SP's Land Forces 03 - 2014

June-July 2014

See page 12

SP’s

Volume 11 No. 3

AN SP GUIDE

`100.00 (India-Based Buyer Only)

PUBLICATION

www.spsmilitaryyearbook.com

ROUNDUP

www.spslandforces.com

The ONLY magazine in Asia-Pacific dedicated to Land Forces

In This Issue

>> regional / southeast asia

Page 5 Urban Warfare

photograph: US DoD

Urban combat or BUA operations is very different from combat in the open terrain at both the operational and tactical level.

Lt General (Retd) V.K. Kapoor Page 6 Interview Lt General V.K. Saxena DG, Army Air Defence, Indian Army Page 8 Powering India-China Relations Post the Indian elections in India, Wei Wei, Chinese Ambassador at New Delhi, wrote an Op-ed in the Economic Times titled ‘India’s Economic Takeoff’ outlining China’s hopes for economic cooperation and common development.

Lt General (Retd) P.C. Katoch Page 11 Indian Prime Minister’s Splendid Initiative – Rejuvenating SAARC Lt General (Retd) P.C. Katoch Page 13 New Leadership The Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leading from the front in providing a stable, strong and sustainable government. Here are some of the key-players...

Page 14 Defence Challenges Facing India The Service Headquarters function as attached offices to the Ministry of Defence, working under archaic and outmoded rules of business.

Lt General (Retd) V.K. Kapoor Page 15 A Relook at the Chief of Defence Staff/ Permanent Chairman COSC The Naresh Chandra task force on national security set up by the UPA Government in June 2012, in its report recommended a permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.

Lt General (Retd) V.K. Kapoor Page 16 Technologies to the Fore Defence exhibitions across the world attract considerable attention, but one which is a must attend is Eurosatory held biennially in Paris.

R. Chandrakanth Plus SP’s Exclusives / News in Brief

18

The Philippine Army has made a start on enhancing its artillery with an order for 155mm artillery guns. There are plans to acquire more artillery systems, including Multiple Launch Rockets Systems (MLRS)

The Philippine Army – Developing a Modernisation Strategy The Philippine Army has a proud history. However, it is now entering one of the most important periods of its history as it seeks to modernise to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.  David Saw

T

he Philippine Army can trace its history back to the end of the 19th century and the independence struggle against Spanish colonialism. In August 1896 the Katipunan (Association) movement proclaimed a revolution against the Spanish, out of this armed struggle grew the Philippine Army that was officially established on March 27, 1897, as the Philippine Revolutionary Army. On the declaration of Philippine independence on June 12, 1898, the army was renamed as the Philippine Republican Army.

The First Philippine Republic did not last, the Treaty of Paris of December 1898

brought the Spanish-American War to the end, under the terms of the treaty the Spanish colonial possession of the Philippines was ceded to the United States. In February 1899 war broke out between the US and the Philippine Republic. It came to an end on July 4, 1902, marking the end of the First Philippine Republic and the Philippine Republican Army.

By the early 1930s the US had started the process under which they would grant independence to the Philippines, this would see the establishment of the Philippine Commonwealth on November 15, 1935, with full independence to be achieved on July 4, 1946. The Philippine Commonwealth passed the National Defence Act in December 1935, one of its first pieces of

legislation, and this was to create the foundations for a new national army. The President of the Philippines Manuel Quezon then asked General Douglas MacArthur, the former Chief of Staff of the US Army, to oversee the development of the new Philippine Army with the rank of Field Marshal.

Japan invaded the Philippines on December 8, 1941, and with the surrender of the island fortress of Corregidor in May 1942 organised Philippine and US resistance was at an end. However, many Philippine Army officers and men evaded capture and took to the countryside to begin an insurgency against the Japanese occupiers. In the end over 2,00,000 people would take part in armed resistance against the Japanese, with many more participat-

Applied for 3/2014 SP’s Land Forces

1

Heartiest Felicitations to our New Government

50 Years dedicated in the interest of Nation’s Security, we at SP’s keenly look forward to a partnership with an objective to build our Strongest Ever Nation.

Having spent five decades in service, we look forward to expanding our dedication and services for upcoming decades. We have had pride in dedicated partnership with government shows including Defexpo, Aero India. Would continue to dedicate our services for all that is good for Our Nation. JAI HIND!

spguidepublications.com

regional / southeast asia

>>

photographs: US DoD, Philippine Army

Philippine Army purchased a development of the M113 in the shape of the Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle (AIFV)

Philippine Army and US Marine Corps troops on a rifle range

ing in other resistance activities. When the US invaded the Philippines in late 1944 support from the Philippine resistance was invaluable in disrupting Japanese defensive measures.

The Philippines achieved independence on July 4, 1946, but the task of post-war reconstruction was immense. As far as the military was concerned reorganisation was necessary and this led to the formation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in 1947, consisting of the Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force, Philippine Navy and the Philippine Constabulary. The Philippine Constabulary is no longer part of the AFP, having been merged with the National Police in the 1990s.

Philippine troops would go on to fight in Korea (1951-53) and would participate in Vietnam in the civil affairs role. The main challenge for the Philippine military

SP_Landforces_264x191_2.indd 1

would be domestic though, with campaigns against Communist insurgents and secessionists taking place from the 1940s through to the present day.

Modernisation & Rebuilding The Philippine Army has a proud history.

However, it is now entering one of the most important periods of its history as it seeks to modernise to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. Years of operations against insurgent and secessionist forces took their toll on the Philippine Army, furthermore the Philippine Army and the rest of the AFP had suffered from years of underfunding.

By the 1990s it was obvious to the military leadership and the politicians that something had to be done. This resulted in a piece of legislation known as the AFP Modernisation Act (Republic Act 7898), the aim here was to provide a legal framework for a

15-year defence modernisation programme.

Although the act came into force in February 1995, it never achieved its objectives due to lack of available funding.

In 2010 a new government came to power in the Philippines under President Benigno Aquino III. The need to take urgent action on defence modernisation was understood, and a revised version of the AFP Modernisation Act (Republic Act 10349) came into effect on December 11, 2012. As before this is a 15-year defence modernisation programme, but unlike before sustained economic growth under the Aquino government is providing the funding necessary to have a real modernisation programme. Additionally an effective and transparent procurement structure is in place to guarantee that programmes deliver what is required.

The Philippine Army had developed its own modernisation strategy known as

the Army Transformation Roadmap 2028 (ATR2028), this was an 18-year duration programme that came into effect in 2010.

The purpose of ATR2028 is to make the Philippine Army a ‘world-class army’ by 2028. Both the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Air Force have their own longterm strategies as well, but they all work in parallel with the overall policy direction imposed by the AFP Modernisation Act. The objective of the AFP Modernisation Act is to allow the AFP to provide a ‘Minimum Credible Defence Posture,’ with this being achieved through the joint creation of a joint force structure that combines land, air and naval forces. To meet this goal, by the time that the third-phase of the 15-year AFP Modernisation Act is completed in 2027, the Philippine Army will have evolved into what Continued on page 4

06/06/2014 18:11

3/2014 SP’s Land Forces

3

E D I T O R I A L

>> regional / southeast asia

At the end of an outstanding but bitterly fought election campaign for 543 seats of the Lok Sabha (Lower House of the Parliament) polls in 2014, the Bhartiya Janata Pary (BJP) Government together with their allies won with a clear majority, 336 seats out of a total of 543 members of Parliament.

The BJP itself also emerged with more than half the seats in the Lok Sabha having successfully won 283 seats out of a total of 543, thus gaining a simple majority by themselves. The BJP Government including the Prime

Minister elect, Narendra Modi and all his ministers were sworn in by the President of India in a mega event held in the Rashtrapati Bhavan (the President of India’s official residence) on May 26, 2014. Nearly 3,000 people from all walks of life attended the event. However the centre of attraction, cynosure of all eyes, was the Prime Minister himself whose brilliantly executed election campaign was still fresh in the memory of the audience witnessing the event worldwide.

In a bid to showcase India’s democracy, the BJP and its allies invited SAARC leaders for the swearing-in ceremony. BJPs leader Arun Jaitley said: “The invitation to all leaders of SAARC nations to be present at the ceremony is to showcase Indian democracy and its strength to the world at large.

It is a democracy event. It should not be viewed through the prism of bilateral issues between countries”. He further said the fact that

India’s neighbours will be represented “reaffirms India’s faith in both democracy and greater integration of the region.”

The nation is thankful that at last we have a Prime Minister who himself works hard and expects other ministers to follow his example and deliver in the field of activity in which they have been placed. It is high time that someone changed the poor work ethics of our public servants whose nuisance value and bad manners are encountered by our citizens in their daily interaction. The working style of the new Prime Minister seems to have been understood by all his ministers and staff. We are told that on the first day itself there was no change in the daily routine of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The day started with yoga and meditation, following which, he reached office at 8:00 a.m. sharp for a packed day ahead. According to media reports, he held a series

of meetings at Delhi’s Hyderabad House with eight South Asian leaders who had attended his oath ceremony. The last of those meetings was with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, in which both leaders, decided that their foreign secretaries would be in touch, or meet, to discuss how to resume talks suspended since January 2013. As per media reports it seems that the Prime Minister did strongly convey his views on terror and raised the issue of the slow pace of the 26/11 trial in Pakistan.

Now let us come closer home to the issues concerning national defence, which are adversely affecting the operational preparedness of the nation. Some of these issues require immediate remedy.

The state of operational preparedness and modernisation of the armed forces is unsatisfactory at a time when our likely adversaries are getting more and more aggressive. Under the circumstances the

new government has a task clearly cut out for them to infuse fresh energy in the armed forces by making up the critical deficiencies and inducting modern equipment, granting additional capital budget for early procurements and pruning down the lengthy procurement procedures, in the first instance. A more detailed paper laying down the “Defence Challenges Facing India” has been included in this issue of the magazine. In addition this issue carries an interview of the Director General of Army Air Defence (DGAAD), an article on the Philippine Army and an article on Urban Warfare among some other topics.

Lt General (Retd) V.K. Kapoor

www.spslandforces.com

The Philippine Army ...continued from page 3 is described as a “Joint Force Land that can perform a wide spectrum of capabilities from peacetime development, to low intensity conflict and to limited conventional war.”

The task of modernising the Philippine Army should not be underestimated, simply because there is so much that needs to be done. On top of that, the Philippine Army finds itself being given missions that in other countries might fall to the air force and the navy, for example the programme to acquire a Shore-Based Missile System, of which more information is given below.

It should be noted that in the first phase of AFP Modernisation Act funding, running through to 2017, that the other services have received far more resources than the Philippine Army. The main Army programmes were the Shore-Based Missile System, the acquisition of communications equipment (VHF 2-5 W handheld radios and HF 50 W vehiclemounted radios), the Rocket Launcher Light and the Night Fighting System (night vision goggles and weapon sights).

In total some $145 million has been allocated for the Shore-Based Missile System, a land-based anti-ship missile system with 12 launcher systems and associated equipment being required. This procurement has high priority and the aim is to complete the acquisition process as quickly as possible, hence only a limited number of bidders will be considered. BrahMos Aerospace of India is seen as a significant contender for this programme, although there is also interest in coastal defence options currently in service in the Scandinavian countries.

The Rocket Launcher Light programme will replace some 186 M18 57mm and M67 90mm recoilless rifles and Airtronic USA has been selected to supply 400 units of its version of the RPG-7 system. However, other infantry weapons procurements are also taking place. Remington Arms of the US has received a contract to supply 63,000 M4 5.56mm rifles (originally the contract was for 50,629 rifles). A total of 100 Serbian M69B 81mm mortars have been acquired via Israel, along with supplies of mortar ammunition.

