabili - taneously. For a BMS to be successful there is not facilitate transmission of voice, video s e l a

ties, and will facilitate efficient decision-mak - a need for a reliable, robust, resilient and ef - and data simultaneously, which are essential h T

ing and situational awareness. But at the ficient communication system that assures for the network-centric force. Existing radios y m cutting edge there is lack of such tool that that the network is always functional. with fixed frequency (analogue) cater to lim - r A

leaves the commanders and men at battal - Understandably, such networks are spec - ited communication. Besides, these combat U

: S

ion/regiment and below to depend on their trum hungry and with commercial interests net radios (CNR) do not have inbuilt capabil - H P A training, experience and intuition to take de - looming over this scarce resource, it is a tug ity of data transmission (a modem is re - R G O cisions that can at times be critically delayed. of war between national security and com - quired), are not secure, and have no data T O H

This is even more relevant to manoeuvre op - mercial interests. The answer lies in speedy encryption facility. For a successful BMS, P erations because of the need for an acceler - projection of requirements and optimisation there is a need for a reliable, robust, resilient 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne ated decision-action cycle and an ability to of the spectrum ensuring protection of all se - and efficient communication system that as - Division (Air Assault), speaks into a radio during the conduct operations simultaneously within an curity concerns without losing any more time sures consistent functionality of the net - NCO and Soldiers of Quarter Competition all arms group. To fill this void, the Army is and also identifying such technologies which work. Net centricity warrants a paradigm going in for a battlefield management system exploit emerging technologies for efficient use shift from voice centric to data centric sys - (BMS) by harnessing information technology of available spectrum. It is also important to tems and networks eventually enabling net- Faux passé that will act as a force multiplier to enhance ensure that the defence band, which should centric warfare capabilities. Progress of Project BMS was stalled for over operational effectiveness of commanders and be dedicated, is one single entity, securing of In finalising communications for the 10 months because of lack of delimitation be - troops at all levels, enabling exchange, filter - which is easier than the current arrangement BMS, the Army should focus on the following: tween Project BMS and F-INSAS, latter being ing and processing of ever increasing of varied bands for defence use entwined with l Long ranges handled by the infantry. The F-INSAS pro - amounts of digital information already avail - interjected commercial bands. l High bandwidth data transmission (live gramme is to be developed in three phases for able but not integrated. The following issues should also be of streaming) infantry battalions. Phase 1 comprises Communication is vital in every type of concern to the Army: l Messaging including voice mail weapons, body armour, clothing and individ - warfare and is an essential component of l The last mile connectivity at the cutting l Quickly deployable, self-configuring and ual equipment. Phase 2 is the target acquisi - any BMS. Throughout history, the success of edge, where the soldier’s main energy is self-healing networks tion system. Phase 3 comprises the computer a battle has depended on the ability of the directed towards fighting; will commu - l Easy customisation, rolling coverage and subsystem, radio subsystem, software and fighting components to communicate with nication act as a force multiplier and interoperability software integration. Complete fielding in all each other in an effective manner. Commu - make him more surgical or will he be l Changes in network topology infantry units is likely to be completed by year nication ensures awareness and increased overburdened? l Non-line of sight communications 2020. The BMS being developed concurrently awareness increases the chances of win - l How can technology help in overcoming l Spectrum management under the information systems is likely to be ning. This is more applicable in today’s war - the limitations imposed by environmental l Network management systems completed earlier and was conceived at bat - fare because of large and varied forces that conditions in terrestrial communications? l Quality of service (including latency, as - talion/regiment level pan Army (including have the ability to strike over long distances. l In a network agnostic environment, what sured delivery, jitter) the infantry). It comprises communication, Convergence of such forces at a place and are the options available for ensuring ef - l Security of communications, networks non-communication hardware and software. time can multiply the effect. fectiveness with wide spread dispersion and storage The system will be further integrated with the and communication on the move? l Robustness and authentication tactical command, control, communications The concept l What should be the approach while ad - l Deployment of new technologies like soft - and information (Tac C3I) system through The BMS (planned at battalion/regiment and dressing a network management system? ware defined radios (SDRs) to offset the command information decision support below level for all arms and services of the What should be the additional capabilities growth in demand for spectrum system (CIDSS). Army) will comprise a tactical hand-held that can be expected from a management l Compression technologies for passage of Since the Directorate General of Informa - computer with individual soldiers and tacti - system? information must also be capitalised tion System is charged with facilitating trans - cal computers at battle group headquarters l What should be the appraoch towards l Review communication philosophy of formation of the Army into a dynamic and combat vehicles. Computers will be inte - handling security issues? Is the current the Army network-centric force, achieving information grated employing application and database security policy which is meant for point to l Fine-tuning change management superiority through effective management of servers connected on a data enabled commu - point networks suitable for a network l Standardisation of applications and information technology, quite logically, Phase nication network. The system will enable where users at different levels of security adaptability to any communication sys - 3 of F-INSAS (computer subsystem, radio generation of common operational picture classifications have to function together. tem including COTS products subsystem, software and software integra - by integrating inputs from all relevant tion) should be part of Project BMS. However, sources within a battle group by the inte - infantry took a stand that Phase 3 of F-INSAS grated use of GIS and GPS. The BMS will be should also be handled by them. The signals a highly mobile system which is able to net - responsible for communications only top- work itself by integration of components and down up to battalion headquarters level, provide a high data rate. The communica - sided with the infantry sensing opportunity tions should not interfere with the legacy to increase their turf down to soldier level, communication equipment and should easily knowing that in the absence of Information be retrofitted into combat platform. The com - Systems Phase 3 of F-INSAS infantry will be munications system should optimally utilise unable to handle without signals assistance. the bandwidth available for military commu - This standoff stymied progress of Project BMS nications involving voice and data including for over 10 months, an unfortunate and video streaming and imageries. It should be avoidable delay to a project that should have scalable to ensure availability to all elements been in place a decade back. and range from being man-portable to being The Army has now decided that while fitted in combat vehicles. handling F-INSAS, the infantry will develop the Phase 3 of F-INSAS up to company Concerns level. By doing so, a self-inflicted faux passé Considerable ground has been covered for has been committed, a separate project of identifying suitable technologies, hardware software and communication integration by and system requirements for the BMS. How - infantry is retrograde, and apart from ever, one issue that has come under a lot of amounting to re-inventing the wheel, it will debate is the communication requirement delay overall net-centricity pan Army and for BMS and the debate is very fair as the will incur additional avoidable costs. Infor - Army has a baggage of legacy communica - Satcom TALISMAN II mation Systems has already done consider -

3/2010 SP’s LAND FORCES 5 >> TECHNOLOGY able work in the fields of geographical infor - sure security of both stored data as well as SATCOM is too expensive a commodity. mation system (GIS) and applications in - Battlefield transparency transmitted information. As part of exploitation of technologies, cluding completing Phase 1 of CIDSS and can only be achieved if we must also maximise compression to en - battlefield surveillance system (BSS). Ironi - Bandwidth and latency sure free flow/near free flow of information cally, the decision has been taken while in - robust and reliable The Army must work out bandwidth re - with no/minimum prioritisation. The lack of formation systems continue to develop the quirements for the BMS keeping in mind in - bandwidth on wireless media for mobile op - BMS for mechanised infantry battalions communications are cremental requirements of coming years. erations is one of the most complex technical both in mounted and dismounted role. This is very relevant at the cutting edge, par - challenges to NCW. A potential aid in this If infantry is to incorporate situational made available with ticularly during fast moving operations as issue is the use of computer software to com - awareness and GIS as part of F-INSAS, then also non line of sight (NLOS) operations in press the signals in a manner to ensure least it amounts to not only re-inventing the wheel necessary bandwidths mountains including offensive operations consumption of traditional amount of space but will also require another project to inte - and media redundancy when terrestrial communications would be in the frequency spectrum. grate the F-INSAS with the BMS implying out of reach. A conservative approach by avoidable additional expenditure and time. the Army at this stage, which is likely due to Conclusion The IA should have learnt from similar mis - the limitations of legacy communication Communication is vital to the BMS. The key takes made by foreign armies. Given the in - dios have their own limitations, en masse equipment, could limit exploitation of fu - to NCW lies in communication infrastruc - fantry ethos and not having earlier dealt with switch to new generation radios like the ture technology. Significantly, the US Army ture. As per Metcalfe’s law governing net - computer subsystem, radio subsystem, soft - SDRs cannot be affected due to the quanti - already caters for 1 GB per second band - work-centric computing, the power of a ware and particularly software integration, ties and costs involved. New technologies like width for a combat team and plans to in - network is the square of the number of the infantry may also go in for the minimum SDR are compact (with part hardware func - crease it incrementally over the years. We nodes in the network. This power can only in respect of Phase 3 during the test bed of tions done by the software itself) and meet are not the US Army, but we need to be very be harnessed if matching mobile communi - F-INSAS for fear of information overload, the requirements of future combat. SDRs are clear on the bandwidth required when our cations are provided to integrate the nodes whereas, the correct approach should be to available with dual wavelengths that can battle groups are engaged in fast paced ma - to the network in time and space. Battlefield go for maximum during the test bed and then also communicate with legacy radios. A mix noeuvres. Satellite communications (SAT - transparency can only be achieved if robust reduce as required. of SDRs and legacy radios is therefore COM) are important in meeting NCW and reliable communications are made System of systems are about integrating needed in order to start with. This should be requirements. It is for such reason that the available with necessary bandwidths and systems and empowering the user. The sol - the springboard for a gradual changeover to Stryker units in the US Army have been pro - media redundancy. dier is only a part of the network and is not the new generation radio sets. The signals re - vided portable SATCOM terminals at the Project BMS needs to be accelerated. The responsible for the network. Separate sisted the concept initially arguing that ex - platoon level. Considering the combat boost Army needs to review its decision of letting F-INSAS and BMS programmes (relating to isting CNR can meet BMS communication to net-centricity coupled with national se - the infantry handle Phase 3 of F-INSAS, computer subsystem, radio subsystem, soft - requirements and that SDRs are in too dis - curity requirements in the forseeable future, computer subsystem, radio subsystem, soft - ware and software integration) will lead to is - tant a future. However, they have gradually the Army needs to shed its rigid stance that ware and software integration of which it sues related with interoperability and come around and are working on their own has little or rather no experience, particu - integration of systems as the systems will be general staff qualitative requirements larly software integration. Separate develop - developed by different agencies using different (GSQR) for the SDR. We must maximise ment of BMS and F-INSAS will have platforms. Development of different systems Higher capacity SDRs with ability to problems of integration besides additional for the same purpose will accrue avoidable ad - transmit large volumes of information in compression to ensure expenditure and time. Phase 3 of F-INSAS ditional costs on account of yet another inte - lesser bandwidth than traditional radios are free flow/near free should be part of Project BMS as a system- gration project. Maintenance of disparate worth considering. We must continue to of-system approach. systems would be required and it would be dif - leverage commercial technology to deter - flow of information New technologies like the SDR need to ficult to achieve test bed of an integrated com - mine whether there are alternate solutions be suitably exploited. SATCOM terminals bat group or infantry battalion group. in the commercial world to solve the band - with no/minimum at appropriate level need to be introduced. width problem. Foolproof security needs to be ensured New technologies It goes without saying that robust security prioritisation so that higher levels of net-centricity It is obvious that while legacy combat net ra - algorithms must be speedily developed to en - are achieved. SP’s

