Indian Army gets $2 billion worth of Ammo pack

Indian Army gets $2 billion worth of Ammo pack

   Cabinet Committee on Security meets Friday night to discuss to clear army's long time proposal of stocking more ammo for small arms and handheld devices for surveillance and improve the situational awareness. The meet cleared proposals worth of one billion, which could be inked in coming days.

The proposed deals are, Buying more ammo for Carl Gustav rifle and Milan anti-tank missiles, Other procurement's include handheld thermal image devices and indigenous swathi weapon locating radar. The CCS gives more importance to the Infantry, this time, buying these sophisticated systems.

CCS will spend more than $200 million to buy nearly 65,000 of low-cost high-power shoulder launched rocket system. which is used in the Carl Gustav recoilless rifle. Carl gustav is the known good alternative of RPG. Indian army selected the Carl Gustav instead of the RPG. Army uses the Carl Gustav in many operations. which include the ongoing asymmetrical war in Kashmir.

Carl Gustav is an 83mm rifle system, which can fire multiple types of ammunition. with the effective range of nearly 500 meters. The CG even can use to disable armored personnel carrier and infantry vehicle in short range.

HE- High explosive rounds are used for anti-personnel missions and special operations, such as counter-terrorism,  Smoke rounds can be used as a countermeasure, with an effective range of one kilometers. HEDP- a High explosive anti-tank used to disable light and medium armour vehicle. this round can penetrate the armour up to 15cm.

The CCS also approved $300 million to buy 5000 Milan 2nd generation anti-tank missile. Milan is a 2nd generation wire guided command line of sight system used to destroy main battle tanks and military bunkers. with the effective range of some 2000 meters. The additional procurement of the Milan anti-tank missiles can increase the ammo reserve more. It's believed the army already has some 35,000 Milan missile's.

However, CCS didn't mentioned about the proposed 3rd gen fire and forget anti-tank missile, which could be bought from the Israeli Rafael systems. Sources said that the Spike deal would be cleared before the PM's trip to Israel.

In a boost to the infantry's fighting capability, CCS also cleared another $200 million to buy more than 4000 handheld multi-function thermal and laser range finder devices.  which can be used in Sniper operation and infantry fighting. The TI Binocular systems can calculate the exact distance to the target and can also find targets using IR during night and harsh weather conditions. This device can also laze the targets to call the air support and guide anti-tank missiles too.

One of the most important device which could assist the infantry units from hidden threats. This device can laze targets to Apache gunships, Main Battle Tanks, and the fighter jet's Laser guided bomb for precision strike. So far only a few number of such devices in use with the Army. This additional 4000 units can help the army to fight in dense conditions.




CCS, this time, more responsible, that Army proposed the DAC and CCS to buy more homemade weapon locating radar's for Indian army. which is based on the DRDO developed Swathi WLR. This will boost Army's fighting capability by locating enemy mortar and artillery positions and use counter weapons to destroy the enemy assets. The exact information about the usage of the weapon locating radar is explained in this article [ - Army looks to buy more weapon locating Radars .] Army will get 30 new Swathi radars for some $300 million

The CCS also briefed the new plans of raising an additional number of Pinaka and Brahmos regiment, both will cost more than $1 billion. Army requested to raise one more Brahmos supersonic missile regiment close to the Arunachal border which costs some $700 million.  also requested to raise two more Pinaka multiple rocket launching system for $480 million. which could be deployed along the Indo-Pakistani border.

CCS postponed the above two decision to the next meet. CCS is the highest known authority who can clear DAC's proposal of buying new arms and ammunition. CCS is led by highest authorities from the cabinet ministry, which include Fiance minister, Defense minister the meet headed by the Prime minister.

One month of Russian aerial delivery to ISIS and Syrian Rebels

One month of Russian aerial delivery to ISIS and Syrian Rebels

UAV Screen grab

    It's almost a month since Russian Air force started bombing against the Syrian Rebel forces and ISIS positions, along with small victories near Aleppo provenance. So far nearly 700 plus sorties flown by the Russian Fighter jets like Su 30 SM, Su 24M , Su 25SM and Su 34. Which makes more than 50 sorties per day flown by the Russian Air force jets. Those sorties also include the deployed Helicopter gunships like Mi 24 P and electronic intelligent plane like  IL 20 Coot. The list gives a good light about all the Russian aircraft availability rate and combat performance.

   All the Russian fighter aircraft's and helicopters uses the Latakia based air force base for combat operations, and performs missions within the range of some 200 kilometers. Those Syrian Rebels are way too closer to the Russian Naval outpost, that's why the Russians suddenly deploys ground troops and fighter air crafts to prevent them to over run the Bases. Those airborne platforms are used for offensive operations and ground troops used to safe guard Russian assets in Syria. Rarely some times the long range strike aircraft Su 34 used for striking targets well beyond some 300 kilometers where the ISIS is operating.

    Most or some 60 % of Russian Air strike pounded just some 75 kilometers off from the Latakia base, which is situated in between Latakia and Idlib provenance. Those area's are currently under control of Syrian rebels, and some  25% of Russian Air strikes pounded over Aleppo city, the same place where a trilateral conflict between ISIS vs FSA vs The Syrian Army.  This is where Syrian Army gets more ground support to start the offensive in past weeks.

    Currently the Syrian Army Engaging the Syrian Rebels over three sides, Idlib, Aleppo and Homs. In Aleppo the Syrian Army needs to fight against the ISIS too. Initially the Syrian Army planning the offensive over the west of Syria to bush back the Rebels over east side, where most of the ISIS activities reported. The Syrian Army gets multiple supports from the Nations like Russia and Iran, The Syrian ground forces supported by the Iranian Elite ground forces known as the Quds Forces, Air strikes from the Russian Air forces, Milita support from Hezbullah Terrorists and Intelligence and other supports from Cuban's.