Other infantry weapons activity is focused on the refurbishment of existing weapons by the Government Arsenal, such as the M16A1 rifle (many of which were manufactured under licence in the Philippines). Over 22,000 smoke and fragmentation grenades have also been acquired, while new body armour is being introduced as well.

Turning to artillery, in early March

4

SP’s Land Forces 3/2014

the 155mm Towed Howitzer Acquisition programme got underway, the aim was to acquire 12 guns, 240 HE rounds and an integrated logistics support package. Programme timetable had the decision to be announced at the end of March with the equipment to be delivered one year later.

Eventually there were only two bidders involved Elbit Land & C4I Systems (Elbit having previously purchased Israeli artillery and mortar specialist Soltam) and BNT Tvornica based in Novi Tvarnik Bosnia Herzegovina. Elbit were awarded the contract, which had a value of $8.43 million, yet photograph: Philippine Army

The Philippine Army received its first M113A1 armoured vehicles in 1967, acquiring a total of some 120 units

Mobility Developments in the Philippine Army Over the years the Philippine Army has acquired a somewhat diverse selection of armoured vehicles. Now as a part of its modernisation efforts it is looking to bring into service new capabilities, while rationalising its legacy vehicle fleet as far as possible.

The US ‘Excess Defense Articles (EDA)’ programme allowed the Philippine Army to acquire 114 M113A2 vehicles from US stocks with deliveries from 2012 onwards. Another acquisition saw the Philippine Army acquire 28 more M113A2 vehicles, which Elbit will upgrade under the terms of a $19.7 million contract. This will result in 14 Fire Support Vehicles (FSV) that will be equipped with a Scorpion tank turret mounting a 76mm gun. Four of the M113A2 will be equipped a 25 mm cannon mounted in an Elbit Remote Control Weapon Station (RCWS), six will have an RCWS mounting a 12.7mm machine gun and four will be configured as armoured recovery vehicles (ARV). All 142 of these M113A2 vehicles will be taken into service with the Mechanised Infantry Division of the Philippine Army.

Legacy armour assets include the survivors of the 120 M113A1 vehicles acquired from 1967 onwards. In the late 1970s a derivative of the M113 in the form of 51 FMC AIFV was acquired, 32 of these vehicles had a turret-mounted 25mm cannon, 13 had a cupolamounted 12.7mm machine gun and six were ARV variants. More recently in 2010 Turkish company FNSS delivered six ACV-300 APCs (with a cupola-mount 12.7mm machine gun) and an ACV-300 ARV, the ACV-300 is itself a development of the FMC AIFV design.

In terms of wheeled armoured vehicles, the GKN Simba, Cadillac Gage V-150/V-150S Commando and the Bravia Chaimite were all acquired in reasonable numbers, but many have been lost in operations and eventually new generation of wheeled armour will be required.

Armoured versions of AM General HMMWV are also in service in the M1025 and M1114 versions. Finally we should mention the fact that the Philippines acquitted some 45 Scorpion light tanks in the late 1970s, many of these were lost in combat. Others had their turrets removed to create M113 FSV systems, the Elbit contract is not the first time that the Philippine Army has acquired FSVs in this manner.

another successful win in the Philippines for the Israeli company. BNT might have other options in the Philippines in connection with a future Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) requirement and they also make a version off the M69B 81mm mortar as used by the Philippines. Currently the Philippine Army has a limited number of Soltam M-71 155mm howitzers and five M114 155mm howitzers in service.

One significant weakness for the Philippine Army, and indeed for the AFP as a whole, is the lack of a viable air defence capability. To resolve this issue a number of air defence programmes are under investigation, including the acquisition of a Manportable Air Defence System (MANPADS) capability. Moving up the scale the AFP is looking at a medium-range air defence capability and has shown interest in the Rafael Spyder system and in the acquisition of the Raytheon HAWK system. At this point both the AFP and the Philippine Army have yet to really define their air defence goals or allocate a procurement budget for this category of weapon system.

The Philippine Army has also moved to upgrade its support vehicle fleet in recent years. KIA of the Republic of Korea has made significant sales of KM-250/KM-450 and KM-500/503 series vehicles. The Philippine Army has also used its access to the US ‘Excess Defense Articles (EDA)’ system to acquire trucks, quantities of M35 2.5 tonne trucks were acquired in 2011 and 2013 to add to the existing fleet, with M939 5 ton trucks being delivered in 2010 and 2013. In addition they are a major operator of the AM General HMMWV vehicle with many hundreds in service in many different variants, including the M997A2 ambulance version, 23 of which were purchased by the AFP and delivered in November 2011, 19 of which are in service with the Philippine Army.

The modernisation process will take many years to complete and will see the Philippine Army look to acquire equipment from a diverse set of suppliers. They will obtain best value by mixing the acquisition of new equipment with efforts to obtain surplus equipment from other sources. In this regard the US EDA system has already proven useful, while interest has been shown in surplus equipment from countries such as Italy, and more recently Israeli surplus equipment has come under consideration. All of which makes the Philippines one of the most active and intriguing defence markets in Southeast Asia at the present time. SP

operations >>

Urban Warfare At tactical levels urban combat in Indian Army is referred to as Built Up Area (BUA) operations, i.e. fighting in towns and cities. Urban combat or BUA operations is very different from combat in the open terrain at both the operational and tactical level. photograph: PIB

 Lt General (Retd) V.K. Kapoor

C

ities have often played key roles in armed conflicts, but more so in political than military terms.

World War II marked a turning point in terms of urban combat. At the start of the conflict, armies tried to move quickly, using motorised and armoured columns to outflank the cities and cut them off from the rear however as the war progressed the towns and cities so isolated could not be captured or cleared for lack of troops and lack of desire on part of the German Army to get bogged down in attacking built-up areas which is costly in terms of time and effort. Later these very cities which held out became the spring board for counter offensives of the Soviet armies.

From 1942 onwards, cities in the East and subsequently also in the West gradually became fully fledged targets and the theatres of decisive battles for example: Stalingrad, Kharkov, Caen, Arnhem, Aachen, Budapest, and Berlin. Let us read a paragraph from BH Liddel Harts history of World War II about Stalingrad in August 1942 to understand the nuances of urban terrain and its impact on the military: “The more closely the Germans converged on the city the more their own power of manoeuvre became cramped, whereas the narrowing of the frontage helped the defender in moving his reserves to a threatened point on the diminished arc.”

So while a city being a major communication centre may offer many advantages, they are a field commander’s nightmare because of the advantages that accrue to the defender.

Although some cities in World War II (for example Warsaw, Amsterdam, and Sedan) were bombed, field armies generally avoided built-up areas, so as not to get bogged down.

Unfortunately, however, this phase was short-lived. The Germans had the advantage in terms of tanks and tactical aviation, and the Allies soon realised that they would not be able to hold their ground in open country.

In addition, from July 3, 1941, onwards, the Soviets implemented a scorched-earth strategy. While it is true that major cities were targets of symbolic value, both the Germans and the Allies carried out strategic bombing raids on cities mainly because of the high concentrations of industrial capacity they contained. Finally, with the need to progress the operations faster, the armies on both sides found themselves increasingly dependent on motor vehicles. Thus avoiding cities – with their major road and rail junctions – became more and more difficult, particularly when it came to supplying forward units.

During the cold war years, the challenge of coordinating operations in a maze of streets – compounded by heavy casualties, massive destruction, and the appalling toll on the inhabitants – led to a tacit consensus that fighting in cities should be avoided.

The majority of clashes in urban areas in the second half of the 20th century were associated with stabilisation operations (Suez, Northern Ireland) or restoring and upholding law and order (Budapest, Prague, Tiananmen), rather than with high-intensity battles.

Rapid Urbanisation at Global Levels There has been rapid and extensive urbanisation at a global level. Forty-eight per cent of the world’s population lived in urban areas

 Respirator providing protection against

A soldier during an assault operation

CS and CN gas and smoke.  Assault vest and harness featuring mag-

azine pouches and rings for attaching stun and tear-gas grenades.  Harness featuring special rings for hooking up to ropes  Radio harness - each assaulter is wired with a radio mic and headset. The headsets also serve as ear defenders to protect against loud noises such as gunfire and explosions. They contain microphones which still allow low decibel external sounds to be heard.

Use of Armour in Urban Terrain

in 2003. It was projected to exceed the 50 per cent mark by 2007 and expected to rise to 61 per cent by 2030. In the Indian context the so-called semi-desert and desert terrain, with a growing network of canals and irrigation channels, is fast becoming urbanised with population centres springing up close to the border which are becoming bigger and bigger every year with a good network of roads and motorable tracks. Thus the geography of desert and semi-desert is undergoing a dramatic change which will impact upon the military operations in such areas.

Open and Urban Terrain Open terrain is terrain which is mostly flat and free of obstructions such as trees and buildings and even natural or man-made obstacles such as rivers and canals. Examples include farmland, and grassland. Even desert and semi-desert terrain terrain can be termed as open terrain. Such terrain is significant in military manoeuvre and tactics as the lack of obstacles makes movement easy and engagements are possible at long range and it allows relative freedom for use of heavy firepower. Such terrain is preferred to close terrain or urban terrain for offensive action as rapid movement makes decisive battles possible.

Complicating factors in urban terrain include the presence of civilians and the fact that it denies mobility and helps the defender and prevents large-scale use of firepower because of the presence of civilians.

Lack of knowledge of the detailed layout of the urban centres including underground passages creates difficulties for the attacker while giving advantage to the defender.

Counter Terror (CT)and Counter Insurgency (CI) Operations Countering terrorists and insurgents in urban terrain once again presents a nightmare because it would be extremely difficult to conduct operations if the insurgents/ terrorists blend with the civilians. In such cases detailed surveillance and intelligence networks have to be established to get information about the location of the terrorists / insurgents. Such networks take time to be established and to be effective and therefore success in such operations is limited at the beginning where as the terrorists/ insurgents can strike at will. Therefore affected nations in the defensive mode invariably suffer greater number of casualties in the

beginning till their intelligence gives them the advantage of proactive offensive operation against suspected hideouts.

Tactics are complicated by a threedimensional environment, limited fields of view and fire because of buildings, enhanced concealment and cover for defenders, belowground infrastructure, and the ease of placement of booby traps and snipers.

Type of Weapons Necessary for CT and CI Operations in Urban Terrain Due to the nature of terrain and the difficulties enumerated above the type weapons that are vital to fighting CI and CT operations are:  Sniper rifles fitted with day and night scopes  Light Weight Assault Rifles with thermal imaging night sights  Corner Shot Rifles: The concept was first developed in Nazi Germany during World War II in the form of the StG44’s Krummlauf, a curved barrel with a mounted mirror developed for urban warfare.  CornerShot

Panzerfaust

(or

CSP):

Debuted at the Eurosatory 2004 military trade show in Paris, a derivative of the system for use against armoured vehicles is designed to fire Panzerfaust anti-tank rockets.  Remington Shotguns loaded with ‘hattan’ rounds designed to shoot off door hinges without putting hostages at risk, stun grenades and tear gas canisters.  40mm Grenade Launchers

Equipment Necessary Some of the equipment considered necessary in special forces trained for CT and CI operations in urban terrain is shown below.

This list is not exhaustive but gives an idea of the type of equipment necessary for such operations:  Flame retardant carbonised viscose undergarments.  One-piece assault suit made of flameretardant Nomex 3  Fireproof knee and elbow pads.  Bullet-proof armoured waistcoat designed to stop a round and also absorb its kinetic energy.  Ceramic armour plates covering the front, back and groin  Armoured helmet able to stop a 9mm round at close range.