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6 SP’s LAND FORCES 3/2010

MASTER IN STRATEGY

Design and production of electronic defence systems by ELETTRONICA S.p.A. >> REPORT Artillery Seminar The 3rd International Seminar on Artillery Technology highlighted the latest technological developments in artillery and the need to take advantage of available new technologies for the modernisation of Indian Artillery

tions; from long-drawn ranging procedures prove SVL over a wide area. to near first salvo effectiveness. He recom - Lt General V. Nayanar, Commandant, mended heavy accretion of artillery and use School of Artillery, made a well-prepared of precision-guided munitions from the cur - presentation on ‘Role of artillery in degrada - rent negligible levels to 20 per cent of total tion operations in the future’. He said that the available ammunition. technological trends impacting the future Dr Bashir from Tata Power (Strategic battlespace are long-range precision fire - Electronics Division) said that the require - power with enhanced lethality, increased ments of modern artillery include character - range and sensitivity of surveillance systems istics such as higher lethality, enhanced and sensors, and increasingly intelligent de - range consistency, all-weather operations, cision support systems. Combination of these battlefield management, survivability, crew emerging trends impart considerable lethality comfort and auto operation, better accuracy to conventional forces in the battlespace and with response time, and shoot and scoot ca - are the prime focus of modern artillery. He pability. He said that there are many con - laid out the focus areas for industry. tributing elements which involve the He said that the imperatives for firepower development of fast response technological delivery platforms were longer range to en - configurations. He then proceeded to explain gage operational level objectives, automated how these could be acquired. He also ex - handling of increased rates of fire, self-pro - plained the work done by Tata Power in up - pelled systems for mobile operations, au - grading the L-70 air defence gun. tonomous gun systems to enable single gun Colonel R.S. Athreye made an interesting fire units, ability to deliver varied types of presentation on ‘Enhancing lethality and ammunition, and rocket systems capable of General V.K. Singh delivering precision’. He spoke in detail about the fac - delivering up to 120 km. He recommended his keynote address tors and technologies involved in develop - that target disposition and equipment profile ment of trajectory correctable munitions should be in consonance and, hence, the n LT GENERAL (RETD) V.K. KAPOOR down. “We certainly need to catch up, and and terminally-guided munitions. equipment profile should preferably adhere catch up fast. We have to take much longer Lt General V.K. Ahluwalia, General Officer to the following: 50 per cent of the total ar - he Regiment of Artillery in associ - strides and accelerate our efforts,” he added. Commanding-in-Chief, Central Command, in tillery should be guns with 50 km range, 35 ation with the Confederation of In - Lt. General K.R. Rao, Director General, a special address before the start of Session II, per cent should be with long range rockets dian Industry (CII), the Defence Regiment of Artillery, said that for the next made a very informative presentation on up to 120 km range, and 15 per cent with Research and Development Organ - 15-20 years, the philosophy of artillery ‘Artillery in mountains, high altitude and missiles of 250 km range. isation (DRDO), and CLAWS jointly should continue to achieve “destruction” by glaciated terrain’. He explained the terrain pe - Lt Colonel Eric Briot from the French oTrganised a two-day International Artillery synergised orchestration of all available fire - culiarities and the impact of these on artillery Army brought out the multiple technical ca - Seminar on May 10 and 11 at the India power resources provided by a variety of fire. He quoted from Lt General V.R. Ragha - pacities of Caesar truck-mounted artillery Habitat Centre in New Delhi. International agencies cutting across the three services van’s book about the fact that artillery ex - system which is a 155mm, 52-calibre self- defence companies such as BAE Systems, based on a joint targeting doctrine, including change is an economic form of fighting in the propelled gun developed by Nexter Systems General Electric, Israeli Aerospace Indus - effective use of the ‘fourth dimension’. Re - Siachen region. Having been GOC 14 Corps (formerly Giat), based in Versailles, in coop - tries, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, SAAB garding the future, Lt General Rao said, in the very same region earlier, it was inter - eration with Lohr Industries of Hangenbi - Group, Sagem (Safran Group) and Nexter “Futuristic artillery platforms should be inde - esting to hear his views on the employment eten, France. Caesar entered production in took part in the event along with Indian pendent and autonomous firing identities, ca - of artillery in this geographical zone. June 2006. The first vehicle was delivered to companies like Tata Power, Tata Motors, pable of firing on their own, achieved by Another absorbing presentation was on the French Army in April 2007 for extensive Bharat Electronics, Indian Ordnance Facto - introducing automatic alignment, and laying the concept of ‘Battlefield surveillance and firing trials. The first Caesar system was de - ries, and the Armament Research and Devel - and loading of ammunition. These platforms targeting” by Major General P.K. Chakravorty, livered to the French Army in July 2008 and opment Establishment of DRDO. should have matching mobility in case of Additional Director General of Artillery. He deliveries are scheduled to complete in 2011. The main aim of the seminar was to dis - towed guns, adequate protection in case of first explained the terms surveillance (SVL) Caesar is equipped with all systems cuss the latest technological developments self-propelled guns and portability by helicop - and targeting before proceeding to explain the needed for independent operation, a cabin to in artillery in order to take advantage of ters and aircrafts in case of light guns. Large resources available at the division and higher protect the six-man gun crew against shell available new technologies for the moderni - operational frontages will dictate platforms levels. He then covered the concept of em - fragments and small arms fire, an initial am - sation of Indian Artillery. The seminar cov - capable of achieving longer ranges, which ployment of these resources. He said that munition supply of 16 complete rounds and ered all aspects regarding the modernisation help us in achieving concentrated firepower planning of SVL is based on intelligence instrumentation for navigation, aiming, bal - of Indian Artillery platforms and support in preference to concentrating firepower preparation of battle which is carried out dur - listic calculations and command aids. The systems. The seminar comprised three tech - units. However, there should be a balance be - ing peace time and carried forward during system was specifically designed to meet the nical sessions, apart from the inaugural and tween mobility and longer range.” war. All SVL resources are integrated in con - fire support requirements of rapid deploy - valedictory sessions. The technical sessions He also stressed on the importance of ef - sonance with the theatre communication ment forces. It was deployed in Afghanistan deliberated on the development of weapons ficient ammunition management in the grid. As regards the modern and future in 2009. A unit of eight Caesar self-propelled systems and munitions, measures to en - field, which becomes a crucial battle win - trends, he explained that nanotechnology artillery vehicles can dispense in less than hance surveillance and targeting and re - ning factor rather than merely the number would usher in the new era which would im - one minute, more than 1 tonne of projec - search, and industry’s capability to meet of tubes (guns) available. future challenges. The highlights of the sem - Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal, Director, Lt. General K.R. Rao, inar along with Editors Comments are given CLAWS felt that there was an 80-90 per cent Director General, Regiment of Artillery in the subsequent paragraphs. chance that future conflicts, if any, would Army Chief General V.K. Singh, in his break out in the mountains as a corollary of keynote address, said that India has been the ongoing border disputes. He felt that gain - “too late” in acquiring modern artillery and ing and occupying territory and evicting the needs to accelerate its efforts to modernise its enemy from the territory occupied by them firepower in an era where advanced nations are important military objectives in future have gone far ahead. General V.K. Singh, wars and only an air land battle with massive who assumed office on March 31, said that asymmetry of firepower in our favour would though Indian artillery is in the process of a achieve the desired military objectives. major modernisation programme, the in - He felt that manoeuvres are limited in s n

duction of more powerful weapons like mountains and deep manoeuvres in the b u t P e

155mm/52 callibre guns of the wheeled and plains and deserts cannot be risked due to e n d i . u s

self-propelled variety as also the ultra light the nuclear overhang and, hence, limited G e P c S / r guns is not proceeding at the desired pace. wars will have “limited aims and objectives, k o e f h

He stressed that it is imperative that India limited force levels, limited geographical s i d h n systematically modernises its artillery to com - area, and limited timeframe.” He therefore, b A a

: l S s

pete with the best in the world. The Army gave three trend lines for artillery firepower H p P A s R . Chief cautioned that any delay in this regard in the future - change in employment of ar - G w O

would render the gap between the front-run - tillery from neutralisation to destruction; T w O H w ners and laggards impossible to be narrowed from dumb to smart and intelligent muni - P

8 SP’s LAND FORCES 3/2010 REPORT <<

Futuristic artillery platforms should be independent and autonomous firing identities, capable of firing on their own, achieved by introducing automatic alignment, and laying and loading of ammunition s n b u P

e d i u G

P S

: H P A R G O T O H P tiles, 1,500 bomblets or 48 smart anti-tank and be able to formulate a well-defined army dressed as jihadis? battles and single service thinking is out of munitions on targets at ranges up to 40 km. roadmap to meet the user requirements. No war can ever be won by firepower sync with the realities of modern wars. Pascal Dubois, Sales director, Nexter, alone and future wars will be no exception. In Lt General C.K.S. Sabu, GOC-in-C South spoke about the Caesar system by giving the Editor’s comments fact, the enemy is also likely to launch multi- Western Command, very competently and status of Caesar system in France, Thailand The seminar was interesting and was well- dimensional attacks on almost every aspect of succinctly spelt out the concept of operations and Middle East and its employment in attended by service officers. The Directorate the opponent’s social, economic and political in the future. He talked of carefully crafted Afghanistan. He also explained the VLAP General of Artillery and the widely experi - system which will demand multi- dimensional plans of employing manoeuvre and firepower (rocket assisted projectile) which is capable enced Army Commanders serving in various capabilities to defeat the enemy’s designs. and the advantages of a networked battlefield of firing up to 58 km and BONUS (sensor command and staff appointments were able While superior firepower is warranted, let us in executing simultaneous operations across fused munitions) which has given excellent to articulate Indian Army’s requirements for however not have doubts that what will pre - the entire operational depth to reduce the results to the French Army. the future. However, the political leader who vail is an integrated all-arms force level con - time required to achieve strategic objectives Bharat Singh from the Indian Ordnance are the decision-makers were conspicuous figured to suit the demands of each situation, of war. It is in this context that Artillery Factories explained the efforts by India’s Ord - by their absence and this was disappointing, excellent tactical and operational level leader - should work out its requirements both in the nance Factories Board to indigenise weapon to say the least. ship, and a far superior joint operations capa - mountains and in the plains and the Indian production and weapon upgrades. He made While the DG Artillery and his staff can - bility which is lacking at present. Army should acquire capabilities to meet a detailed presentation on the advantages of not be blamed for being passionate about Another aspect that requires greater de - these requirements. a 105mm gun versus a 155mm gun. He said their requirements, based on their apprecia - liberation by the DG Artillery and his staff is Future conflicts will have to be planned that the worldwide trend is to develop low- tion on the nature and type of future wars, the type and quantum of artillery required. carefully at strategic and operational levels weight high efficiency artillery gun system there was a discernible attempt to overstate One speaker mentioned about 35 per cent so that we are not carried away by our own with minimum logistic tail. the role of Artillery. Certain declarations and rocket artillery with a range of 120 km. linear tactical thinking. The human brain The third session which commenced assertions by a number of speakers were un - This, in our context, would imply 70 -80 reg - cannot easily grasp the six dimensions of with a discussion on industry’s role in the real and impractical. All experienced army - iments of rocket artillery. This seems a tall war and three dimensions of tactical battle development of rockets and missile systems men know that the effects of artillery fire in order. It should be thought through carefully being initiated simultaneously to first defeat concluded with the topical issue of integra - the mountains is much less than in the based on expenditure and outlays involved the enemy commander’s mind. When our tion of designers and industry with special plains due to the nature of the terrain and and recurring cost of rockets, with precision commanders become well-versed in this op - emphasis on absorption of technology. therefore overwhelming artillery support in warheads. erational art and the enemy becomes aware The DG Artillery in his concluding re - the mountains is generally catered for. In this One of the speakers felt that there was an of our expertise, we will win wars without marks said it was heartening to note that de - regard, it may be noted that despite the 80-90 per cent chance that future conflicts fighting –the acme of skill of a general as signers, manufactures and users were able abundant availability of 155mm Bofors, would break out in the mountains. Be that as enunciated by Sun Tzu. to share and understand each others’ re - moved from other operational sectors during it may, it does not mean that India should give Wars have their own limiting factors in quirements and capabilities. Concerted and the Kargil conflict and unbridled use of up the military option of opening up other resources, space, endurance, etc, but as their coordinated efforts of the three players 155mm ammunition, and as per Air Cmde fronts to defeat the opponent’s designs. Mili - logic is different, wars cannot be approached through an interactive approach would Jasjit Singh, “exceptionally well executed tary strategy demands that multiple options mathematically or like an engineering prob - surely lead to technologically modern ar - aerial strikes by IAF,” then why did Indian be retained in all situations. Lack of strategic lem. When one enters the realm of war, one tillery in the foreseeable future. He hoped Army lose more than 500 officers and sol - flexibility in our force structures will be disas - enters the realm of contemplation, reason, that the designers and manufactures would diers in the attacks or counter-attacks that trous in future wars. As a rule we should be emotion, intuition, initiative, and risk. This now work on the requirements of the Army followed the intrusions by the Pakistani planning synergised operations as air land has never changed. The Stallion 4x4 MK IV – Tried and Tested