    The Syrians started the ground offensive 15 days ago, ten days after the Russians started Bombing. However the cooperation between the Russians and Syrians are way too limited. Since both are not good enough to use the modern technologies for calling a close Air support mission. The Russian low flying helicopter pilots visually identifies the Enemy positions before attacking, where the UAV gives clear picture to the Fighter jets to carry out attacks. This is something called very old statics since the ground soldiers are highly mobile and they won't use much armors.

     The Syrian Rebels using the US made Saudi supplied TOW missiles to take out Syrian Tanks and armored carriers. Also many witnessed that the Chinese HJ 8 and French Milan anti tank missiles too used by the Syrian Rebels. Anyhow all these missiles are second generation systems, thus need someone to guide the missiles to hit the target. Unlike third generation Anti tank missile systems like Javelin and Spike uses IIR and laser guidance for target acquisition and self guidance, makes the missiles fire and forget. The US refused to provide such missiles to the Rebels.

TOW 2nd Generation Anti Tank Missile

    Those Second generation missiles would be operated by a group of two experienced persons. Where Most of the Syrian Rebel members are defected soldiers of Syrian Arab Army. Even the FSA leader Noeimi is an Ex Syrian Military officer who  defected from the Syrian Army during the early days of Civil war. The FSA scored many armor kills during this series of defensive operations.Videos from YouTube and multiple reports from Conflict news confirms more than 70 Syrian armors were destroyed by the FSA in last 15 days using those anti tank missiles.

    Even though the Syrian Army slowly moving towards the Rebels strongholds like Aleppo and Idlib. The Syrians and Russian cheering with small victories. However there is major secret operation is ongoing headed by unknowns, to assassinate top military commanders in battlefronts. Recently one of the Iran's top military officer general  Hossein killed in the battlefield near Aleppo. There is some other high ranking  military officials also killed in front lines. Even more the Syrian rebels managed to fire a RPG over an Russian consulate near latakia.

MAP of current Situation in Syria Courtesy ISW

   The Russians also pounding some Targets by using their long range cruise missiles, at first they fired some long range modified Klub cruise missiles off from Caspian sea, Week later they fired some missiles into latakia from the Russian Naval ships positioned near Mediterranean sea. Those are just some live missile tests it seems, where it doesn't makes good results when engaging threats like moving ground forces.

    Anyway there is a good days are coming in the conflict,  as The Syrian offensive almost started in full swing and they bound to enter the Rebel stronghold's. From Rebel side they just received modern weapons from the US para drop. makes the inventory having MANPAD's too which is yet to be confirmed makes them a good threat to low flying Russian Fighter jets.     

Spike ATGM

Spike Anti Tank Guided Missile

infantry equipped with Spike systems

Each and Every Infantry Battalions nowadays hold several Armour Piercing Equipments or an Special Weapon that would be a Anti material rifle or and man portable air defence missile or a anti tank guided missile which provide the infantry battalion group to fight against any tough conditions. while it gives Air cover and Armour cover.

The Indian Army too equiped with such sophisicated weapon systems like they have Anti material rifles the Russian made igla-s MANPAD system and the French supplied MILAN ATGM's. But everything would replaced at time to induct more lethal and modern system. and the Indian Army now plans to induct the Spike 4th Generation ATGM system who replaces the second generation Milan systems. 

There will be a Biggest game happens before shortlisting and sealing the Spike deal. the deal may be signed at the 2011. but the US dropped it's bombshell by announcing to join India to produce Next Generation Javelin Anti Tank missile system. the Javelin system is the primary ATGM for US ground forces and the Marines. which is also a Fourth gen system.

So Indian official looks through the US offer to co produce the next gen Javelin systems. but that deal becomes more tricky and takes more years than the scheduled date. the Forces finally opted the Israeli offer of Spike ofcourse with the ToT. and the Indian PSU company Bharath Dynamics Limited produced the Spike Missiles in India. the initial deal holds some 321 Missile Launcher tubes and Launching Equipments and some 8300 missiles and 15 training Simulators. as of now Indian army is authorized to field some 8500 ATGMs. 

Milan ATGM system

Initially the Spike missile will be fitted into the Indian Army BMP 2 Vehicles only. which is a IFV. the Army operating thousands of such Vehicles. that have already a 30mm cannon and an 7.62mm Rifle now the Spike will be Placed.  The Spike's LR version is the Vehicle mounted Version which can engage the Target in 4 KM range. and it can penetrate the 600mm thick armours.

The spike chooses the weak spot of the target and fly through a  lofted trajectory  and hit directly into the Weak spot of the target. The spike uses two different guidance system one is a Imaging Infrared seeker (IIR) which allows the missile can be used in Night Conditions and the laser wire guidance gives more accuracy to hit the target. the spike's warhead is the Tandem Charge heat which can penetrate the thick Armour then explode.

the Spike also can be used in the Remote weapon stations which can be mounted in a IFV or an Stationary outposts. The TATA kestral platform is a Good choice of mounting such RCWS weapon station along with a .50 cal or an 7.62 mm Machine gun. the Man portable and remote weapon station missiles can be produced after completing the initial procurement of  8000 missiles.

India also have an Indigenous program of building a ATGM. which is built by DRDO and BDL tey named the Missile as NAG which is a third generation missile System while DRDO added three different versions whose seeker only varying A wire guided a infrared guided and a Radar homing missile. the Army already inducted the Vehicle version of NAG which known as NAMICA the nag missile fitted in a BMP platform.

The Indian NAG missile Carrier Namica