It is interesting to read that in a review of armoured forces in Operation Iraq Freedom, four reasons were given for highly successful armoured operations in urban sectors (built-up area operations):  Firstly, tanks are highly resistant to fire In Iraq, the British claimed that one Challenger MBT near Basra absorbed 15 RPG hits without suffering penetration. American tanks and IFVs repeatedly sustained volleys of RPG and IED hits that dismounted soldiers and other light skinned vehicles would not have sustained.  Secondly, tanks and IFVs are the logical choice for leading the advance.

Armoured vehicles are essential because situational awareness (SA) regarding enemy forces is generally poor below the brigade level. In insurgent areas it is not possible to maintain full real-time intelligence on the insurgent forces. There is the added complexity of the insurgency inter-mingling with the civilian population. Hence tanks are the weapons of choice for “advance to contact”. It is observed that an inverse relationship between force protection and situational awareness exists. Where SA is poor, strong armour protection is needed and tanks are ideal for this purpose. Moreover tanks are capable of unleashing accurate and high volume of firepower to kill an opponent hidden in the built up area.  Thirdly, unlike artillery and aircraft which require a longer response time to engage the enemy, tanks and infantry combat vehicles can respond immediately to enemy fire.  Lastly, in urban operations tanks can adopt a variety of tactics and mission oriented groups to effectively deal with changing conditions. Purely dismounted infantry or even infantry combat vehicles cannot match firepower, shock effect, tracked mobility and protection of tanks.

Conclusion Trends indicate that the likelihood of urban operations is increasing in the future.

Whether fighting conventional or unconventional operations we have to be prepared for fighting in urban terrain and therefore we must be equipped and trained for it.

While on one hand we need some specialised infantry weapons for role in urban terrain, evidence has also shown that, with simple modifications, armoured forces too can excel in urban operations, as part of a combined arms team that includes infantry, engineers, artillery, signals, air support, civil affairs and psychological operations. SP

3/2014 SP’s Land Forces

5

>> Interview

‘In the current threat scenario and also in the futuristic scenario, the AD guns will remain very much relevant’

www.spslandforces.com

SP’s Land Forces Team led by Lt General Naresh Chand, Senior Technical Editor of SP Guide Publications, interviewed Lt General V.K. Saxena, Director General of Army Air Defence, Indian Army, in his office at Sena Bhavan. The interview essentially covered the global and regional air threat, the role of army air defence, air defence control and reporting system and equipment issues.

SP’s Land Forces (SP’s): Can you give out the current and the future pattern of air threat globally and how do you relate it to the South Asian Region?

Lt General V.K. Saxena (DGAAD): We are passing through exciting times, wherein the severity and the lethality of the air threat is fast revamping, both qualitatively as well as quantitatively. In the current capability domain, two dimensions of the air threat stand out most conspicuously when compared to the erstwhile. The first of this is the ‘multiplicity of aerial threat vehicles’. In sharp contrast to the erstwhile binary arsenal of aircraft and helicopters as threat platforms, today we have multiple players; viz. the UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), UCAVs (unmanned combat aerial vehicles), attack helicopters, ARMs (anti-radiation-missiles), cruise missiles, SSMs (surface-to- surface missiles) and more, each vying with the other in terms of its lethality.

The second dimension relates to revamping of the arsenal, implying the munitions. Gone are the days of bombs and rockets, mostly unguided, playing out in the visual domain of terminal air defence (AD) weapons; today there is a slew of precision-guided munitions, capable of lethal strikes at long stand-off ranges with submetric accuracy. These are joined by the emerging technological wonders in the form of smart and intelligent munitions, capable of loitering over the battlefield to seek and destroy their targets, much like the ‘hawks in wait’ pouncing on unsuspecting birds of prey. So much so, that the ammunition itself has become a threat vehicle.

As to the futuristic air threat, a couple of trends are becoming visible. The first of these is the emergence of multiple kill options for threat vehicles, that is to say, that apart from the conventional hard kill with missiles, rockets, guns and PGMs (precision-guided munitions), the soft kill options in terms of laser or EW attack on the EM (electro magnetic) muscle of ground-based AD weapon systems (GBADWS) are rapidly becoming possible. Besides this, the threat vehicles are becoming stealthier, as front-line nations are in tough competition to do one better each day in this field. Most visibly of course is a phenomenon wherein the entire threat continuum seems to have been hijacked by the ‘unmanned revolution’. Aircraft manufacturers are coming out with unmanned version of their machines. UAVs are becoming ‘insects-in-swarms’, uncontrollable by contemporary means, and there is much talk of MUMT – the manned and unmanned teaming. The nano-kids in the form of carbon nanoparticles are providing increasing survivability to air threat vehicles. In addition, a great amount of development is taking place in AD BMC2 AD Battle Management Command and Control) system. As I said, we are passing through exciting times.

SP’s: What are the plans at national level to counter the above air threat and what role does the AAD play in executing the national AD plan?

6

SP’s Land Forces 3/2014

on Multi Sensor Tracking (MST), threat prioritisation, weapon selection, threat designation and minute-to-minute control of the AD battle, that a less than perfect AD C and R system will make the best of GBADWS only ‘sub-optimal players’.

With the above understanding, constant efforts are being made to continuously re-vamp the existing AD C and R System. The major features include the transition from net radio/land line to SATCOM domain and bring in a fair degree of automation in threat processing, target data transmission over a hierarchy of AD C and R nodes, as also, the dynamic control of an AD battle. The modernisation of AD C and R on the above lines is progressing well in the AAD environment.

SP’s: What is the status of Akash SAM system?

DGAAD: It is not possible to give you the exact status, suffice to say that the same is progressing well.

DGAAD: While the responsibility of providing air defence (AD) to the national air space is that of the Air Force, the same is executed by all the three Services in the respective domains of their core competencies. Accordingly, the AD means consist of aircrafts, GBADWS and naval AD resources, both on shore and on high seas. In this trio, the AAD provides the ground-based arsenal consisting of guns and VSHORADS (very short range AD system) in the visual domain, coupled with an entire hierarchy of surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), starting from short range (SRSAM) to medium (MRSAM). In this way, the AAD is a major component of the trio of AD arsenal dedicated to defeat the aerial threat from our potential adversaries.

40mm L-70 gun is more than 40 years old.

Same is true of some of the missile systems. What are your plans to modernise the AAD weapon system?

DGAAD: AAD is following a well planned and a well thought out policy of growth.

This policy is progressing along two identifiable tracks, namely upgradation and modernisation. Besides upgradation of major weapon systems, all out efforts are being made to sustain the old and vintage inventory through extensive in-service maintenance and overhaul.

On the other track of modernisation, there is a plan in place to induct new and modern GBADWS. In essence I would say, Army AD is on the cusp of a major modernisation drive.

SP’s: Does it include AD for homeland security?

DGAAD: The AAD resources are deployed based on the perception of appreciated air threat to our vulnerable areas and vulnerable points. Due to security reasons, it is not possible to elucidate whether AAD resources are deployed or not deployed for homeland security duties.

SP’s: What is the progress on AAD management system (termed as AD Control and Reporting)?

DGAAD: We are fully alive to the fact that an AD Battle Management System, conventionally referred to as the AD Control and Reporting (AD C&R) System is the lifeline of the AD battle. In fact, so much is dependent on it for surveillance of airspace, to identification of aerial objects, to their recognition as friend or foe, followed by creation of Recognised Air Situation Picture (RASP) based

SP’s: Majority of the AAD equipment is becoming obsolete/obsolescent e.g. the

SP’s: Do you consider the gun systems relevant in the current and future air threat scenarios?

DGAAD: I do not belong to that school of Subject Matter Experts who propagate, that the days of AD guns are numbered.

The fact is that I belong to the opposite school which propagates that not only in the current threat scenario, but also in the futuristic scenario, the AD guns will remain very much relevant. Their unjammable deterrence in the visual domain is the most effective last line of defence in the continuum of layered and tiered, integrated AD System. Not only that, the guns are proving to be ideal kill weapons against the modern day threat vehicles like UAVs, UCAVs and attack helicopters, as also effective in the counter rocket, artillery and mortar (C-RAM) mode.

Driven by the above thoughts, no gun manufacturer the world over has discarded or made his product obsolete. Also, all calibres are alive. There is no standard calibre.

While the large calibres of Oto Melara and Russian designs are priding themselves in that ‘big punch’ (large quantum of warhead) delivered accurately, the 20mm weapons at the other end of the continuum, are basing their effectiveness on the higher and higher rates of fire (Gattling included).

In between, the technology is playing the game of feeding round-to-round intelligence in each projectile (instant muzzle velocity and resultant time of flight) to defeat smart (stealthy) targets, including the UAVs and UCAVs. SP’s: What are your plans for indigenisation of AD Weapon Systems?

DGAAD: Indigenisation of GBADWS is the constant endeavour of our country in general and DRDO and DPSUs in particular. The beginning has already been made in putting in place indigenous upgrades of GBADWS.

Interview >>

photograph: DRDO

Surface-to-air missile Akash test-fired from the ITR Balasore

Successes are being achieved in making a variety of radars for AAD and putting in place state-of-the-art C and R system.

SP’s: UAVs including armed ones are becoming a real threat. Can you suggest means to counter them?

DGAAD: I have recently written an article titled ‘UAVs-UCAVs All the Way—What the Technology Has for the AD Warrior’.

I feel that the best option to take out the UAV lies in the soft-kill domain by either using the ‘Killer Laser Rays’ or debilitating the SATCOM link between the UAV and its Ground Control Station (GCS). In this field, new and exciting options are emerging to

address the UAV through hacking, phishing or through a variety of cyber attacks.

In the hard kill domain, starting from small arms, terminal AD guns and VSHORADS are considered suitable options to bring down an UAV. In fact, all SAM producers claim that their SRSAMs and QRSAMs (VL-Mica, BAMSE, TOR, Pantsyr etc.) are effective against UAVs/ UCAVs. In an extreme option, precedent exists to launch manned aircrafts against UAVs. Kinetic kill solutions are also available, wherein, a low-cost kill body is put on a collision course to kill a UAV causing catastrophic damage due to the impact, examples are Peregrine Eagle and Cougar.

SP’s: How is realistic training imparted so that personnel of AAD can carry out their operational role effectively?

DGAAD: Imparting realistic training is one of my key result areas. The same is being ruthlessly followed not only in our premier training establishments namely, the Army AD College and Army AD Centre, but also in units and formations. Some key thoughts in imparting realistic training are as under:  Training must be realistic and relate to the actual field conditions, challenges, scarcities and unpredictablities.  Training must be inclusive whereas AAD is seen as a part of the entire fighting

machine and not as an isolated vertical.  The emphasis must be to train the

trainers so that quality trainers trained extensively can proliferate the training ethics in the larger domain.  Every effort must be made to continuously explore, as to how the cutting edge of technology in the domain can be adapted to enhance the quality in the current training regime.  Every effort must be made to exploit the power of simulators and simulation technologies in saving precious operational hours of combat equipment.  Innovation and out-of-the-box thinking must always be welcomed. SP

3/2014 SP’s Land Forces

7

>> south asia / foreign relations

Powering India-China Relations Post the Indian elections in India, Wei Wei, Chinese Ambassador at New Delhi, wrote an Op-ed in the Economic Times titled ‘India’s Economic Takeoff’ outlining China’s hopes for economic cooperation and common development photograph: PIB

 Lt General (Retd) P.C. Katoch “He (Mr Modi) recognizes that China has a sort of quality that attracts and repels. It attracts in terms of its performance and it shows in a sense a mirror image to India of what it could be if everything went right in terms of economic performance.”