he Stallion MK IV is the latest version of and that’s because it is tested under the most centre near Chennai has a variety of torture ringbone, articulation, pot hole, sand tracks, the Stallion vehicle for GS role applica - exacting of conditions. The company’s R&D tracks like speed, pave, setts, corrugated, her - water wading troughs and brake test areas. In Ttions that addresses suggestions for addition, the company has the 6-poster, the upgradations made by end users and a prod - only one of its kind in the country, an acceler - uct of the process of continuous improve - ated torture simulator for multi-axle vehicles. ments at Ashok Leyland. With over 55,000 Ashok Leyland’s range of defence vehicles vehicles doing various roles, the Stallion has include Truck Fire Fighters, Water Bowsers, become the veritable backbone of logistic Light Recovery Vehicles, Field Artillery Trac - support for the Indian Army. tors, Light Specialist Vehicles, Common Gun A flagship of the Hinduja Group, Ashok Towers and Buses custom designed for the Leyland is the second largest commercial ve - armed forces. Exclusive designs for 5/7.5T ve - hicle manufacturer in the country with an hicles are being manufactured by vehicle fac - annual installed capacity of 150,000 vehicles tory, Jabalpur, under a TOT agreement with rolled out from seven manufacturing units Ashok Leyland for the Indian Army. spread across the country. The only auto A pan-India network of dealerships and major with an ISO/ TS 16949 Corporate Cer - authorised service centres provide prompt tification, Ashok Leyland’s turnover for after market support and dedicated after mar - 2009-10 was more than of $1.6 billion. ket support that comprise model rooms at For over five decades, the company has various locations (15 so far) for training army been rolling out products that have become personnel. Periodic technical seminars/train - synonymous with reliability and ruggedness ing programmes are conducted at various and these qualities are inherent in the com - commands and regular service campaigns pany’s range of defence vehicles. The Stallion shared at various battalions. vehicle, in particular, has been performing The Stallions have already made forays flawlessly in temperatures ranging from -40 into overseas markets like the Honduras, degree Celsius to +50 degree Celsius and from Thailand, and are being used by the US mean sea level to over 5,500 metres altitudes Army in Iraq. PHOTOGRAPH : Ashok Leyland

3/2010 SP’s LAND FORCES 9 >> TECHNOLOGY For Special Applications

Anti-Material Rifles are similar in form and appearance to modern sniper rifles, though they are usually more powerful than is normally required for neutralising an enemy combatant, and can operate at a greater range. These weapons can be used for counter-sniping, destroying explosive stocks (from a safe distance) or against enemy radar installations, communication equipment, parked aircraft, fuel storage facilities, vehicles or personnel.

n BRIG (RETD) VINOD ANAND A scout sniper team leader of & COL (RETD) ANIL SINGHAL US marines fires a round down - range from an M82A3 .50-calibre recisely six years ago, in April special application scoped rifle 2004, Anti-Material Rifles (AMR) had caught the attention of the media for a different reason. Denel, a South African arms sup - pPlier who had been contracted to supply Denel NTW-20 AMR was blacklisted for hav - ing paid kickbacks to secure the deal. An AMR is designed for use as the name suggest against military equipment or mate - rial rather than traditional combatants (per - sonnel). In American parlance, they are clubbed as Special Application Sniper Rifle (SASR) or Hard Target Interdiction (HTI). AMR are similar in form and appearance to modern sniper rifles and can often serve in that role, though they are usually more pow - erful than is normally required for neutral - ising an enemy combatant, and can operate g r o

at a greater range. These weapons can be . a i d

used for counter-sniping, destroying explo - e p i k sive stocks (from a safe distance) or against i w . w

enemy radar installations, communication w w

equipment, parked aircraft, fuel storage fa - : H P A

cilities, vehicles or personnel. In the Gulf R G O

War, .50 calibre sniping rifles had been used T O H

to even damage the artillery guns. P AMRs and the large calibre sniping rifles appear almost similar. The main design con - l To attack parked aircraft and other soft loads and offers the user the choice of num , .300 Winchester Magnum (.300 Win. sideration of a sniping weapon is longer in targets from a distance. Such Special 14.5x114mm (Russian), .50 Browning or Mag), 7.62_51mm NATO (7.62mm NATO) range and accuracy, whereas AMRs are de - Forces applications may require HE-I 20x83.5mm or 110mm MG151 ammo. It /.308 Win., and .243 Win. This has lot of signed for damage and penetration. The two rounds rather than AP. can also be moved as an assembled weapon similarities to the DSR-1 Rifle made by DSR- roles, however, tend to overlap to some extent. In general, anti-materiel rifles are cham - for “shoot and scoot” operations. precision GmbH (Alpirsbach, Germany). bered for 12.7x909mm NATO (.50 BMG), Some other well known AMR are; UK’s Bullpup is a firearm configuration in Background & usage 12.7x108mm Russian or even 14.5x Accuracy International AW 50/F .50 Brown - which the action and magazine are located The origin of the anti-materiel rifle goes back 114mm Russian and 20mm cartridges. The ing Machine Gun(BMG) (12.7x99mm behind the trigger. This increases the barrel to the First World War, when the first anti- large cartridges are required to be able to fire NATO), US Barrett M 82A1/107 (.50 BMG length relative to the overall weapon length, tank rifles appeared. One of the first designs projectiles containing usable payloads like (12.7x99mm NATO) and McMillan TAC-50, permitting shorter weapons for the same to be offered was the Austria’s Steyr AMR. It explosives, armour-piercing cores, incendi - Hungary’s Gepard (.50 BMG with 12.7x99 barrel length, saving weight and increasing fired a saboted fin-stabilised round that could aries, or combinations of these, as found in NATO, 12.7x108mm (.50 Russian) & 14.5x manoeuverability. It alternatively allows for penetrate 40mm of armour plate with con - the Raufoss Mk211 projectile. Due to the 114mm Russian, Austria’s Steyr IWS 2000 longer barrels on weapons of the same siderable secondary fragmentation behind considerable size and weight of AMR and (15.2 proprietary APFSDS), Serbia’s Zastava length, which can increase muzzle velocity the plate. Although it opened many people’s other support equipment, the squad operates M93 .50 BMG (12.7x99mm NATO) and resulting in flatter trajectories, a longer ef - eyes to the potential of AMRs, the Steyr has in teams having two or three members. 12.7x108 (.50 Russian). The Barrett .50 is fective range and increased lethality. The been essentially overtaken by designs using not accredited with the world’s longest range bullpup design significantly enhances the more readily available rounds. International development status kill as that achievement goes to the McMillan weapon’s balance, putting the balancing The concept behind their employment is One of the popularly designed AMR is the TAC-50 bolt action sniper rifle. The TAC-50 point just in front of the trigger guard. somewhat different from conventional South African NTW 20. The NTW 20/14.5 does however fire the same ammunition, the The US SRS AMR is designed around the sniper operations. AMR is to be employed is one of the few firearms in existence that .50 cal BMG cartridge. During the conflict in .338 Lapua Magnum cartridge. This has the against hardened targets at extreme ranges. allows the changing of the calibre without Afghanistan in 2002, a Corporal of the Cana - same size and weight characteristics as the This concept requires a different state of completely disassembling and reworking the dian Forces fired his McMillan TAC-50 to kill well known .308 Win rifles, yet it has a tra - mind and training than normal systems. weapon. Switching between the two calibres an insurgent at a range of 2,430 metres jectory that rivals the popular .50 calibre ri - AMRs have been proposed to be used: of the NTW (20mm and 14.5mm) requires (7,973 feet) or just over 11/2 miles away. It is fles. But .338 LM has more recoil than the l Against communication systems, radar changing the bolt, barrel, sighting gear and a record for the longest sniper kill in history. .308 Win, which is very manageable and systems, command systems, missiles, magazine. A third variant, the NTW 20x110 On the projectile front, Norwegian com - much less than with a .50 calibre. The 338 crew served weapons, aircraft, etc. has also been developed, but is not designed pany’s Raufoss Mk.211 is a .50 calibre BMG LM also has very good penetration when l Against APCs, future anti-armour pla - for barrel calibre switching. Calibre switch - (12.7x99mm NATO) multipurpose anti-ma - using military AP ammunition. toons will have an AMR squad which ing the NTW 20/14.5 can be accomplished teriel projectile. The multipurpose name is can engage lighter AFVs and free the simply in the field without specialised tools. given as the projectile is having an armour- Indian context ATGW crews to deal with the Main Bat - This weapon can be broken into two man- piercing (tungsten core), an explosive, and The AMR is an extremely useful system for tle Tanks. an incendiary component, thus making it specific situations like bunker bursting l Against helicopters or to “peel” reactive capable of penetrating lightly armoured tar - and other anti-material role. It has been armour from tanks to make them more Today’s AMR are much gets and causing damage to the personnel employed against hardened sites and criti - vulnerable to other weapons. In Croatia, inside the target after penetration. It is a suit - cal equipment with very good results. One AMRs were vital elements of night op - lighter and more able round for engaging helicopters, aircraft unique use of the AMR has been by the erations since they were needed to de - and lightly armoured vehicles, as well as un - French in Bosnia in the counter-sniper role. t portable due to the use e stroy tank-mounted armoured thermal armoured vehicles, and it also has the capa - They employed the M93 in conjunction n . s imagers. bility of igniting jet fuel. It has similar with a 20mm rifle allowing them to pene - e of advanced recoil c

r l To “snipe” at exposed tank commanders, destructive power as a standard 20mm trate any obstacle in order to deter or sup - o f easily defeating any body armour they round against such targets. press enemy snipers in buildings. They

d suppression and n are likely to have. The US is investing in newly developed found this system highly effective. The M93 a l s l For remote explosive ordnance disposal. metallurgy in the overall rifle called the Stealth Recon Scout (SRS) was used to push the enemy snipers into a p s

. Special disrupter rounds filled with which is a multi-calibre bullpup bolt-action desired section of the building and then the w water, aerogel or foam could be devel - construction of the rifle anti-materiel/sniper rifle. There are four ver - 20mm is used to eliminate them (and that w

w oped for this role. sions of the DTA SRS rifle: .338 Lapua Mag - section of the building).