—Ashley Tellis of Carnegie Foundation

www.spslandforces.com

D

eclassified American document of 1962 vintage disclose official noting stating “it is in US interests to ensure India and China should never join hands”. That powering India-China relations can boost the Asian century to the next level needs no elaboration. Yet, global power play at geopolitical level must be taken into consideration. That such global power play retards growth of nations and brings immitigable misery upon mankind is well known. Take the example of superpower USA. John Pilger in his article ‘In Ukraine, the US is Dragging Us Towards War with Russia’, dated May 14, 2014, published in The News writes, “Every year the American historian William Blum publishes his ‘updated summary of the record of US foreign policy’ which shows that, since 1945, the US has tried to overthrow more than 50 governments, many of them democratically elected; grossly interfered in elections in 30 countries; bombed the civilian populations of 30 countries; used chemical and biological weapons; and attempted to assassinate foreign leaders”.

He adds, “In many cases Britain has been a collaborator”. Of course there are other global powers that too are indulging in similar acts at varying scales. Syria is the latest case of global power play with horrific misery unleashed on the hapless population by both the opposing sides. Prior to the recent elections in India, Indian scholars visiting think tanks in US and UK were invariably asked the first question whether Narendra Modi, if elected Prime Minister of India, would get closer to China. Post the stupendous win of Modi that gave him absolute majority, Ashley Tellis of Carnegie Foundation has been more cautious in stating, “He (Mr Modi) recognizes that China has a sort of quality that attracts and repels. It attracts in terms of its performance and it shows in a sense a mirror image to India of what it could be if everything went right in terms of economic performance.”

In October 2013, the joint India-China statement outlined the vision for developing an ‘India-China Strategic and Cooperative Partnership for Peace and Prosperity’, main features of the vision being: one, exploring prospects of a bilateral regional trade arrangement (RTA), review negotiations on the regional comprehensive economic partnership (RCEP) and expedite framework agreement for establishing industrial zones to provide platforms of cluster type development for enterprises of both countries; three, review progress of the India-China Study Group on the BCIM (Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar) Economic Corridor and further discussions on concepts and alignment of the economic corridor; four, Special Representatives exploring framework of settlement of the India-China boundary question to continue efforts in that direction; five, recognition of peace and tranquillity on the India-China border as an important

8

SP’s Land Forces 3/2014

Deputy Chief of General Staff (Operations), PLA China, Lt. General Qi Jianguo meeting the Chief of Army Staff, General Bikram Singh in New Delhi

guarantor for the development and continued growth of bilateral relations – the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA) strengthening maintenance of stability on the border; six, defence exchanges and military exercises being important in building greater trust and confidence to continue as agreed to mutually; seven, appreciation of signing MoU on Strengthening Cooperation on Trans-border Rivers, plus agreement to exchange flood-season hydrological data and emergency management, etc; eight, facilitating greater people-to-people contacts and exchanges, supported by sister-city relationships that have been concluded initially on a pilot basis; nine, in addition to marking 2014 as a Year of Friendly Exchanges, India and China to discuss with Myanmar commemoration of 60th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence (Panchsheel); ten, coordination and cooperation in multilateral forums including Russia-IndiaChina, BRICS, and G-20 to jointly tackle global issues such as climate change, international terrorism, food and energy security, and to establish a fair and equitable international political and economic system.

Post the Indian elections in India, Wei Wei, Chinese Ambassador at New Delhi, wrote an Op-ed in the Economic Times titled ‘India’s Economic Takeoff ’ outlining China’s hopes for economic cooperation and common development. More specifically, he wrote about: one, increased Chinese investments in manufacturing sector with ‘Made in China’ global tag and China possessing plenty resources and experience; two, encourage Chinese investors develop Chinese-style industrial parks in India like China has done in ASEAN countries like Cambodia, Indonesia and Vietnam, and since such industrial parks help increase trade balance; three, partnership in developing infrastructure especially efficient

transportation between inland cities and ports with railway transportation (increase speed and loading capacity and upgradation of railway stations) since this will improve efficiency of freight transportation, easing energy shortage in India, accelerate production and improve competitiveness of Indian products; four, combining China’s “Open to the West” with India’s “Look East Policy” to achieve better connectivity with a Sino-Indian railway apart from the BCIM economic corridor and since China has commenced constructing the Trans-Asian High-Speed Railway connecting southwestern China to East Asian countries.

A number of delegations have been exchanged between India and China over the past three years under aegis of the India China Economic and Cultural Council. These were aimed at learning and experiencing how to boost livelihood opportunities with increased income in rural population (by means of develop rural support infrastructure, marketing systems, government policy initiatives and various other interventions.

Interaction meetings between business delegations were organised to further strengthen the understanding of the service outsourcing industry and learn to understand international service outsourcing experience in order to promote the service outsourcing enterprise to develop the outsourcing market. A high level delegation from China Electronics Corporation too visited India. Study tours from India have visited both China and Hong Kong. Several such trade and investment delegations from various industry verticals and Indian states to China in coming months have been planned. A 60-member Indian services sector delegation took part in the Third Chin International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in last week May 2014, showcasing its progress in IT and services sector. This was one of the largest services

sector delegation to visit China in recent years represented by verticals of health care, media, entertainment, IT and tourism, all being priority sectors for cooperation identified by the inter-governmental Joint Working Group on Trade in Services by Commerce Ministries of both sides. Services sector is one of the key areas that India is pressing China to open up its markets, specially IT products, to address the trade deficit stretching to $35 billion in China’s favour. China is sponsoring a visit by a group of Indian journalists to China from June 29 to July 5, 2014 which besides visiting Beijing and Shanghai will also interact with Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Defence Ministry, China institution of international Studies, All-China Journalists Association, China Daily and visit some of military camps.

On the defence cooperation front, there has been progress with the BDCA operationalised, hotlines between the DGMOs agreed upon, and creation of additional border personnel meeting point (BPM) at Kibithu (Arunachal), Damai and Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand)-Qiang and Chushul in Ladakh; Nathu La (Sikkim) and Bum La (Arunachal). Holding small platoon-level tactical exercises between troops along the LAC were also discussed. China is participating in the Fourth India-China Joint Training Exercise (JTE) scheduled in India during November 2014. While the 1962 Sino-Indian War should certainly be buried, there are very many more incidents, incursions and intrusions that have been attempted by the Chinese side including in the last two years. The CCP exercises tight control down to the lowest level, so these incidents are not some adventurous patrols at local levels but obviously part of an overall strategy controlled from the very top. CBMs are not built overnight. These require time but setbacks or unwanted aberrations can

south asia / foreign relations >>

Recognizing threats is our instinct

Empowering your mission is our speciality

Photo credits: Aspheri, D. Benson/Masterfile, Y. Debay -

01 41 37 96 70

Your adversary is fierce. But so is your determination. Which is why we created Caesar®, a new-generation artillery system that delivers the performance, precision and simplicity you need to succeed. With its 6x6 chassis and unique 52-caliber cannon, you’ll experience unparalleled tactical and strategic mobility. You’ll also benefit from enhanced firepower through quicker response, longer range and improved accuracy. Caesar ® is fully autonomous and easy to operate. It supports all types of motorised, mechanised and armoured units, including rapid-deployment forces. Whatever the battlefront or conflict level, Caesar® is a great partner to have on your side.

Nexter Systems www.nexter-group.fr

dislodge progress and keep trust at low level despite resumption in knee jerk fashion. This has occurred time and again from the Chinese side, of which there are many examples.

The ‘India-China Strategic and Cooperative Partnership for Peace and Prosperity’ is stated to follow the Panchsheel, displaying mutual respect and sensitivity to each other’s concerns and aspirations. But Panchsheel is of the Nehru-Zhou era of Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai and whether its application now in the ‘India-China Strategic and Cooperative Partnership for Peace and Prosperity’ will continue to remain mere euphemism as earlier only time will tell.

In March this year, Qin Gang, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, said, “The signal we have sent to our friendly neighbour India is peace and win-win cooperation.”

During the same period, an editorial in China Daily also said, “As long as we do not interfere in others’ domestic affairs, as long as we do not covet others’ territories, as long as we commit our military capabilities to safeguarding peace, as long as we can afford it, we have the right to spend as much as necessary.” Here, two issues mentioned in the China Daily editorial are debatable. First, is the issue of interfering in the domestic affairs of other countries that China denies. China may deny being the source of weapons and equipment to insurgents in India, these being available in the global market, but can China deny giving refuge to Indian insurgents on its soil. It is already proved that the ULFA hierarchy is based in Ruli (China). Then, China has armed the United Wa State Army (UWSA) of Myanmar lethally and that too openly.

China has been providing tacit support to Pakistan’s anti-India jihad. Second, is the

On the defence cooperation front, there has been progress with the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement operationalised, hotlines between the DGMOs agreed upon, and creation of additional meeting points at the border. issue that China does not covet other’s territory? The fact remains that it is only in the past decade that China dug out claims by the erstwhile Kuomingtang (that she overthrew in 1949) and started claiming “Other’s Territories” as Chinese territory. China is in illegal occupation Aksai Chin and Shaksgam Valley and Chinese claims along the LAC have been expanding over the years. Cross LAC incursions have been attempted even after signing of the BDCA last year. In Arunachal Pradesh, China claims Tawang on grounds that Tibetans come to pray at the ancient Tawang monastery but what about the enclaves of Minsar (Men ser), near Lake Mansarovar (Ma pham) which are for annual pilgrimage for all Indians and Bhutanese enclave of Tconsists of Darchen (Dar chen) Labrang etc near Mount Kailash (Gangs rin po che, Ti se) again

used by Bhutanese and Indians for periodic pilgrimage – both these enclaves being under illegal occupation of China? Incidentally, Mount Kailash is the abode of an Indian God as per ancient mythology. The expanded claim to entire Arunachal Pradesh sprung as late as 2005 is highly preposterous. Coming to the claim of South Tibet, if China wants to go back in history, then it cannot go back to a period it desires otherwise the Mongols and Tibetans can start claiming large parts of China itself.

The fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a decisive leader is too well known. He is predicted to bring India out of a decade of plunging economy, stagnation in security (food, health, personal), defence preparedness, employment, energy and environment, besides giving a fillip to foreign policy and international relations.

The world would be watching with interest the changes that would come about in the world’s largest democracy, together with India’s foreign policy and international relations, particularly India-China relations and resultantly its effect on the course that Asia would take. But if Prime Minister Narendra Modi is taking India out of its time wrap, it will be contingent upon President Xi jinping to do likewise and take a call on the CCP changing the old mode of seeking more territory and weigh it against the gains that can accrue by focusing on the issues mentioned herein. Commonsense would indicate that the territorial mindset despite the euphoria of economic might and military muscle will eventually lead to a fate like Nazi Germany and Nazi Germany was luckier in not having turmoil at home like in Xinjiang, Tibet and Inner Mongolia.

China has been making every effort to get to the warm waters of the Indian Ocean through Myanmar and Pakistan. India is directly South and access to Indian ports should be lucrative enough compared to expanding territorial ambitions. India is a subcontinental power and will certainly not subjugate its national security interest in favour of any other country. Mutual understanding of the population of the two ancient civilizations also needs to be worked upon. China with its totally state controlled media is better poised to educate her masses yet only 23 per cent Chinese have a positive view of India whereas 36 per cent Indians view China positively, according to a BBC World Service Poll conducted in 2013.