10 SP’s LAND FORCES 3/2010

>> TECHNOLOGY

In the wake of the carnage in Mumbai, Indigenous development – Vidhwansak weapon (14.5mm calibre) in November 2008, the need for such a Vidhwansak It seems that the .50 cal - had a maximum range of 1,800 metres, weapon system was felt where AMR power The development of the AMR by the state-run ibre or equivalent AMR is while the 20mm calibre version had 1,300 is useful for shooting terrorists through con - factory came at a time when the Indian gov - metres. A muzzle brake is fitted on the end of crete walls, after identifying their locations ernment has scrapped all defence deals with destined to remain the the barrel which absorbs an estimated 50 to with thermal imaging systems. There is an South Africa’s Denel, which had previously 60 per cent of recoil. This is further supple - imperative need to take care of the collateral supplied similar weapons to the Indian Army. system of choice for mis - mented by a buffered slide in the receiver. damage to civilians in such situations. No The ordnance factory at Thiruchirapalli Vidhwansak is equipped with an 8X magni - police force at present uses ATR in counter (OFT) and DRDO had developed a multi- sions requiring a man fication, long eye relief telescopic sight with terrorism role due to the risk to civilians. calibre AMR named Vidhwansak for the Parallax adjustment. However, New York police SWAT team uses Army, SSF and paramilitary forces. Its portable highly versatile it to blow apart vehicle engines in high speed development was completed in November weapons system Conclusion chases as a last resort. 2005 and the rifle was sold to the Today’s AMR are much lighter and more Under the contract first signed in 1999 Army, BSF and National Security Guards portable due to the use of advanced recoil by the NDA government, 100 AMRs were from 2007. suppression and metallurgy in the overall bought for Rs 23 crore. Later, the army had Some reports suggest that Vidhwansak converted between the three calibres – construction of the rifle. The 20mm rifles are about 300 Denel AMRs and was to get is a reverse-engineered version of the NTW- 12.7 mm, 14.5mm and 20mm, by replacing slowly becoming more and more popular about 900 more. The UPA government 20. In any case, Vidhwansak is comparable the barrel, bolt, magazine and scope, which with commandos and special forces for their scrapped this deal in 2004, following accu - to NTW-20 in terms of calibre, size and per - takes about one minute in the field, without complete ability to knock out the majority of sations that Denel had paid kickbacks to formance. Vidhwansak, which costs Rs 10 the need for any specialised tools. building walls and vehicles with one shot at secure this contract. AMR is primarily lakh ($20,000), is much cheaper than Vidhwansak is a manually operated, ro - reasonable ranges. deployed in border areas to knock out Denel NTW-20 AMR, which costs Rs 23 tating bolt action rifle. The barrel along with As time goes by, more and more develop - bunkers, security towers and radars of lakh ($45,000). It also supports multiple the receiver recoil inside the chassis frame ments relating to the weapon system and enemy forces. The army, incidentally was calibres and fires 12.7mm, 14.5mm and against a damping system. The rifle is fed calibre will be seen. New larger weapons are quite satisfied with the weapon systems per - 20mm rounds compared to dual calibres from a detachable box magazine that is in - being produced. However, it seems that the formance and was keen to induct more supported by NTW-20. serted from the left side. The rifle can be .50 calibre or equivalent AMR is destined to AMR from Denel –after acquiring the first Vidhwansak AMR is one of few firearms quickly disassembled and carried in two remain the system of choice for missions re - batch in December 1999 –for their “potent to support three calibres with quick inter - man-portable packs, each weighing about quiring a man portable highly versatile bunker-bursting” capabilities. changeability. Vidhwansak can be easily 12-15 kg. weapons system.

FIRST Protecting Warfighters Oshkosh Defense supplies FMTV trucks, trailers to US Army

shkosh Defens e, a division of According to the US Army’s original Oshkosh Corporation, has shipped FMTV programme timeline, Oshkosh Oits first family of medium tactical Defense will begin delivering production vehicles (FMTV) trucks and trailers to the units in October 2010. Production deliver - US Army. The vehicles have left the com - ies under the existing orders run through pany’s Oshkosh, Wisconsin, campus. December 2011. Till date, Oshkosh has re - According to the company, the ceived orders to deliver 5,209 FMTV trucks Oshkosh vehicles represent a major mile - and trailers. stone for the FMTV programme. Two The five-year FMTV contract is for the FMTV variants and trailers for both vehi - production of an estimated 23,000 vehi - cles are being delivered. The Oshkosh cles and trailers, as well as support services e s

FMTVs feature the long-term armour and training. The FMTV is a series of 17 n e f e

strategy (LTAS)-compliant cab solution. models and 23 variants ranging from 2.5- D

h s

“We are pleased to do all we can to ad - tonne to 10-tonne payloads. The vehicles o k h vance the safety and protection of our feature a parts commonality of more than s O

warfighters,” said Mike Ivy, vice president 80 per cent, resulting in streamlined main - H P A and general manager, Army Programs, tenance, training, sustainment and overall R G O T

Oshkosh Defense. cost efficiency for the US Army. O H P

TECH WATCH BigDog Advanced Robotic System A robot invented by Boston Dynamics with Foster-Miller, the NASA Jet MAARS is the first fully modular ground robot system capable of providing force Propulsion Laboratory can go anywhere people and animals can go. escalation options for a measured response that fits any combat situation.

(6.4 km/h), carrying 340 odular Advanced Armed Robotic It provides multiple options for response pounds (150 kg) and climb - System (MAARS) has been devel - and escalation of force like non-lethal-oper - ing a 35 degree incline. Loco - Moped by QinetiQ, North America’s ator’s voice projected through loudspeakers motion is controlled by an Technology Solutions Group. It is the first on the robot and an eye-safe laser to dazzle onboard computer that re - fully modular ground robot system capable people; less-lethal-launcher to deploy bean ceives input from the robot’s of providing force escalation options for a bags, smoke, star clusters and pepper spray; s c i various sensors. Navigation measured response that fits any combat sit - lethal-launcher to deploy 40mm high-ex - m a n

y and balance are also man - uation. MAARS is an agile, combat-ready plosive grenades or the powerful M240B D

o aged by the control system. robot that is remotely controlled by the oper - medium machine gun firing 7.62mm am - t s o

B BigDog has set a world ator, who can interact with hostile forces munition. Multiple cameras give the opera -

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P record for legged vehicles by from a safe distance using the robot’s two- tor a clear view of the robot and its A R

G travelling 12.8 miles without way communication features and multiple surroundings to ensure optimum safety and O T

O stopping or refuelling. On cameras, a company press release said. improve situational awareness. In the H P March 18, 2008, Boston MAARS weapons-configured system, the igDog is a dynamically stable Dynamics released video footage of a new operator always sees where the weapon is quadruped robot invented in 2005 generation of BigDog. The footage shows pointed in relation to him and other friendly t e by Boston Dynamics with Foster- BigDog’s ability to walk on icy terrain and forces. MAARS uses an easy-to-learn digital n

. B s Miller, the NASA Jet Propulsion Labora - recover its balance when kicked from the control system that provides comprehensive e c

r tory, and the Harvard University Concord side. The ultimate goal for BigDog is to situational awareness that works up to a o f

Field Station. A BigDog is 3 feet (0.91 m) develop a robot that can go anywhere Q range of over 1 km from the operator, effec - i d t e n n

long, stands 2.5 feet (0.76 m) tall, and people and animals can go. i tively extending the reach of the operator a Q l

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weighs 240 pounds (110 kg), about the The programme is funded by the H and enhancing soldier survivability. In addi - P p A s R . size of a small mule, according to a com - Tactical Technology Office at the Defence tion, the robot’s turret system is able to sup - G w O

pany press release. It is capable of travers - Advanced Research Projects Agency T port a drop-in manipulator arm, multiple O w H P w ing difficult terrain at 4 miles per hour (DARPA). weapons and a range of sensor packages.

12 SP’s LAND FORCES 3/2010 TECHNOLOGY << Unbreakable Communication The Army should review its communication philosophy and cater to requisite satellite communications with alacrity, boosting the Indian Army’s quest for acquiring true NCW capabilities.

PHOTOGRAPH : Lockheed Martin n LT GENERAL (RETD) P.C. KATOCH now on the anvil. Despite failure of the geo - synchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV- ommunications have been impor - D3) in April this year, ISRO has assured that tant for winning battles since time its first dedicated military satellite is on immemorial. Success or failure schedule and will be launched within a year. continue to be dependent on the It will have a footprint of around 1,000 nau - ability of the fighting force compo - tical miles over the Indian Ocean. The re - Cnents to communicate with each other. Fu - quirement was first projected by the Navy a ture wars will continue to be technology few years back. Though the Army and the driven and technology is developing speedily. Air Force woke up late, they will get to share Today, militaries use very high technology the bandwidth of INSAT-7 partially till ded - communication systems wherein messages icated Army and Air Force satellites are can be sent and received instantly through a launched in coming years. secured network. The equipment is specially tailored since no compromise in quality is ac - Types of communication satellites ceptable. Satellite signals are mainly used for Globally, communication satellites are func - radio transmission with high security fea - tioning on C, Ku, Ka, S and L Bands. C Band tures to avoid interception and recording by is widely used and proven, has large band - the enemy. Satellite communications (SAT - width and no rain attenuation. Ku Band has COM) are increasingly becoming important Defense Satellite Communications similar advantages; besides communication System (DSCS) III by Lockheed Martin in the fast moving operations not only for on the move (COTM) is possible. However, in non-line of sight (NLOS) communications, both C and Ku Bands, the equipment is not but also where large and varied forces, includ - With flexible operational services and Indigenous satellites easily portable and is prone to mechanical ing strike corps and their various battle compact ground terminals, SATCOM serv - With Apple, INSAT satellite series, ASC Net - failure due to size, weight and movement. groups, are engaged in manoeuvres and in - ices offer attractive solutions for military work, etc, India has come a long way from The sub-assemblies are large and so the in - tense battle, optimising net-centric warfare users. Dedicated military satellite networks 1981 when the Indian Space Research Or - stallation time is considerable. In the Ka (NCW) capabilities to multiply the effect by are augmented by commercial services like ganisation (ISRO) first experimented with Band, broadband communication is possi - converging at a time and place of one’s choos - demand assigned multiple access (DAMA) geosynchronous telecommunications relays ble, power consumption is low, use of solar ing over long distances. Advantages of SAT - controlled networks that offer the user total to now having a number of active spacecraft panels is possible and feasibility of COTM ex - COM are being exploited by terrorists too, as control of the space link. SATCOM provides in geosynchrous earth orbit (GEO). Indian ists. However, this system is adversely af - is apparent from the large number of In - terrain-independent communications, flexi - GEO platforms perform the dual functions of fected by snow, rain and heavy clouds. Space marsat and Thuraya radio sets captured in ble networking, and direct link to final desti - communications and earth observation. The segment in Ka Band is currently limited in anti-terrorist operations in India. nation without reliance on radio relays. first dedicated military satellite (INSAT-7) is India. The S Band is meant only for radar

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communications and hence has not been tion and fielding is inordinately delayed. contemplating use of Wimax in TBA. This discussed further. With flexible operational Fielding of information systems like the must be given adequate thought espe - L Band is by far more reliable especially services and compact BSS, battlefield management system (BMS), cially from security point of view. Because under NLOS conditions as accurate pointing ADC&RS, artillery command control & of doubts of foolproof security of Wimax, is not required between satellite and user ter - ground terminals, communication system (ACCCS) and their foreign armies are using Wimax only for minals. The system is highly portable, and integration to the tactical command, con - logistics nets and not for operational nets. man-portable option is available. It is light - SATCOM services offer trol, communications and information (Tac The Government/MoD needs to consider weight with no moving parts, quick to de - C3I) System through the command infor - the following in conjunction with the Army: ploy with rapid connectivity, not affected by attractive solutions for mation decision support system (CIDSS) l Development and launch of L Band satel - weather conditions and has low power re - coupled with the requirement of foolproof lites by ISRO for military SATCOM due to quirements, lower attenuation, and better military users communications in a fast moving intense advantages including COTM, as dis - range. However, L Band has less bandwidth battle environment certainly necessitates cussed above. If agreed upon, the ground availability compared to C, Ku, Ka Bands and due prominence to SATCOM. This is also network and terminals will have to be de - has interference with terrestrial communi - ing, live video feedbacks from unmanned aer - pertinent to F-INSAS and particularly spe - veloped concurrently. cations. L Band services include standard IP, ial vehicles (UAVs), reconnaissance units/ cial forces detachments operating deep in - l Due to high costs of development and op - flexible bandwidth based on usage, user con - combat camera teams of troops in contact/ side enemy territory for where compact erations of satellite systems, outsourcing trol and spot beams. special forces missions, etc. Any voice to any lightweight portable SATCOM terminals of services is considered by many na - A dispassionate analysis of the various voice, push to talk to landline phone, and would be essential. tions. There is a need to examine the im - types of satellites would indicate that L Band merging of voice, data and video on a single plications of hiring a foreign L Band is most suited for non-terrestrial communi - network is facilitated. Modern satellite com - Required focus satellite for military communications (till cations in the tactical battle area (TBA). L munications, which cater to increased mobil - It would be prudent for the Army to focus on all the requirements of the Army are met Band terminals are truly portable, plug-and- ity, are easier to use, and with increased the following issues: through ISRO satellites). Such an exer - play, reliable on account of integrated de - throughput are usable at lower levels for VTC, l Review the communication philosophy, cise should include feasibility of ensuring sign, communications for land, sea and air situational awareness and sensor information. appropriately incorporating SATCOM to foolproof security with the security gate - applications, flexible and have low first time meet requirements of net centricity in fu - way positioned within India and with su - investments. For some inexplicable reason Indian Army scene ture wars. perimposed security solutions developed none of the indigenous satellites are L Band, Although a VSAT network is in the process l Requirements of SATCOM must be iden - by CAIR. Obviously, such an arrange - even though the initial investments com - of being established as part of Project Air tified, link data rates determined, design ment would require firm commitment pared to other satellites is less. The dedicated Defence Control & Reporting System and size of each link decided, and the ra - regarding availability of space segment military satellite (INSAT-7) to be launched (ADC&RS), the Army needs to shed its inhi - tionale documented. The analysis should at all times and under all conditions, too will not be L Band. Though a number of bition of treating SATCOM as “an expensive take into account the orbit, RF spectrum, apart from security issues being suitably foreign satellites on L Band have footprints and rare commodity” with continued re - data rate, duty factor, link availability, addressed. Need for such examination is over India, use of a foreign satellite for oper - liance on terrestrial communications for link access time, threat, etc. necessary in order to leapfrog into net ational military communications raises le - vital systems like the battlefield surveillance l The system chosen should be flexible and centricity, which is at present too far. gitimate apprehensions of security. system (BSS). Not only communications modular, catering to data security Foreign firms argue that security while have to be foolproof, future requirement of through encryption, spatial, time and Conclusion using a foreign satellite can be made fool - an NCW capable force needs to be well un - satellite diversity, frequency hopping and During war time and at times of conflict proof if the security gateway is positioned derstood. While there is merit in relying on interleaving. only the best communication system will within Indian territory and indigenous secu - terrestrial communications, satellite com - l Terminals chosen should be flexible and succeed. SATCOM is vital for an NCW capa - rity solutions developed by the Centre for Ar - munications must be scaled selectively at modular; easy to move between net - ble army. The satellite can support thou - tificial intelligence and Robotics (CAIR) are lower levels as well after thorough apprecia - works, with easily adaptable throughput sands of terminals in a net-centric system superimposed. However, this requires thor - tion of future battlefield requirements. and easily switchable from military to formation. For redundancy, the network can ough analysis. Under our existing regulatory Stryker units of the US are already provided commercial satellite, if the need arises for use multiple satellites or alternative commu - regime, any company even wishing to pro - satellite terminals down to platoon level. the latter. Time required for training and nications. Military grade on-the-move vide subscription-based television services to Problems with current communication sys - operations should be minimal. They SATCOM ground terminal must provide customers in India must uplink from Indian tems are poor spectrum utilisation, low data should need limited logistic support, easy continuous connectivity in conditions territory and must use INSAT or a satellite transfer rates, pre-defined mission planning for undertaking field repairs and with where commercial terminals usually fail. system approved by the Department of Space and intentional and unintentional jamming swappable modules. They must be able to automatically and rap - (DoS). Approval for using a foreign satellite environment resulting in poor communica - l Compression of data is essential since dig - idly recover from signal blockages, due to by a DTH service provider is given rarely for tion performance. Modern satellite commu - ital image files in particular are large and man-made objects, terrain/foliage, weather short term (with ISRO approval) until INSAT nications help overcome these problems. The at times there will be need to send more and other atmospheric effects. Such termi - is able to launch additional capacity. rule should be “communications without data than what the bandwidth accommo - nals are designed to work with a wide range break” using terrestrial communications dates. The bandwidth is limited by the link of military and commercial satellite serv - Role of satellite communications where feasible and when not adversely af - equation. Therefore, the best compression ices, including wideband commercial low Satellite communications play a vital role in fecting network centricity. technologies must be exploited. earth orbit (LEO), medium earth orbit hugely varied terrain (mountains, deserts, The Army should plan on selective SAT - l Spectrum management is very important. (MEO), and military geosynchronous earth jungles, urban areas) and areas with poor or COM both in the TBA and upward connec - Experience shows that at any given time, orbit (GEO) satellites, as well as protected non-existent telecom infrastructure/terres - tivity including redundancy in critical large bandwidth of the entire RF (advanced EHF) narrowband satellite com - trial communications, especially with in - situations on war and national security. The frequency (up to 100 GHz) remains munications. The Army should review its creased requirements of COTM. Military tactical communication system (TCS) is to unutilised. The system chosen should be communication philosophy accordingly and applications of satellite communications in - cater for TBA requirements primarily for of - able to capitalise on unutilised bandwidth. cater to requisite SATCOM with alacrity, clude collaborative battlefield planning using fensive operations by battle groups of both l SATCOM systems other than in L Band boosting the Indian Army’s quest for acquir - interactive white boards and video conferenc - the strike and pivot corps, albeit its induc - are bulkier and hence the Army has been ing true NCW capabilities.

Next Issue Extensive coverage of Eurosatory 2010 Edition

n Largest ever fair of land defence systems. About 1,300 companies exhibited their products at Eurosatory 2010, and an estimated number of 60,000 visitors attended four-day fair n Innovative solutions for air defence, armies and internal security requirements. n US giant General Dynamics had a prominent t

e presence at the fair. General Dynamics unveils the Piranha n . Class 5, the latest generation of the highly successful s e

c Piranha combat vehicle family. r o f n Military equipments from China were seen at Eurosatory defence d

n international fair. It is the first time that China has participated in the a l Eurosatory 2010. s p

s n Thirty-four Russian companies participated in this exhibition; twelve of them .

w presented military products in the form of 300 exhibits. w w

14 SP’s LAND FORCES 3/2010 INDUSTRY/FACE-TO-FACE << ‘MBDA is Seeing India as the Fifth Pillar of its Structure after the Four Domestic Countries (UK, France, Italy and Germany)’ MBDA, a world leader in missiles and missiles system, desires to be a major player in the Indian defence mar - ket and is viewing India as the fifth pillar of its structure in addition to current partner countries – France, UK, Italy and Germany. Loic Piedevache , Country Head, MBDA Group, in conversation with SP’s Editor-in-Chief Jayant Baranwal , spoke about building a reliable, strategic and long-term partnership in India.

product enhancement to be commonly available. If the customer makes specific de - mand for a product, we make it available for them after discussions with them about the specific enhancements in line with national specific requirements.

SP’s: MBDA offers a range of weapons for all the three forces –land, sea and air. What edge does your range of weapons offer compared to your competitors? Is cutting-edge technol - ogy the USP of your group or do you have other aces too up your sleeve? Loic : MBDA has many aces –we are a technol - ogy leader, we are the only company provid - ing weapons to all three of the armed forces. Weapons such as Storm Shadow/SCALP and Meteor are the world leaders and cannot be compared with other weapons. We com - bine the industrial and technological strengths of France, Italy, Germany and the UK together within one company. Meteor, the beyond visual range air-to- air missile dominates the air battle giving air superiority against the threat, provides an unmatched no escape zone. It has been or - dered by the UK Ministry of Defence and five other European nations namely France, Ger - many, Italy, Spain and Sweden. The Storm Shadow/SCALP is a conventionally armed stand-off air-to-ground long-range missile which can be deployed day and night and in adverse weather.