True powering of India-China relations can happen with closer cooperation between India and China, mutually beneficial to both and which has infinite scope. Today the bilateral trade itself today is lopsided, India’s trade deficit vis-à-vis China having peeked to $35 billion, which must be corrected. Dumping of Chinese goods into the Indian market has shut down many smallscale industries, increasing unemployment.

However, the prospects in industrialisation in both countries are gigantic, as is the scope of Chinese investments in infrastructure in India, as brought out by Ambassador Wei Wei. As it stands today, President Xi Jinping is likely to make an official visit to India later this year. That would be a golden opportunity to kick start a new phase of strategic cooperation, discarding previous practice of ‘carrot and stick’ coercive diplomacy and military muscle flexing. This would benefit both countries immensely, ushering a new chapter in Asia’s history. SP

3/2014 SP’s Land Forces

9

>> marketing feature

In the Spotlight: Destined to Win

www.spslandforces.com

Msta-S self-propelled howitzer Russia will undoubtedly strengthen its positions in the artillery sector of the world arms market by starting promoting its new 155-mm 2S19M1-155 Msta-S self-propelled howitzer. Specialists in the Rosoboronexport arms exporter believe that deep upgrading and conversion to NATO calibre will greatly increase customer interest in one of the most advanced artillery systems.

The new self-propelled howitzer is a profound upgrade of the 152-mm 2S19 Msta-S howitzer in service with the Russian Army since 1989, which showed itself to best advantage in two military campaigns in the Northern Caucasus. It has established a good reputation for high manoeuvrability and fire accuracy. However, despite impressive technical characteristics and combat capabilities, the 152-mm Msta-S failed to gain popularity in the world arms market.

Few countries only have procured small batches of this self-propelled howitzer.

Experts are unanimous in noting that this strange gap in Msta-S exports has been caused by a massive transition from the 152-mm Soviet calibre to 155-mm NATO standard started in the early 1990s. This is why Russia has lost some positions in this market segment. The introduction of the new 155-mm Msta-S must rectify such incongruity.

The new Msta-S has an upgraded targeting and fire control system comprising ballistic computer, topographic survey and orientation system and satellite navigation equipment, designed to provide automatic targeting and data storage for at least 10 fire missions.

The new howitzer can engage targets from closed firing positions and conduct direct fire by day and night and in mountains at elevation angles ranging from - 4 to +70 .

It fires the 155-mm HE M1A4 and HE BB M1A4 NATO-standard high-explosive fragmentation rounds at the range of up to 40 km. Provision is made for firing with the Russian laser-guided projectiles Krasnopol-M2. The automatic projectile and semi-automatic propellant charge loading systems facilitate crew work and provide high rate of fire (up to 6-8 rds/min) at all aiming angles. It means that a battery of eight howitzers can bring down up to three tonnes of projectiles in one minute upon a target. When firing at a maximum range, up to 70 projectiles will be up in the air simultaneously before the first projectile hits the target.

The ammunition allowance is carried in the turret and includes 42 155-mm rounds for the howitzer and 300 12.7-mm cartridges for the anti-aircraft machine gun.

At present the new 155-mm Msta-S howitzer is taking part in the important tender for supplying self-propelled howitzers to the Indian Army.

It surpasses its main competitors by rate of fire and cruising endurance, and at the same time it has smaller size and weight.

In addition, the Russian howitzer can be loaded and fired in the all-round (360 ) sector in relation to the vehicle centerline.

Experts note that the new Msta-S meets all modern requirements and at the same time surpasses the best world prototypes by a number of characteristics.

It is worthy of mentioning that some customers, for instance India, may find it especially important that the Msta-S chassis is very much unified with the chassis of the T-90S main battle tank (which is being successfully manufactured in that country under licence). Thus it facilitates maintenance, repairs and spares delivery.

10

SP’s Land Forces 3/2014

Msta-S self-propelled howitzer

TMT-S mine-clearing device on the BMP-3 chassis

New-generation mine-sweeping equipment Massive use of land mines in wars and armed conflicts, conducting “land mine warfare” necessitate the development of new and improvement of existing minefield breaching devices. Modern engineer equipment is capable of successfully detecting mines, but solving the main task – their neutralization – takes too much time and does not remove threat of explosion. Mineclearing devices are among the safest and most effective means to penetrate minefields and mined terrain areas.

JSC Rosoboronexport is offering its foreign partners a new product – new-generation mine-sweeping equipment. The TMT-S and TMT-K engineer tank mine-clearing devices, adopted by the Russian Land Forces, comprise a set of extra mine-sweeping means providing sweeping for modern and advanced land mines with acoustic, seismic, infrared, magnetic and optical fuzes as well as provide destruction of mine (ground bomb) explosion control wirelines.

The TMT-S mine-clearing roller is designed to breach lanes in minefields. It has three staggered roller sections. Each section includes five rollers mounted in two

rows and kinematically connected between each other through side bars. Such a solution provides a dynamic link between rollers in the section and damps explosion energy taken by one roller through the weight of the whole equipment of the section. Rollers in the sections are installed with a minimum clearance between the adjacent rollers which enables anti-tank and antipersonnel mines with fuzes having small pressure plates to be swept. The rollers move freely relative to each other, due to a pivot connection of suspension parts, thus providing more accurate following of terrain accidents. The mine-clearing roller provides a continuous sweeping lane 3.9 m wide.

Its frame carries the EMT electromagnetic attachment designed for sweeping mines with proximity magnetic fuzes. In fact, the electromagnetic attachment is an independent mine-clearing device. When power on, electromagnets generate an alternating electromagnetic field in front of the tank which is equivalent to the magnetic field of a tank, resulting in an explosion of mines with magnetic fuzes before the tank approaches them. The width of the swept lane is 4 meters.

During the use of a cluster device with

automatic dispensing of radiating elements intended for sweeping side-hitting mines, pyrotechnic cartridges are fired creating false acoustic and infrared targets. Mines with seismic, infrared or acoustic fuzes are triggered at a distance up to 100 m by ground vibration arising when a vehicle with a mine-clearing device moves and the dispensed pyrotechnic cartridges radiating intensely in the infrared band and generating acoustic radiation trigger.

Cutters-grubbing ploughs are installed in front of the frame. The grubbing ploughs are moved from traveling to working position and back by a mine-clearing roller’s pneumatic system. In working position, the grubbing ploughs are buried in the ground and break mine and ground bomb control wirelines with their knives. The limit depth of cutting a firing wire with cutters-grubbing ploughs is 270 mm.

The TMT-K is a track-width mine plough equipped with a special net attachment for continuous sweeping for scatterable mines in addition to extra equipment similar to that used on the KMT-S. The TMT-K is also fitted with a weight transfer mechanism for additional loading of its working elements that provides increased load under the rollers through transfer of part of weight of the basic vehicle. The weight transfer mechanism helps adjust load under the rollers depending on the soil condition and type and mine laying method (standard or sabotage with a buried fuze pressure plate), which improves minesweeping efficiency, increases travelling speed and maneuverability of the tank with a mine-clearing device.

The design features of the TMT-K provide high-performance minesweeping operations in rough terrain, including on rises, falls and hillsides through an increased lower terrain following limit and individual roller suspension. Spring and pneumatic shock absorbers additionally dissipate mine explosion energy and reduce dynamic loads transmitted by sweeping equipment to the tank.

Both the mine-clearing devices provide emergency uncoupling, changeover of grubbing ploughs from traveling to working position and lane marking without the crew leaving the vehicle. SP

south asia / strategy >>

Indian Prime Minister’s Splendid Initiative – Rejuvenating SAARC photograph: PIB

 Lt general (retd) P.c. katoch

P

rime Minister Narendra Modi deserves all the praise for inviting heads of governments/ head of states of all the seven countries that form part of SAARC (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) in addition to India, for installation of his new government on May 26. Additionally, the Prime Minister of Mauritius too was invited though Mauritius is not part of SAARC. This splendid initiative by Modi provided an informal platform for all the heads of SAARC to interact on the sidelines of the oath-taking ceremony by the new government, especially since the progress of SAARC has been somewhat stymied under the shadow of fluctuating Indo-Pak relations.

Narendra Modi is opening a new chapter in India’s history; bringing India out of the decade old time wrap of plunging economy, stagnation in security (food, health, personal), defence preparedness, employment, energy and environment, besides giving a fillip to foreign policy and international relations. Ushering in a sense of nationalism casting aside caste, creed and divisive politics remains a priority for him, no easy task with the region afflicted with politics of all hues. If some Tamil groups protested against the invite to the Sri Lankan President, the same Tamil groups had termed the Indian Peace Keeping Force fighting the LTTE on request of Sri Lanka as traitors. If the main political party of the past Indian Government is protesting against the invitation to the Pakistani Prime Minister, the erstwhile government’s policy itself was being termed as geopolitical prostrating.

But as far as SAARC is concerned, particularly Indo-Pak relations, if Narendra Modi is taking out India from its time wrap, so needs to be done by Nawaz Sharif if the region is to prosper. The stranglehold of the military-ISI over Pakistan is well known, together with their links with terror outfits. The latest example has been the persecution of Geo TV for having exposed the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)-Taliban links including killings of two of its journalists. The military sure has an important role in Pakistan’s internal dynamics but while giving it due importance, it will somehow have to be convinced that its power is better utilised in curbing terror, not spawning it and that in doing so the military can still remain in prominence that she seeks.

Curbing terror and kick-starting trade and industrial cooperation would greatly benefit both countries, as well as the region. In fact, establishment of the South-South Corridor (Eurasia-CAR-Afghanistan-Pakistan-IndiaSouth Asia-SE Asia) together with the TAPI and IPI pipelines can bring unimaginable prosperity and gains to the region. Accepting the invitation was a great reciprocal gesture by Nawaz Sharif. It would be equally good for the Pakistani military-ISI to desist firing along the line of control (LoC), terrorist actions, cross-border raids, etc, as has been the experience particularly during visits by Pakistani hierarchy to India.

With the eyeball-to-eyeball deployment along the LoC, the Pakistani Army is very much in position to prevent such incidents.

Unfortunately, even as Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was being feted and applauded at the Rashtrapati Bhavan fore-

The President of India Pranab Mukherjee, the Vice President Mohd. Hamid Ansari and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the Heads of SAARC countries after the swearing-in ceremony on May 26, 2014

court during the swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister, Pakistan Rangers twice violated ceasefire on May 26, firing several sniper shots at Indian posts, with the second violation at around 6.15 p.m. just when the oath-taking ceremony was on in New Delhi.

Of course Afghan President Hamid Karzai has confirmed that it was the LeT that attacked the Indian mission in Herat.

Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) is well known as the covert arm of ISI and one wonders if Nawaz Sharif was aware of this fact before he flew to India. Nevertheless, J&K is a vexed issue that cannot be resolved in quick time and by force. It is time to keep it aside and get on with economic cooperation to uplift the masses, keeping in mind the question Modi raised during an interview, that ‘can you talk when bombs are exploding close by?’

This was also conveyed by Modi to Nawaz Sharif quite frankly during their 50-minute meeting on May 27.

Hamid Karzai also attended the ceremonies. India and Afghanistan have a historic and deep relationship and the strategic partnership has also been reviewing threats to the region post the withdrawal of US-NATO troops from Afghanistan. The fact that terror flowing out from Pakistan threatens the region particularly India, Afghanistan and to some extent even China is no secret.

Stability as well as reconciliation and reconstruction of Afghanistan are vital issues that require continued regional and international efforts and sincerity. Afghanistan needs to be assisted economically to become self-sufficient, which is possible with its enormous unexplored natural resources albeit this is only possible if peace prevails.