SP’s: MBDA is one of the leading manufactur - ers of missiles in the world. In what ways are SP Guide Publications (SP’s): MBDA was SP’s: Can you briefly outline the company’s >> A Brief Profile the 15 new products now being developed by formed with the merger of key missile history? What are the factors that lead to the MBDA different? producers in France, Italy and Great Britain, merger? In hindsight, what have been its pos - Loic Piedevache has been the Country Loic : The new developments include intelli - and subsequent acquisition in Germany. Has itive points? Head, India, MBDA Group since 2007. gent warheads, modular systems, and new this made you a world leader or was it a Loic : The consolidation of Europe’s missile Prior to this, he was with Sofema and propulsion technologies among others. They fait accompli? companies began in 1996, when parts of served as the Director, South Asia, from are all designed to meet new customer re - Loic Piedevache (Loic) : In the past few Matra Defence and BAe Dynamics merged to 2003 to 2007, Director, Latin America quirements regarding new terms of engage - decades, there have been many mergers and form Matra BAe Dynamics (MBD). In 1999, and the Caribbean from 2000 to 2003, ment, new platforms, threats, etc. reorganisations in the defence sector world - the Aérospatiale-Matra Missiles was formed. and Office Director, Rio de Janeiro office, wide. The merger of several companies has In 1998, GEC-Marconi Radar and Defence Brazil from 1994 to 2000. An alumnus of SP’s: When something becomes seemingly inadvertently resulted in huge turnover as Systems and Alenia Difesa combined their Collège Stanislas, Paris and Ecole des obsolete, do you phase out the product or up - the best of resources and expertise on a wide missile and radar activities to form Alenia cadres Management School, Paris, Loic grade it? Or is it a combination of both? range of products came together. Marconi Systems (AMS). In December 2001, has served as Overseas Trade Advisor for Loic : Because of paucity of funds, some cus - But a lot of hard work was required to ef - MBD (including AMM) and the Missile and France Vice-President of India section tomers ask for upgradation, to extend the life fectively integrate the companies and ensure Missile Systems activities of AMS were from 2004 to 2008. He has a private of the existing products. In many cases we that their operating systems are coordinated merged and thus came up MBDA. In June pilot’s licence and is the recipient of the have provided life-extention service up to 5- properly. In order to create a suitable busi - 2005, LFK, a unit of EADS Defence and Se - French National Defence medal. 10 years through our support team. As we ness model, resources had to be pooled in the curity Systems merged with MBDA. The respond to customer operational needs, it re - most effective manner with the correct use merger was necessary for the survival of the sults in the long-term development of our of synergies. fragmented European industry. But MILAN manufactured under licence in product portfolio. Of course, we need to pro - MBDA has set a benchmark in terms of India by BDL has been sold in even higher vide long-term support for in-service prod - international integration within the defence SP’s: What is the annual turnover of MBDA? quantities around the world. ucts and so we cannot just decide a product sector and has become a global player. Your website says you have as many as 45 line as obsolete and ignore it. products in service. What are your most SP’s: MBDA is a multinational company. What SP’s: Can you please tell us about the com - sought-after products? is the collective view of the nations involved SP’s: Can you elaborate on the ground-based pany’s current profile? How do you position Loic : The growth was rapid and by 2005 (in MBDA) with regard to transfer of the latest air defence missile, air dominance missile and yourself in the global market today? MBDA had doubled its turnover to 3 billion and sensitive technologies to India? Are there surface to surface missile systems manufac - Loic : MBDA is a global player having busi - Euro. The company’s current turnover any conflicts of interest? tured by MBDA? ness in defence markets across the globe. We (2009) stands at 2.6 billion Euro. It will be Loic : There are no conflicts of interest. Loic : MBDA is a leader in providing a range are moving towards a situation where over difficult to say what are our most sought MBDA’s identity is represented by advanced of defence systems to create an effective lay - 50 per cent of our turnover will come from after products. In terms of quantity (number technology and not nationality. Transfer of ered defence system –from deployable short- export activities as opposed to domestic sales not value) – large quantities of Eryx missiles technology (ToT) is the key feature that range systems such as Mistral and VL Mica (UK, France, Italy and Germany). Our latest and Exocet missiles have been sold. Mistral is MBDA offers. In most cases, transfer of tech - to higher level systems such as Aster. programmes include Storm Shadow, Scalp, in service with about 30 countries and will nology is a key feature of MBDA’s offer to the Our air dominance range includes AS - to name a few. soon be in service on the Indian Dhruv/WSI. customers. Our customers do not wait for a RAAM, Mica and Meteor to ensure the air-

3/2010 SP’s LAND FORCES 15 >> INDUSTRY/FACE-TO-FACE

SP’s: What about the missiles systems for the MBDA’s Mistral in service with about 30 countries Indian Air Force (IAF) and missile upgradation for Jaguar and Mirage 2000? Is MBDA contem - plating on participating in the mid-life upgra - dation programmes of these combat aircraft of the IAF? Loic : Regarding the Mirage upgradation, MBDA has been requested to make an offer for the air-to-air weapon. We have proposed the MICA, the multi-mission air-to-air missile sys - tem which has outstanding manoeuverabil - ity, high resistance to counter-measures, two interoperable advanced technology seekers and can be used in multi-target from long BVR interceot to close-in dog fight. Regarding the Jaguar, MBDA is currently responding to a Request For Proposal for a close combat missile. We are offering As - raam Combat Missiles for Jaguars, which has already been fitted on Jaguars operational in other air forces.

SP’s: Is MBDA a part of the 126 medium multi- role combat aircraft (MMRCA) for the IAF? Loic : MBDA is providing missiles in weapon packages of the 3 European OEMs includ - ing Dassault (Rafale), EADS (Eurofighter), Saab (Gripen).

SP’s: Can you tell us something about MBDA’s multi-purpose combat vehicle proj - ect and its other variants? Will it be offered to India? Loic : The multi-purpose combat vehicle is a MBDA’s Mistral will soon be inducted versatile and deadly accurate air trans - on the Indian Dhruv helicopters portable vehicle equipped with a motorised turret, with electro optical sensors. It has a small calibre gun and four ready-to-fire mis - siles that can be operated from an interior fir - ing console. It will be offered to India if there is a requirement.

SP’s: Are you working on any other joint ven - ture with BDL? Loic : MBDA does not have any JV with BDL. We are providing production licenses to BDL.

SP’s: Has MBDA established any joint venture or partnership with any Indian com - pany in the private sector or do you propose to do so to meet the possible offset requirements? Loic : MBDA is looking for a strong, reliable, strategic, long-term and fruitful partner - ship with India. In this regard, we are having advanced discussions with a major private Indian group. This partnership A D

B will be a structured and comprehensive M

S one and will meet all the procurement H P

A requirements. R G

O We are looking for a partner having com - T O H

P plementary technologies and skills, a strat - egy consistent with MBDA’s global strategy, to-air battle. Dual Mode Brimstone and SP’s: The Milan anti-tank missile has been in Milan is a success story in order to become/behave as a source or an Storm Shadow/SCALP are available to de - service with the Indian Army for a long time equal partner, able to export from its home liver devastating precision in the air-to- now. It is understood that a fresh contract was between MBDA and base, share MBDA views on collaboration ground attack missions. signed at the end of 2008 for an upgraded with SME’s, DPSU’s, and be recognised by In the battlefield warfare, MBDA is offer - version. Can you elaborate? Bharat Dynamics Limited the Indian authorities as a strategic indus - ing MILAN and Eryx missiles. Concerning Loic : Milan is a success story between MBDA trial asset for the country. the maritime threats, we can offer a wide and the Indian public sector undertaking (BDL) which started choice of weapons: the latest generation of Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) which 30 years ago. Licenses SP’s: What are your long-term plans for India? Exocet family (MM40 Block 3) and Otomat started 30 years ago. Licences for several ver - How do you see the potential? Mk2 Block IV for long range targets and sions of Milan missiles have been successfully for several versions of Loic : Besides BDL, we have also been work - Marte Mk2 for middle range targets. implemented in India. The last version deliv - ing with Mazagon Docks Limited (MDL) and ered to India is the Milan 2T which has a Milan missiles have Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). We SP’s: You lay a lot of emphasis on customer deadly tandem warhead and enhanced oper - welcome the developments with regard to support. How do you ensure that every sale is ational capabilities. been successfully foreign direct investment in India, which is followed by quality customer support? implemented in India at present 26 per cent. Emergence of private Loic : Customer support is crucial for us. We SP’s: It has been reported that MBDA and the sectors would be fruitful to compliment the ensure that the customer gets the maximum Defence Research and Development Organi - public sector. benefit from the equipment “through life sup - sation (DRDO) are jointly developing a new MBDA wants to be a major local player port through life performance”. Our support generation of low-level, quick-reaction air de - face-to-air missile (SRSAM) is in tandem in India. All the clearances towards exports service ranges from training, spares manage - fence missile Maitri for the Indian Navy and with this strategic step. The Indian Navy will are well in place. We offer to co-develop ment, repair work, assistance with live firings, the Air Force. It is understood that it has been also be a potential customer for SRSAM. Meteor and various other leading pro - stockpile management, etc. offered to the Indian Army as well. Can you grammes in India. Meteor is claimed to be Our customer service is highly personal - comment on the project? SP’s: Will you also offer core technologies beyond competition. ized and does not come off the shelf or out of Loic : MDBA is considering India as a strate - like the design of the active seeker head MBDA is seeing India as the fifth pillar of a catalogue. It is discussed, developed, gic long-term partner and is keen to shift and the missile engine apart from the other its structure after the four domestic coun - adapted, customised and implemented in line from a usual buyer-seller approach to a subsystems? tries (UK, France, Italy and Germany). with each and every customer’s specific re - deeper relation through a strong co-develop - Loic : Sensitive technologies will be trans - quirements. Our approach is work in-country ment programme involving key transfer of ferred in the form of SRSAM, but at this SP’s: How do you look at the future? with the customer. technologies. Developing short range sur - stage, we cannot disclose more information. Loic : We work 20 years ahead of time.

16 SP’s LAND FORCES 3/2010 PROCUREMENT << The Trend is for FMS Route India has carried out wide-ranging reforms in its procurement organisation and procedures. Free competition and transparency are central to the new dispensation. But many observers fear that a distinct discernible pat - tern is emerging in recent deals to circumvent competition.