Logically, if Pakistan is actually unable to control the radical factories, especially ones in difficult areas running in autonomous mode, she needs to look for ways in the manner Boko Haram is being tackled by the international community.

India-Bangladesh relations are close especially under the Sheikh Hasina Government. Bangladesh does have large population and illegal immigration, unresolved border demarcation and water sharing are issues that need to be tackled. Sheikh

Hasina was visiting Japan on May 26 but she was represented by Shirin S. Chudhury, Speaker of Bangladesh Parliament, and dialogue between the two countries is sure to be speeded up. In fact, complete border demarcation and comprehensive water sharing agreement should have been completed years back. Bangladesh is seriously battling radicalisation and terror.

Major anti-India terrorist camps run during the previous regime have been shut down though minority persecution and terrorist atrocities against them by radicals persist.

Illegal immigration is a grave issue though the previous Indian Government remained intransigent because of creating vote bank politicking. By May 2012, India reportedly already had some 40 lakh Rohangiyas as illegal immigrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh spread in various states including in Jammu region of J&K. Prior to liberation of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rehman had written in his book on East Pakistan thus, “Because Eastern Pakistan must have sufficient land for expansion, Eastern Pakistan must include Assam to be financially and economically strong”. But this does not have to be taken literally. Take a modern city like Tokyo that houses 9.58 per cent of entire population of Japan where Japan has little natural resources, 70 per cent being under forest (which they don’t cut) and small amount of arable land. Yet industrialisation has made Japan an economic giant.

Similarly, Seoul houses one-fifth of the population of Republic of Korea which again has limited natural resources, small arable land and cold climate that restricts farming.

Both India and Bangladesh have abundant natural resources and economic-industrial cooperation can lift both economies and help management of social change.

Bhutan and Nepal are both India’s Himalayan neighbours and being landlocked need special attention and cooperation from SAARC members. Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay of Bhutan and Prime Minister Sushil Koirala both attended the swearing-in ceremonies. Bhutan has had a remarkable transition to democracy initiated and executed by the King himself, the term Gross National Happiness (GNH) hav-

ing been coined by the monarchy to define an indicator and concept that measures quality of life or social progress in more holistic and psychological terms than only the economic indicator GDP. Nepal has had to contend with a long Maoist insurgency that has thankfully subdued the militant content. Populace of Bhutan and Nepal belong to traditional ancient civilisations.

Both countries have abundant hydro power that can contribute to a SAARC grid and excellent tourism potential that can facilitate people to people contacts.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka too attended. India-Sri Lanka relations are ancient and historic albeit the issue of devolution of power to the Tamils in Sri Lanka, who have close relations to Southern India, is yet to be adequately resolved despite many intricacies. Indo-Sri Lanka relations are becoming important also because of the growing power rivalry in the Indo-Pacific region. Economic relations between both countries are strong and there is tremendous scope to expand them further. Similarly, India-Maldives relations and India-Mauritius have been historic.

President Abdula Yameen of Maldives and Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam of Mauritius both attended the swearing-in.

Maldives and Mauritius are tourist paradises. Both are strategically important by virtue of their location in the India Ocean region, including proximity to India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Both countries need the cooperation of SAARC countries, also to ensure they do not get subjected to terrorism.

What SAARC needs to seriously debate upon is how global powerbrokers have destroyed country after country, ravaging their land, population and resources for their own individual interests, using terrorism, proxy forces, conventional and even chemical and biological forces without compunction, extracting financial gains in the aftermath as well through sale of arms and reconstruction projects. Opening a fresh chapter in SAARC cooperation setting aside prejudices can bring in a wave of prosperity in the region, taking the Asian Century to the next level. SP

3/2014 SP’s Land Forces

11

focus / india

New Leadership The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which has come to form the government on a development plank has begun in right earnest. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leading from the front in providing a stable, strong and sustainable government, having initiated measures to give the economy a much-needed vibrancy. Here are some of the key-players...

>>

Raj Nath Singh Minister of Home Affairs Raj Nath Singh (born July 10, 1951) is the Minister of Home Affairs in the Narendra Modi Government. He is also the President of Bharatiya Janata Party. Raj Nath Singh was born in a small village of Bhabhaura in Chandauli district of Uttar Pradesh in a Rajput family. He holds a masters degree in physics, acquiring first division results from Gorakhpur University. He was the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh from October 18, 2000, to March 8, 2002.

Sushma Swaraj Minister of Extrenal Affairs Sushma Swaraj (born February 14, 1952) is India’s first woman External Affairs Minister.

She has been elected seven times as a Member of Parliament and three times as a Member of the Legislative Assembly. She is an advocate by profession and educated at S.D. College, Ambala Cantt (Haryana), and Law Department, Panjab University, Chandigarh.

She was re-elected from Vidisha in 2014.

Arun Jaitley Minister of Finance and Minister of Defence Arun Jaitley (born December 28, 1952) is currently the Minister of Finance, Minister of Corporate Affairs and an additional charge as the Minister of Defence. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He is currently a Rajya Sabha member from Gujarat and was chosen as the leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha on June 3, 2009. Jaitley passed his law degree from the University of Delhi in 1977. He is a well-known lawyer, known for his sharp reasoning and oratory.

Inderjit Singh Rao Minister of State for Defence Inderjit Singh Rao (born February 11, 1951) is Minister of State for Defence in the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also holds an additional portfolio of Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Planning and Statistics and Programme Implementation. He represents Gurgaon constituency in Haryana and is a prominent leader of the Ahir (Yadav) community.

Narendra Modi Prime Minister of India Narendra Damodardas Modi (born September 17, 1950) India’s 15th Prime Minister, is one of independent India’s most popular leaders. A ‘transformational leader’ known for delivering results, he is an embodiment of courage, conviction and compassion. His por tfolios include Prime Minister; Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions; Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space; all important policy issues and all other portfolios not allocated to any Minister.

Born into a humble family in Vadnagar, Gujarat, Modi has lived his life by the principle of Antyodaya or ‘serving the farthest’.

Through his impeccable track record as a Chief Minister, Modi secured three consecutive two-third majority mandates for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Gujarat in 2003, 2007 and 2012 Assembly elections. And in 2014, people of India have overwhelmingly reposed their faith in him giving him a historically decisive mandate to take the nation forward.

In his over 12 years tenure as the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Modi brought about paradigm shift in the lives of the people in Gujarat by delivering ‘Pro-active Pro-people Good Governance’. Gujarat has maintained over 10 per cent GDP growth rate for over a decade now. He is now poised to do the same for the nation at large with the mantra ‘Minimum Government – Maximum Governance’.

Modi has reached the pinnacle by sheer hard work, determination, extreme focus and a strong character. The beginnings have been humble and his first brush with the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) was at the tender age of eight when he would attend the local youth meetings of the RSS. At the age of 20, he arrived in Ahmedabad where he became a Pracharak in 1972, devoting full time to the RSS. In 1987, he joined the BJP and it was on October 7, 2001, he was asked to take over as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. Modi, who started his journey as a party worker, has risen to the topmost post in the country because of his almost virtuoso like organisational sense and his keen ability to deconstruct and efficiently construct any job given to him.

Kiren Rijiju Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju (born November 19, 1971) is a resident of Nafra, Arunachal Pradesh. He graduated from Hansraj College, New Delhi, and then studied law at the Campus Law Centre, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi. He is currently a Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) representing the Arunachal Pradesh west constituency. He was appointed as Minister of State for Home Affairs by Narendra Modi.

Ajit Kumar Doval National Security Advisor Ajit Kumar Doval, former Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief, has been appointed as the National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The appointment of the 69-year-old former head of IB to the post of NSA is one of the first key appointments made by the new BJP Government. Doval is an IPS officer of the 1968 batch from the Kerala state cadre.

3/2014 SP’s Land Forces

13

>> focus / india

Defence Challenges Facing India The Service Headquarters function as attached offices to the Ministry of Defence, working under archaic and outmoded rules of business photograph: Indian Army

 Lt General (Retd) V.K. Kapoor

I

t is an accepted fact that when a government faces crises over which there is a public clamour or which is causing embarrassment, it resorts to establishing a committee to examine the issue which delays the decision making and once the urgency dies down, public memory being short, then the issue is buried quietly. Quite often even the observations on committee’s recommendations by various agencies are orchestrated through media so that the uncomfortable reforms are held in abeyance. This has been experienced so often that it is no surprise that the key reforms recommended by the Kargil Review Committee on February 23, 2000, and subsequently the Group of Ministers (GoM) on February 26, 2001, remained unaddressed.

The two key reforms not implemented are, the lack of integration of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) with service professionals and the non- establishment of the post of a Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). In the meanwhile, in the past decade or so, many more problems have cropped up which have adversely affected the operational readiness of the armed forces for future conflicts. The silver lining is that a new government has taken over and the dynamism of the new Prime Minister is well known and therefore even in the defence sector we expect some urgently needed reforms to take place if we have to face future defence challenges confidentally. We are also fortunate that the Defence Ministry has been given to a senior and a highly versatile Minister who can bring about the urgently needed reforms.

www.spslandforces.com

Naresh Chandra Committee By mid-2011, the large number of legal complaints in the various courts against the MoD on pay and allowances discrepancies, defence procurement scams, deteriorating civil-military relations and the increasing threat perception from our adversaries China and Pakistan, led the UPA II to establish the Naresh Chandra Committee (NCC), a 14-member task force on national security on June 21, 2011, to suggest ways to revamp of defence management in the country. The main objective behind the constitution of the committee was to contemporise the Kargil Review Committee’s Report. Besides, the task force was also asked to examine the state of country’s border management.

The Committee submitted its report to the government on August 8, 2012. The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh turned it over to the National Security Council (NSC) Secretariat for processing its recommendations and presenting them to the Cabinet Committee on Security. Manoj Joshi, a well-known journalist who writes on strategic and security issues and who was member of the NCC, had this to say in his article “Shutting His Ears to Change” on November 22, 2013, in Mail Today: “This writer was a member of the task force, but has had little or no official information on its status since then. But the bureaucratic grapevine suggests that the report is on its way to meet the fate of other similar endeavours: get shelved.”

The salient recommendations of the Naresh Chandra Committee included a large number of issues and among them were the two issues affecting the efficient functioning of the Services and the MoD

14

SP’s Land Forces 3/2014

namely, appointing a permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and promotion of synergy in civil-military functioning to ensure integration, to begin with, the deputation of armed services officers up to director level in the MoD and then progressively up to joint secretary’s level which had been also recommended by the earlier Arun Singh Committee on Defence Expenditure.

Even the Standing Committee for Defence of 14th Lok Sabha had ‘strongly’’ recommended the change in MoD staffing patterns to ensure armed forces were ‘‘intrinsically involved in national security management and apex decision-making process’’. The recommendations were rejected by the MoD and the Government.

The Inefficiency of the MoD The inefficiency of the MoD in the past few years can be visualised from the letter written by General (Retd) V.K. Singh, the former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), to the Prime Minister on March 12, 2012, which was deliberately leaked to the media. It highlighted that the mission reliability of mechanised vehicles was poor, the artillery was obsolete and inadequate, air defence was antiquated, armour was unreliable due to regular barrel accidents caused by mismatch between indigenous barrels and ammunition, night-fighting devices were insufficient, aviation corps helicopters needed urgent replacements, and holdings of all types of missiles, anti-tank and specialised ammunition was critically low.