PHOTOGRAPH : BAE Systems n MAJOR GENERAL (RETD) MRINAL SUMAN The M777 uses a digital fire-control system to all DCS activities have to be stopped by a pur - provide navigation, pointing and self-location, chaser before submitting an LOR. n January 22 this year, the De - allowing it to be put into action more quickly On the other hand, competition and fense Security Cooperation than earlier towed and air-transported howitzers market dynamics of multi-vendor open bid - Agency (DSCA) of the US noti - ding allows a purchaser to drive hard bar - fied the US Congress of a possible gains to get most favourable commercial foreign military sale (FMS) of terms through adroit negotiations. As it is a 1O45 M777 155mm light-weight towed how - buyers’ market in the world arms trade, even itzers with laser inertial artillery pointing sys - the US companies may be forced to accept re - tems for approximately $647 million (Rs duced profit margins compared to what the 3,039 crore) to India. It was also clarified that US government allows them under FMS pro - the deal would carry no offset obligations. curements. Therefore, it is a misnomer that The news report came as a surprise to the FMS route, being a government to gov - many observers. Earlier reports had indi - ernment transaction, is always cheaper. cated that India would be procuring light Deliveries are faster : FMS is a long- howitzers in an open competition after drawn process. After development, review techno-commercial evaluation of all how - and acceptance of the LOA, assembling of itzers on offer. Having failed to conclude any requirements for economic quantity or con - major contract in multi-vendor environment solidated purchasing cycles have to be man - during the last decade, it appears that the aged. Thereafter, contract negotiations have government has lost confidence in its own to be finalised. Production lead times are procurement regime. For all urgent and crit - fairly long for major equipment. However, ical equipment, it has been resorting to sin - deliveries can be much faster in case the US gle-vendor procurements. government decides to supply equipment In a path-breaking deal with the US, pur - from its stocks or reserve inventory. In an chase of 8 AN/TPQ-37 Fire Finder counter- emergency, the US government may allow battery artillery radars was negotiated in diversion of items under production for its 2002. India wanted a vast array of latest own use to a needy purchaser. military equipment and the US authorities Due to numerous inbuilt safeguards, appeared receptive. Purchase of P-8I mar - FMS process tends to get bogged down in itime patrol aircraft (DCS deal) and C-130J procedural details. On the other hand, de - Super Hercules transport aircraft are some fence articles in production can be procured of the other major deals signed. more speedily through open commercial bid - ding. It is an accepted fact that contractors Foreign military sales prepare their proposals much faster than the Military equipment is sold by the US in two US government completes the paper work. ways –direct commercial sales (DCS) and for - Moreover, in DCS cases the buyer country eign military sales (FMS). Deals under DCS can negotiate delivery schedules as per its re - are pure commercial transactions between a quirements with penalties for default. buyer government and industry. US compa - Transfer of high-tech equipment is nies compete with producers from other facilitated : It is wrongly believed that trans - counties to sell their products. As in an open fer of high-tech items and technology is eas - global competition, all vendors are invited to ier through the FMS route as deals are field their equipment. Techno-commercial negotiated between two governments. As re - evaluation is carried out by the purchasing gards considerations for permitting technol - country as per the criteria laid down by it. It ogy release, they are identical both for FMS implies that the US companies are pitted and DCS sales. For FMS cases, DSCA seeks against other producers and required to win also assured. Since the item is already in use It is always a cost-effective route : Al - approval of the State Department before de - contracts in a competitive environment. with its forces, the US government is in a bet - though the US government offers equipment veloping new cases. On the other hand, con - FMS, on the other hand, is commonly ter position to provide logistic, training and to foreign governments at the rate at which tractors have to obtain an export licence known as a government-to-government exploitation support. Joint training and de - these items had been purchased for the from the State Department for DCS deals. In deal. This route is usually followed for items velopment of usage doctrine also gets facili - US forces, it imposes additional handling other words, both FMS and DCS deals are which have already been inducted in the US tated. FMS route is ideally suited for US allies charges. Except for specific statutory exemp - subject to grant of licence by the Office of forces. The buyer nation forwards a letter of who have common operational doctrine and tions, the US government charges the Defense Trade Controls of the State Depart - request (LOR) to the US government. If the where interoperability of equipment is an es - purchaser for sales negotiations, case imple - ment. Additionally, under AECA [Sections request is cleared, a letter of offer (LOO) is sential consideration. mentation, contract negotiation, contract 36(b) and 36(c) respectively], both types of sent to the requesting government. The buy - One of the major limitations of the FMS management, financial management and al - sales are required to be notified to the US ing government is required to submit a letter route is that a buyer country has to accept lied expenses. In other words, the final FMS Congress if the proposed sale meets or ex - of acceptance (LOA) along with the initial the equipment as it exists and cannot evolve price includes administrative surcharge and ceeds the statutory thresholds. advance. Thereafter, a legal contract is its own parameters. Unquestionably, the contract administration services costs. Therefore, opting for the FMS route pro - signed. The US government may supply the equipment would have been developed Moreover, the FMS system provides for es - vides no extra benefit with respect to ease of item from its own existing stocks or procure specifically for the US forces, keeping in mind timated prices and estimated payment sched - purchase of high-tech equipment. it afresh from the producer. their capabilities, doctrine and envisaged op - ules. The final price of equipment under FMS End use monitoring is less rigid : Sale of certain critical items is allowed erational exploitation. It is essential for a is known only after it is delivered, whereas in With a view to ensure security of its ex - only through FMS route and such items are buyer country to be fully convinced of the open bidding, a purchaser knows the final ported technology, the US government over - designated as “FMS only” under the provi - usefulness of the equipment in its own envi - price and payment schedule before he places sees that the equipment sold by it is used sions of the Security Assistance Management ronmental context prior to initiating re - orders. Additionally, the Arms Export Control strictly as per the initially stated intent in Manual (SAMM) C4.5.9. Such designation quest. No military equipment is ever used in Act (AECA) requires a charge for a propor - LOR. The US authorities retain the right of may be based on legislation, presidential pol - isolation and its optimum exploitation is pos - tionate amount of any nonrecurring costs of ground inspection to check compliance. icy, disclosure policy, interoperability con - sible only if it is fully integrated with match - research, development and production of Elaborate regulations have been framed cerns, or safety concerns. Historically, items ing capabilities. major defence equipment sold through FMS. for End Use Monitoring (EUM), both under like man portable air defence missiles, certain DCS is exempt from these costs. FMS and DCS routes, whereas Golden Sentry cryptographic equipment, precise positioning Common misconceptions about FMS route Interestingly, the US government does is applicable to FMS deals, Blue Lantern pro - service and airborne early warning and con - While the FMS route has the advantages of not facilitate comparison between FMS price gramme oversees DCS contracts. Criteria trol systems have been designated likewise. fixed prices, sovereign guarantees and after- and DCS price for any equipment, thereby and policy for third county transfers are also There are no middlemen in FMS. The sales support, it precludes competition and denying an opportunity to a purchaser to se - the same for both routes. Therefore, it is buyer nation saves considerable effort as the trials. In other words, it is a take-it-or-leave-it lect a cheaper option. No purchaser can ob - wrong to assume that EUM is less severe in US government procures the item as per its situation for the buyer. Some of the com - tain a DCS price quote after submitting an FMS sales. well-established acquisition procedure. monly touted advantages of FMS are exam - LOR under FMS. He has to cancel the LOR Technical support is assured : There Quality and performance parameters are ined hereunder to remove misconceptions. prior to making the DCS request. Similarly, are two facets of provision of continued tech -

3/2010 SP’s LAND FORCES 17 >> EXERCISE YODHA SHAKTI Offensive Desert Manoeuvres The exercise Yodha Shakti proved that the Indian Army still feels that there is a window of opportunity for a conventional conflict in the Indo-Pak context despite the latter’s repeated attempts to advance the core belief of their nuclear doctrine which precludes the possibility of a conventional conflict

depth, while simultaneously conducting multiple manoeuvres by the mechanised forces on the ground supported by attack helicopters. Enhanced synergy and integra - tion between the army and the air force was attempted and achieved. The aerial re-supply to the armoured di - vision columns deep inside the enemy terri - tory provided it with requisite logistics surge capability for enhanced operational reach. As a reflection of the leadership ethos of the Indian Army, the airborne operation was led by Vice Chief of Army Staff, Lt General P. Bhardwaj, a highly experienced and deco - rated officer with Special Forces having a para background. Observers The final phase of the exercise was witnessed by the Army Chief General V. K. Singh along with General Officer Commanding-in-Chief

y South Western Command, Lt General C.K.S. m r

A Sabu, and a large number of senior officers

n a i of the army and the air force. Southern and d n I

: Western Army Commanders and Western H P

A and South Western Air Command Chiefs too R

G GOC Strike One briefing COAS

O were present on the occasion. The Corps T deep inside ex-enemy territory O

H Commander, Lt General A.K. Singh, briefed P the Army Chief on the operational readiness, n LT GENERAL (RETD) V.K. KAPOOR Shakti was conducted in the desert sector for forces and air-borne and helicopter-borne- optimisation of force multipliers, and the which the troops had moved out in forces. The Army also practised use of long- new concepts which were tried out. The xercise Yodha Shakti held in April- October/November 2009 and the training range artillery and air power to neutralise the Army Chief also interacted with the officers May 2010, involved the Indian was conducted from the sub-unit (infantry adversary’s operational and strategic reserves and jawans of the formations of the Strike Army’s Mathura based 1 Corps company or equivalent level) to higher forma - even as the tactical battle was being fought. Corps and expressed his appreciation on (Strike Corps) under the command tion level (division and corps). Apart from giv - Use of UAVs, electro-optical resources, battle - their high standard of professionalism, of Lt General A.K. Singh, a cavalry ing a feel of their respective commands to the field surveillance radars, and other surveil - training and motivation. oEfficer of impeccable credentials. The exer - commander at each level, which is an essen - lance devices were also practised. cise was carried out under the aegis of tial ingredient of training in an offensive The exercise synergised all arms and Conclusion Army’s South Western Command currently corps, this training also ensured synergised services (logistics) units and formations of The exercise which concluded on May 8, commanded by Lt General C.K.S. Sabu, a and integrated training of all arms and serv - the 1 Corps with air power components, thus proves that the Indian Army still feels that competent senior officer with a highly devel - ices and representative employment of force executing an air-land battle in the Indian en - there is a window of opportunity for a con - oped sense of operational art. multipliers, mainly to try out the intelligence, vironment which envisages predominantly ventional conflict in the Indo-Pak context surveillance and reconnaissance equipment. mechanised operations inside the enemy ter - despite Pakistan’s repeated attempts to ad - Collective training season This exercise also enabled the Army forma - ritory. The operations were executed with vance the core belief of their nuclear doc - The Indian Army usually conducts exercises tions to practice joint operations with the In - overwhelming momentum and tempo. trine which precludes the possibility of a with troops in the Western theatre (plains, dian Air Force. State-of-the-art technology provided the cut - conventional conflict. Be that as it may, it semi-desert and desert terrain) during the pe - This training exercise was conducted in ting edge. The induction of night vision ca - seems that there is no doubt in the minds of riod from October of the previous year to April the backdrop of a conventional conflict under pabilities in the mechanised forces enabled the Indian military commanders that even of the ensuing year in what is euphemistically a nuclear shadow and, hence, was designed day and night, 24/7 capability. today a conventional conflict can be fought known as the “campaigning season.” The pe - to achieve strategic objectives in a short time - Operational manoeuvres included the and won although with limited aims and riod is appropriately chosen after the end of frame. Thus, the concept of operations con - armour and mechanised infantry predomi - objectives and that Pakistan must not be al - rainy season till the onset of summers. Both ceived involved simultaneous operations nant attacks, helicopter-borne operations lowed to get away with nuclear brinkman - the offensive and defensive formations un - across the entire depth of the battlefield by in the tactical depth and airborne opera - ship. Are our political leaders on the same dergo training with the troops. Exercise Yodha employing mission oriented mechanised tions by paratroopers in the operational wavelength?

FMS Route continued nical support for the equipment sold-initial antee of continued US support. its procurement organisation and procedures. tors to clinch lucrative contracts by riding pig - support package and solemn assurance of Offsets : Although offsets are allowed Free competition and transparency are cen - gyback on the US government. In fact, they subsequent life-time support. As regards the even in FMS deals, the US government fol - tral to the new dispensation. Every govern - provide an easier way out to countries like initial package, FMS system caters to the de - lows a hands-off policy with regard to offset ment-to-government deal is a testimony to the India that have failed to put an effective pro - velopment of a total package approach to in - provisions. A purchaser country may nego - failure of the present defence procurement curement regime in place. clude all support equipment, spare parts, tiate a separate offset agreement directly regime to deliver. It amounts to a tacit admis - Recent reports reveal that DSCA has no - training and publications by the US govern - with the prime contractor. Implementation sion by the government of its inability to pro - tified the Congress of possible sale of 10 Boe - ment. On the other hand, under DCS sales, the of such an offset agreement remains a mat - cure major equipment in an open competitive ing C-17 Globemaster III strategic-lift contactors develop support packages as per ter between the buyer country and the con - environment as per its own parameters. aircraft to India in a deal worth $5.8 billion the requirements projected by the purchaser. tractor. The US government accepts no Many observers fear that a distinct dis - (Rs 27,300 crore). According to many However, there is no difference in contractor responsibility for its enforcement. cernible pattern is emerging in recent deals to knowledgeable observers, the final value of participation in follow-on support and main - As the main contract and the offset con - circumvent competition. Aggressive US con - the deal with support systems will far exceed tenance programmes under FMS and DCS. tract get delinked, the purchasing country tractors hardsell their equipment to Indian the indicated cost, making it the biggest de - What is of more serious concern is the has no leverage to ensure fulfillment of offset decision-makers through personal contacts fence deal in India’s history. True to the past t e right reserved by the US government to uni - obligations. In a normal commercial deal, and networking in utmost secrecy of official trend, it is going to be a single vendor deal, n . s laterally terminate a deal if considered es - failure to implement offset programmes as confines. No request for information (RFI) is bereft of all competition. e c

r sential in the US national interests. This right per the contracted schedule can invoke im - issued and no indications are given to possible Finally, it is a misnomer that all FMS o f is equally applicable to FMS and DCS con - position of penalties. In the case of FMS competitors. Once the Indian decision-mak - deals are above board and free from taint. d n tracts. The US government can terminate a deals, payments are made to the US govern - ers are convinced, they are prevailed upon to The very fact that decision-makers are pre - a l s DCS export licence or cancel LOO/LOA in ment and hence cannot be withheld. seek equipment through the FMS route, vailed upon to forego open competition (with p s

. FMS cases. It can also halt deliveries of FMS thereby effectively eliminating all competi - associated cost, quality and delivery advan - w items or DCS licensed items even if already Conclusion tion. It is a highly rewarding and time-tested tages), and opt for single vendor FMS route, w

w paid for. Hence, FMS deals provide no guar - India has carried out wide-ranging reforms in stratagem employed by experienced contrac - raises questions of propriety.