Thus pointing out the lack of preparedness to fight and win wars on the battlefields of the 21st century. Thanks to an indifferent Defence Minister and an uncaring bureaucracy the situation still remains more or less the same.

Anit Mukherjee wrote an interesting piece in The Hindu on July 17, 2012, bringing out the ills of the MoD and the Services. He wrote: “Most informed analysts know about the deficiencies stemming from higher defence mismanagement, but the leak of General V.K. Singh’s letter to the Prime Minister made this public. The other controversies around civil-military relations revealed the crisis of confidence

and trust deficit between military officers and civilian bureaucrats in the Ministry of Defence. Union Defence Minister A.K. Anthony admitted as such when he referred to the ‘bitterness’ between them.”

Reforms Needed While many reasons can be attributed to above state of affairs— including the controversies over the past Pay Commissions, structural problems that exist at the national level, inefficiency if Defence Public Sector Units (DPSUs), inability of our R&D to provide modern weaponry to our armed forces, inability to fast track weapon procurement arising from quaint and archaic rules and regulations and mind sets in the bureaucracy and the military along with logic defying rules of business.

We feel that the major reforms needed are as under:  Integration. The integration of the Ministry of Defence with the Service Headquarters. The latter function as attached offices, working under archaic and logicdefying rules of business. There is no representation of the uniformed community in the Ministry of Defence. Thus it lacks professional competence in the business in which they are placed. Cross attachments are vital for efficiency.  Rules of Business. The current Rules of Business names the Defence Secretary as the person in charge of operational readiness of the armed forces. This is an outlandish rule and needs to be amended at the earliest. A collective responsibility involving the Defence Minister and Service Chiefs must be established.

This should lead to additional financial powers for the three Chiefs and their accountability.  Theatre Commands. Within the services the absence of theatre commands with joint staff in which the services themselves are integrated for planning and conduct of operations along with an ineffective Chiefs of Staff Committee have led to a system of planning for operations, service wise. The so-called operational “jointness” practised by the Services, is operationally inefficient and

encourages single service planning, a culture which prevails till today.  Higher Defence Structures. Successive governments have neglected to reform the higher defence structures and their linkage to the National Security set up of the country. The Chiefs of Staff of the three services function outside the national security planning structure.  National Security Strategy. The lack of a well articulated National Security Strategy is another area of concern.

This compels the services to establish their own concepts and doctrines in this regard which may at times contradict the national security policies.  Revamp DRDO and its 50 labs, five defence PSUs, four shipyards and 39 ordnance factories. Encourage the private sector to enter arms manufacturing in a major way. India, embarrassingly, still imports 65 per cent of its military hardware and software.  Procurement Procedures. Refine the cumbersome arms procurement procedures to fast-track acquisitions and reduce corruption. Projects for new submarines, howitzers, fighters, helicopters, night-fighting capabilities, air defence weapons and small arms acquisitions have been stuck for years due to politico-bureaucratic apathy.  Infrastructure in the East and Moun-

tain Strike Corps. Ensure faster raising of the new Mountain Strike Corps as well as hastening of military infrastructure like the long-identified 73 strategic roads and 14 railway lines, helipads and advance landing grounds, along the Line of Actual Control to counter China.  Create New Commands and Boost

Andaman and Nicobar Command.

Boost force-levels and infrastructure at Andaman and Nicobar Command, apart from creating three new tri-Service commands for space, cyber and special operations.  Nuclear Triad. Complete India’s nuclear weapons triad by faster induction of nuclear submarine INS Arihant and its follow-on sister ships with long-range missiles. Land and air legs are already in place with Agni ballistic missiles and fighter-bombers.  Defence Budget. Hike budgeted defence expenditure to at least 2.5 per cent of GDP, instead of letting it wallow around just 1.7 to 1.9 per cent, for adequate military modernisation and requisite deterrence against both China and Pakistan. Cut the flab in the armed forces, improve the teeth-to-tail ratio.

Conclusion It seems that our MoD is not willing to accept any change. They wish to retain their powers, perks and privileges. They seem quite happy with the inefficient, incompetent, and wasteful system that has developed since independence and is still prevailing. Reforms suggested by the Kargil Review Committee or later the Naresh Chandra Committee have been similarly rejected on frivolous grounds and it is unfortunate that the political hierarchy has been accepting this negative approach of MoD towards National Defence. We hope that Modi government shows firmness of resolve to institute the long pending reforms in the MoD. SP

focus / india

>>

A Relook at the Chief of Defence Staff/Permanent Chairman COSC The Naresh Chandra task force on national security set up by the UPA Government in June 2012, in its report recommended a permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee to exercise “administrative control” over the nuclear arsenal, head a separate joint special forces command, prioritise modernisation of the armed forces and prepare annual defence operational status reports.  Lt General (Retd) V.K. Kapoor

I

n 1999, the Kargil Review Committee headed by the late K. Subrahmanyam had been asked to “review the events leading up to the Pakistani aggression in the Kargil District of Ladakh in Jammu & Kashmir; and, to recommend such measures as are considered necessary to safeguard national security against such armed intrusions.” Though it had been given a very narrow and limited charter, the committee looked holistically at the threats and challenges and examined the loopholes in the management of national security. The committee was of the view that the “political, bureaucratic, military and intelligence establishments appear to have developed a vested interest in the status quo.’’ It made far-reaching recommendations on the development of India’s nuclear deterrence, higher defence organisations, intelligence reforms, border management, the defence budget, the use of air power, counter-insurgency operations, integrated manpower policy, defence research and development, and media relations. The committee’s report was tabled in Parliament on February 23, 2000.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) appointed a Group of Ministers (GoM) to study the Kargil Review Committee report and recommend measures for implementation. A comprehensive systemic overhaul of the country’s security and intelligence apparatus in keeping with the technological revolution and the need for integrated management structures was unfolded by the GoM in a report submitted by them to the Prime Minister on February 26, 2001.

The GoM under the Chairmanship of L.K. Advani also included the Defence Minister, External Affairs Minister and Finance Minister. The GoM held 27 meetings in all. In order to facilitate its work, it had set up four task forces one each on Intelligence Apparatus, Internal Security, Border Management and Management of Defence. These task forces were multidisciplinary in character and were made up of acknowledged experts.

Arun Singh Committee on Defence Expenditure The Arun Singh Committee on Defence Expenditure recommended the creation of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) post since the existing system of Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) had not been able to deliver on important issues. The committee recommended that the CDS should be created for carrying out four main functions:  Providing single-point military advice  Administer strategic forces.  Ensuring jointness in the armed forces.  Enhance planning process through interservice coordination and prioritising.

The CCS considered the GoM report on 11th May, 2001 and accepted all recommendations contained in the GoM report except that of the creation of a CDS. It seems that there was opposition to creation of the CDS both from within the armed forces as well as by the politico-bureaucratic combine.

While some in the military felt their identity

might get swamped, bureaucratic resistance stemmed from the feeling that the CDS may become more powerful than the Cabinet Secretary. The political hierarchy, meanwhile, felt apprehensive about too much power vested in one person. As a result, while a majority of the recommendations were implemented, including the creation of a fullfledged office of the integrated defence staff comprising almost 200 officers, its head, the CDS, has not been put in place till date. Lack of political consensus on the issue has been cited as the reason for non-implementation.

Naresh Chandra Committee Naresh Chandra Committee, a 14-member task force on national security, was set up by the UPA Government on June 21, 2012, to suggest ways to revamp of defence management in the country. The reasons can be attributed to the large number of legal complaints in the various courts against the MoD on pay and allowances discrepancies, defence procurement scams and the threat perception from our adversaries China and Pakistan. The main objective behind the constitution of the committee was to contemporise the Kargil Review Committee’s Report, which was tabled in the Parliament on February 23, 2000. Besides, the task force was also asked to examine the state of country’s border management. The Committee submitted its report to the government on August 8, 2013. The 14-member Naresh Chandra task force on national security, in its report recommended a permanent chairman of COSC to exercise “administrative control” over the nuclear arsenal, head a separate joint special forces command, prioritise modernisation of the armed forces and prepare annual defence operational status reports.

as some other “critical reforms” desperately needed to reform the country’s higher defence management that were suggested by the Naresh Chandra task force.

The Way Ahead The new government should accord priority to creating a permanent Chairman of the COSC. Modern warfare demands true operational integration of the three services to win wars in the future and this is not going to come about through the type of “ jointmanship” being practised at present. It will require political will to compel the services to be truly joint in their planning and conduct of future wars. This will demand some radical changes at the higher operational levels and the Chairman with the powers vested in him by the government could set the ball rolling. This will not only ensure operational efficiency but will also be cost effective. The Permanent Chairman COSC by virtue of his appointment will have no allegiance to any service and must be given the status to implement the political directions in this regard. Therefore he will have to be the first among the “equals”.

With finite capital budgets it is imperative that the capital budget be prioritised to

acquire capabilities for the armed forces and not merely add new weapon systems to the inventory of each service. By a thorough professional audit we will avoid duplication in acquiring capabilities.

Some of the roles that may be given to the permanent Chairman COSC are as under:  Exercise “administrative control” over the nuclear arsenal,  Head a separate joint Special Forces Command.  Ensure jointness in the armed forces.  Exercise administrative control over all joint services commands such as the Andaman and Nicobar Command; Strategic Forces Command; Cyber Command (when created); Aerospace Command (when created).  Prioritise allocation of capital budgets for acquiring vital capabilities for the armed forces.  Prepare annual defence operational status reports.  Will be an “invitee” to the Cabinet Committee on Security and the National Security Council as well as advise the Defence Minister on all matters concerning two or more Services. SP

Permanent Chairman of COSC Currently the COSC is a forum for service chiefs to discuss matters having a bearing on the activities of services and to advise the ministry. Its members include Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), and Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CISC) who is a non-voting member. The position of chairman devolves on the longest serving Chief of Staff and rotates amongst the chiefs of the three services. However, it has no powers to take any strategic or administrative decision.

The permanent Chairman COSC, a fourstar general like the Army, Navy and IAF chiefs who currently constitute the panel, was to also be an “invitee” to the Cabinet Committee on Security and the National Security Council (NSC) as well as advise the Defence Minister on all matters concerning two or more Services.

Just as the the politico-bureaucratic combine had scuttled the recommendation for a CDS after the 1999 Kargil conflict, the Defence Ministry has expressed major reservations against the fresh proposal for a permanent COSC Chairman as recommended by the Committee. Sources said the MoD, in its comments to the NSC Secretariat under the PMO, virtually rejected the creation of a permanent Chairman COSC post as well Untitled-3 1

17/08/12 5:31 PM

3/2014 SP’s Land Forces

15

>> show preview / eurosatory 2014

Technologies to the Fore Defence exhibitions across the world attract considerable attention, but one which is a must attend is Eurosatory held biennially in Paris. The reason is simple: some of the best and latest technologies are showcased here and one gets a worldwide perspective with regard defence over here. photographs: Eurosatory

 R. Chandrakanth

the products are definitely on the same technological continuum. Eurosatory has taken these developments on board and now invites new categories of defence and security product buyers. The markets of the future are without any shadows of doubt Southeast Asia and Latin America.

T

he Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has pointed to a steep increase in military spending by nations including Russia, China, India, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Britain, Germany, France and Japan. Though in 2013, the global military spending was $1.7 trillion, a decrease of nearly two per cent from 2012, the broader trend has been several countries are spending more on arms.

As per SIPRI, the two per cent drop has been attributed to budgetary cuts in military spending in the United States, still the top spender in the world. The United States alone is responsible for more than one-third of all military spending. Meanwhile, China, Russia and Saudi Arabia sharply increased their spending between 2012 and 2013.