18 SP’s LAND FORCES 3/2010 Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Jayant Baranwal News in Brief Editor Lt General (Retd) V.K. Kapoor Executive Editor FLIR SYSTEMS RECEIVES new functions to its infrared vision, namely D. Bhardwaj, DGMF, towards formation of Subir Ghosh $35.2 MILLION IDIQ CONTRACT stabilised observation and image recording. the 1st Arjun regiment by S. Chandrasekar, Senior Technical Group Editor Lt General (Retd) Naresh Chand FLIR Systems has announced that it has re - It also incorporates the latest technologies Addl. DGOF (AV). It was flagged-off by Dr A. Contributing Editor ceived a $35.2 million (Rs 161 crore) firm- developed by Sagem for the JIM LR long- Sivathanu Pillai, Chief Controller, Research Air Marshal (Retd) V.K. Bhatia fixed price, indefinite delivery and indefinite range multifunction binoculars, which in - & Development and a distinguished scientist, Copy Editor quantity contract with an initial delivery cludes video, laser range-finding, North DRDO, at a function in Avadi. Sucheta Das Mohapatra order for $20.9 million for its TALON system seeker and GPS functions in addition to its Assistant Correspondent from the United States Special Operations infrared vision. DRDO AWARDS SCIENTISTS Abhay Singh Thapa Command (USSOCOM). The stabilised, light - On National Technology Day, Prime Minister Sub-Editor weight, multi-sensor systems delivered LONG-RANGE AGNI-II MISSION Dr Manmohan Singh presented the DRDO Bipasha Roy under this contract will support the long- SUCCESSFUL awards 2009 on May 26. Defence Minister Assistant Photo Editor range ground mobility visual augmentation A.K. Antony, Defence Secretary Pradeep Abhishek Singh systems (LR-GMVAS) programme by provid - Kumar and Secretary Defence R&D Dr V.K. Contributors ing ground vehicles with a stabilised, all- Saraswat, senior DRDO officials including a India weather, day/night, high-resolution, galaxy of invitees from the Government of General (Retd) V.P. Malik, Lt General (Retd) Vijay Oberoi, Lt General (Retd) R.S. Nagra, thermal imaging capability. India were present. The awards were given Lt General (Retd) S.R.R. Aiyengar, Air away to DRDO scientists in recognition of Marshal (Retd) Vinod Patney, Major General FINNISH ARMY PLACES NEW ORDER their outstanding contribution towards devel - (Retd) Ashok Mehta, Major General (Retd) FOR MATIS HH THERMAL IMAGERS oping a strong indigenous technology base. G.K. Nischol, Brigadier (Retd) Gurmeet Kanwal, Brigadier (Retd) S. Mishra, MOBILE LAB HANDED OVER TO ARMY Rohit Sharma Chairman & Managing Director The Mobile Contamination Analysis Station Jayant Baranwal (Mobile Lab) developed by Defence Research Administration & Coordination and Development Organisation (DRDO) for Bharti Sharma, Survi Massey The pencil-like long-range nuclear capable rapid detection of contamination caused by Senior Art Director ballistic AGNI-II missile has been success - NBC agents was handed over to the Army in Anoop Kamath fully launched by the Strategic Forces Com - a ceremony held at DRDE Gwalior on June Design mand on May 17, 2010, from the Wheelers 18. Installed over 8x8 Tatra vehicle for cross- Vimlesh Kumar Yadav, Sonu Singh Bisht Island, off the Orissa coast. The missile was country mobility, the system armed with Sales & Marketing launched by Strategic Forces Command state-of-the-art technologies and equipment Director Sales & Marketing : Neetu Dhulia After an international competition organ - thereby crediting with the launching of developed by DRDO labs will be of immense Head Vertical Sales : Rajeev Chugh Sales Manager : Rajiv Ranjan ised by NATO Maintenance and Supply long-range A1, A2 and A3 missiles within a use for armed forces, though it can also be SP’s Website Agency (NAMSA), Sagem won the order for time span of five months. Two down range used by civil authorities. DRDE Gwalior, a Sr. Web Developer : Shailendra P. Ashish a new series of MATIS Handheld (HH) ther - ships from Indian Navy located near the tar - leading DRDO laboratory, in collaboration Web Developer : Ugrashen Vishwakarma mal imagers for the Finnish Defence Forces. get have tracked and witnessed the missile with other sister labs has developed this Mo - Published bimonthly by Jayant Baranwal on The contract, having a total value of several reaching the target. The two stage solid pro - bile Contamination Analysis Station. behalf of SP Guide Publications Pvt Ltd. All millions of euros, includes a significant pellant based AGNI-II Missile has a 2,000 rights reserved. No part of this publication amount of thermal imagers. The contract km range with a pay load capability of PRITHVI-II MISSILE LAUNCHED may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any also includes complete maintenance services 1 tonne. The missile is equipped with state- The Prithvi-II missile was successfully means, photocopying, recording, electronic, for these imagers, to be provided in Finland. of-the-art navigation system with modern launched from launch complex III at or otherwise without the prior written These new MATIS HH imagers will join the techniques for taking the missile towards Chandipur on June 18, 2010. The entire op - permission of the publishers. previous MATIS imagers already deployed by designated target very accurately. eration was carried out by the armed forces. Printed in India the Finnish Army. Featuring an ergonomic It was a textbook launch and met all the mis - by Kala Jyothi Process Pvt Ltd design for tactical efficiency, Matis HH adds IN BID FOR THE US ARMY’S COMBAT sion objectives. The terminal phase of the © SP Guide Publications, 2010 VEHICLE PROGRAMME flight and the events were monitored by Annual Subscription >> SHOW CALENDAR Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Rhein - down range ships located near the impact Inland: Rs. 600 • Overseas: US$180 Email: [email protected] metall have concluded a cooperation agree - point. All the operations for the mission were 21 June - 24 June Letter to Editor Corporate Security Summit India 2010 ment with the American companies Science reviewed by Dr V.K. Saraswat, Scientific Ad - [email protected] Applications International Corporation visor to Defence Minister and Director Gen - JW Marriot, Mumbai, India For Advertising Details, Contact: (SAIC) and Boeing to tender a joint bid for the eral, Secretary, DRDO. www.corpsecindia.com [email protected] development contract for the Ground Combat [email protected] Vehicle (GCV) programme of the United INDIAN DEFENCE TO USE DEDICATED [email protected] 28 June - 30 June States Army. This cooperation will see KMW COMMUNICATION NETWORK [email protected] Unmanned Systems Summit 2010 and Rheinmetall acting as subcontractors The Indian armed forces will use a dedicated SP GUIDE PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD Key Bridge Marriott, Arlington, POSTAL ADDRESS with SAIC acting as the general contractor communication network operated by state- Post Box No 2525, New Delhi 110 005, India Virginia, USA with regard to the procuring agencies. As the run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) www.unmannedsystemssummit.com Corporate Office manufacturers of the Puma infantry fighting by the end of 2012. BSNL will finalise the A 133 Arjun Nagar, Opp Defence Colony, vehicle of the German Armed Forces, the tenders calling for the implementation of the New Delhi 110 003, India 29 June - 30 June most modern system of its kind in the world, army and the navy network by this August Tel: +91(11) 24644693, 24644763, Israel’s Army & Defense 2010 KMW and Rheinmetall will be contributing and implement the networks by December 24620130 The Israeli Convention Center, their highly advanced expertise to this 2012. BSNL has said that the Indian defence Fax: +91 (11) 24647093 Tel Aviv, Israel transatlantic partnership. The objective of the would vacate the 45 Mhz radio spectrum Regd Office www.army-defense.org Fax: +91 (11) 23622942 cooperation is to provide the American Army once it had built an alternative optical-fibre Email: [email protected] with absolute state-of-the-art technology. cable network for all the defence forces. Representative Offices 29 June - 2 July The Department of Telecom expects the BANGALORE, INDIA International Defense Logistics Support IA GETS ITS FIRST ARMOURED defence forces to vacate the radio waves by Air Marshal (Retd) B.K. Pandey Hotel Le Plaza, Brussels, Belgium REGIMENT OF MBT ARJUN September 2010. 534, Jal Vayu Vihar, Kammanhalli Main Rd, www.wbresearch.com/internationalde - Bangalore 560043, India. Tel: +91 (80) 23682534 fencelogistics/home.aspx US ARMY CANCELS PRECISION ATTACK MISSILE PROGRAMME LONDON, UK Shikha Thukral 30 June - 4 July The US Army has cancelled the non-line-of- Area Sales Manager, Europe International Defence Exhibition IDELF sight launch system (NLOS-LS), a precision at - 64 Western Road, Sothall Middlesex 2010 tack missile programme that was part of the Mob: +447404424208 Zhukovsky, Moscow, Russia army’s future combat systems programme. MOSCOW, RUSSIA www.idelf.ru The project, which is under development by LAGUK Co., Ltd, Yuri Laskin Krasnokholmskaya, Nab., Raytheon in cooperation with Lockheed Mar - 11/15, app. 132, Moscow 115172, Russia. 1 July - 2 July tin, has already completed a $1 billion devel - Tel: +7 (495) 911 2762, 3rd Annual Combat Engineering 2010 opment phase through a six-year period. Fax: +7 (495) 912 1260 CCT Venues, London, UK Following a detailed analysis of the NLOS-LS, www.spguidepublications.com www.combatengineering.org The Indian Army has equipped itself with the army has concluded that the missile sys - www.spslandforces.net the first armoured regiment of indigenously tem does not provide a cost-effective precision RNI Number: DELENG/2008/25818 12 July - 13 July built Main Battle Tank (MBT) Arjun. The de - fire capability. NLOS-LS is a platform inde - Military Satellites 2010 velopment marks the fruition of 35 years of pendent precision engagement system that CCT Venues Canary Warf, London, UK research in self-reliance by dedicated Indian provides networked, responsive and rapidly www.milsatellites.com scientists. At least 16 tanks (Cumulative 45 deployable precision strike capability against Arjun tanks) were handed over to Lt General stationary and moving targets.

3/2010 SP’s LAND FORCES 19 SHOCK-PROOF. VIBRATION-PROOF. AANDND EVENEVEN FUTURE-PROOF.

Over 115,000 DRS systems have been ﬁelded for Blue Force Tracking and FBCB2. And thanks to a powerful Dual Core processor and ﬂexible architecture, today’s JV-5 is ready fforor ffutureuture applications.applications. FromFrom thethe JJointoint BBattleattle CCommand-Platformommand-Platform ((JBC-P)JBC-P) aandnd beyond.beyond. WhichWhich means U.S. joint forces will see returns on this hardware investment for years to come. CapabilityCapability ForFor TToday.oday. AndAnd TTomorrow.omorrow. TThat’shat’s GGoo TTo.o.

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