Beijing invested 7.4 per cent more in its armed forces, bringing its total budget to $188 billion. Saudi Arabia rose from seventh to fourth in the world. In 2013, its military expenditures totalled $67 billion, an increase of 14 per cent from the previous year.

SIPRI report also noted stark growth in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Middle East as the West spent less.

The head of SIPRI’s military expenditure programme, Sam Perlo-Freeman, said the causes stemmed from more than one factor. “In some cases it is the natural result of economic growth or a response to genuine security needs,” Perlo-Freeman said. “In other cases it represents a squandering of natural resource revenues, the dominance of autocratic regimes or emerging regional arms races.”

Africa – led by oil-and-gas-rich nations Algeria and Angola — spent more than any region in 2013 with a total increase of 8.3 per cent year-on-year. Meanwhile in Asia, China’s bolstering of its military, combined with territorial disputes with neighbouring countries, prompted Japan, the Philippines and Vietnam to also spend more.

www.spslandforces.com

Russia Outspends US SIPRI ranked Russia number three on its list, noting that it had invested a greater percentage of its GDP in its military in 2013, beating out the US for the first time in a decade. Moscow spent 4.1 per cent of its GDP on its armed forces, barely overtaking Washington, which spent only 3.8 per cent of its GDP on the same sector. Perlo-Freeman said a slowing of economic growth could reverse this trend.

“The goal of building up military capability has been seen as more urgent [by Moscow] since the Georgia war in 2008, which revealed serious shortcomings in Russia’s military technology and readiness,” he said.

And, now the Ukraine crisis. “[However] the economy is a key factor, including especially oil and gas prices,” he added. “Many observers believe that the State Armaments Plan is based on over-optimistic economic projections, so that this may act as something of constraint on the rate of increase of military spending.”

Moscow’s deployment of troops along its south-western border with Ukraine has worried Western leaders, who are trying to de-escalate tensions between Russian Presi-

16

SP’s Land Forces 3/2014

The Air-land to the Exhibition Heart ALAT (French Army Light Aviation) has chosen Eurosatory for its 60th anniversary celebration, thus boosting the airland aspect of the fair. Aviation delegations from many countries are participating in the event.

International Meetings

Airbus Helicopters’ EC645 T2 on display

dent Vladimir Putin and the transitional government in Kyiv. The SIPRI report noted that the perceived threat of Russian military aggression could also have an influence on EU military spending, which has dropped in the face of the eurozone crisis.

Lack of Transparency in Middle East In 2013, military spending has continued to rise in the Middle East, a trend that’s been going on for years not only resulting from the tense political situation, but also the high revenues from the sale of oil. Saudi Arabia has the world’s fourth largest military spending budget. In Perlo-Freeman’s view that’s not only due to strategic concerns: “The military budget is a way of channeling oil revenues into the private bank accounts of leaders — that is one factor that makes military spending very attractive.” On the whole, data on military spending in the Middle East tend to be quite opaque, the

SIPRI expert said. There were no data available for Iran, Qatar, Syria, Yemen or the United Arab Emirates in 2013.

Eurosatory Indicates Trends Defence exhibitions across the world attract considerable attention, but one which is a must attend is Eurosatory held biennially in Paris. The reason is simple: some of the best and latest technologies are showcased here and one gets a worldwide perspective with regard defence over here. Unlike exhibitions in US which is so US-centric, exhibitions held in Europe are seemingly for the world as European markets are limited.

Defence & Security Technological Continuum Originally devoted to defence, Eurosatory has gradually expanded into the security market. While the contexts of use differ greatly between defence & security,

2012 Key Figures • • • • • •

1,432 exhibitors from 53 countries – 70 per cent international 1,63,523m² of indoor and outdoor exhibition space 53,480 professional visitors from 130 countries—8,392 from armed and security forces from 111 countries 152 official delegations from 87 countries 224 Eurosatory Guests from 35 countries 684 accredited journalists from five continents

On the discussion side, Eurosatory is developing its conferences. In particular it will be holding the SIMDEF seminar on “Simulation, a means to preserve operational potential” organised by ADIS, the European Club for Countertrade & Offset (ECCO) symposium on trade with Turkey and the Land Operations Forum.

Eurosatory 2014 will have two-thirds of the exhibitors from foreign countries (51 countries have registered) including new ones such as Japan and Argentina. The venue for all products of the land and airland industry, Eurosatory will mirror the latest trends in 2014. It may be too early to say what they all will be, but big changes in the robotics industry are already on the way.

Every two years, the entire Land and Air-land Defence and Security industry and market meet during the Eurosatory tradeshow. In 2012, Exhibitors number increased by 9.3 per cent, 53 countries and international organisations were represented. Over 50 per cent of exhibiting companies had their chairman or CEO attending the show and over 450 new products were officially presented. All these factors contributed to cons Olidate Eurosatory as the world leader trade show in the domain.

What’s New for 2014?

Eurosatory strives to present the entire international offering and the whole land defence & security industry and supply chain, from raw materials to finished products. The exhibition endeavours again to cover the full spectrum of defence and security equipment in all price groups, from new, complex and high-ticket most advanced technology systems, to more affordable and tried-and-tested solutions, that particular countries prefer.

Eurosatory intends to maintain and develop the exhibition’s security section, which is actually linked to the defence domain through technology. Therefore, two new technology clusters are being created: ‘Civil Security and Emergency Response’ and ‘Critical Infrastructure and Sensitive Facilities Protection’. Such a growing focus on security also brings new visitors either from government departments seeking to equip emergency response forces, or from the private sector, scouting for solutions for people and assets security.

For new exhibitors, a “Discovery Village” will be set up for very small businesses taking part for the first time in Eurosatory.

Featuring 6m² fully-fitted stands, it is an opportunity to discover and benefit from all exhibition’s features and audience at the lowest cost. SP

UNRIVALLED BMPT-72 FIRE SUPPORT VEHICLE

JSC Rosoboronexport is offering its foreign partners a new product – the BMPT fire support vehicle, which is unique in performance and combat capabilities.

The experience gained from using armored vehicles in local wars and armed conflicts of recent years suggests that modern armored fighting vehicles (tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers) do not provide the effective engagement of pinpoint targets in various types of fighting - enemy manpower, grenade launcher and ATGM operators. Armed with modern weapons, they pose a serious threat to armored vehicles, especially in difficult conditions - in the mountains, wooded areas and settlements. Using natural and artificial shelters, they are well concealed, poorly visible, dispersed, and open fire suddenly with high accuracy and damaging capacity. Timely detection and destruction is an effective way to counter such threats.

To deal with these tasks, Rosoboronexport, Russia’s main exporter of the entire range of the final defense and dual-use products and services, is offering its partners the BMPT fire support vehicle. It has tank-level protection and a set of weapons capable of effectively detecting and destroying pinpoint concealed targets. With its modern target search and detection devices, automated fire control system, powerful multi-channel set of automatic weapons and all-aspect crew protection, the BMPT is capable of effectively providing fire support to units in all types of combat operations in complex geographical areas, day or night, and against any enemy.

The BMPT is based on the T-90S tank chassis.

However, since its main armament is placed in a module, which comprises a turret, a powered externally-mounted weapon system, an ammunition feed system, and operator stations, it can be installed on various types of tank chassis, in particular, during T-72 upgrading work. This BMPT version (BMPT-72) has been developed by JSC NPK Uralvagonzavod.

Outdated T-72 tanks, in which weapons repair and modernization is impractical due to wear and tear or faulty condition, can be retrofitted to the BMPT-72 configuration. This will allow customer to save money and actually get a new kind of military equipment capable of successfully performing tasks assigned to it.

Revamping the T-72 into the BMPT-72 configuration includes removal of the tank turret and installation of a BMPT combat module with a remote-controlled weapon system (automatic cannons, machine gun and missiles) in its place.

The important feature is that the combat module is placed in a superstructure located outside the crew compartment. In addition, repair and optional modernization of the chassis are carried out. Revamping the T-72 tanks into the BMPT-72 can be done at customer production facilities.

The BMPT has incorporated prolonged experience of research and development work and testing of its prototypes in different conditions. As of today, the BMPT offering the highest level of firepower and protection is unrivaled in terms of its fighting capabilities and a set of missions.

The BMPT-72’s fire control system with multichannel gunner and commander sights can detect and destroy targets day and night, in bad weather

by firing two 30mm 2A42 automatic cannons at ranges up to 4000 m using high-explosive shells and up to 2500 m using armor-piercing shells.

The ammunition load of the cannons consists of 850 rounds in two belts.

The weapons system also includes two launchers with four supersonic guided missiles carrying HEAT and thermobaric warheads. A coaxial 7.62mm machine gun is used as secondary armament.

The gunner’s station is equipped with a multichannel sight with optical and thermal imaging channels, a laser rangefinder, a built-in laser missile control channel and an independent twoplane FOV stabilization system. The commander’s sight is panoramic, combined with TV and thermal channels, a laser rangefinder and an independent two-plane FOV stabilization system.

Protection of the BMPT-72 is provided by: low visibility due to its small size and disruptive painting; armor protection; integral ERA; high speed and maneuverability; automated smoke screening system; additional bar armor.

Small size and disruptive painting make the BMPT-72 low detectable during action on any terrain. An automated smoke screening system provides protection against enemy anti-tank guided missiles and artillery shells with semiactive laser seekers, as well as jamming against artillery systems with laser rangefinders.

The BMPT-72 fire support vehicle is designed to counter enemy manpower and armored vehicles equipped with anti-tank weapons (ATGMs, light anti-tank weapons, etc) as well as provide fire support to friendly units.

The BMPT-72 is ideal for combat missions in settlements and forested mountainous terrain. It is maneuverable as its weapons do not go beyond the hull outline when the turret transverses, while the laying angles make it possible to engage targets located on the basement to upper floors of buildings.

Depending on missions, the BMPT-72 can operate both independently and together with tanks.

In the case of joint action of tanks and BMPT-72s, the efficiency is achieved through the distribution of targets between them. For example, fortifications, tanks and tank-based vehicles are destroyed by tanks, whereas manpower, antitank weapons, lightly armored and soft-skinned vehicles are engaged by BMPT-72s. If necessary, the BMPT-72s fire at low-speed low-flying aerial targets.

The BMPT-72s can be used independently to strengthen and support motorized infantry units, escort columns and facilities, and destroy armed gangs.

Equipping assault units with a set of well-protected vehicles (tanks and BMPT-72s) is a way to build a military formation which is balanced in missions and weapons and military equipment configuration.

>> Sp’s Exclusives / news in brief Indian Army for new 9mm pistols

The Army’s Infantry Directorate has announced interest in acquiring an unspecified number of 9mm pistols for regular troops. The proposed weapon is to be used as a secondary weapon both during conventional and subconventional operations. The pistol needs to have ambidextrous handling with a silencer/ suppressor, preferably with side-rails for

Lt General Dalbir Singh SUHAG Will be the Next Chief of Army Staff

Indian Government have decided to appoint Lt General Dalbir Singh Suhag, presently Vice Chief of the Army Staff, as the next Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) after retirement of the present Chief of the Army Staff, General Bikram Singh, on July 31, 2014.

Lt General Dalbir Singh was commissioned in the Army on June 16, 1974. During a career spanning nearly 40 years, he has held various Command and Staff appointments. He has done National Defence College, Long Defence Management Course and Senior Command Courses. Lt General Dalbir Singh is presently serving as Vice Chief of the Army Staff since January 1, 2014. Earlier he commanded Eastern Army Command. The General Officer is decorated with PVSM, UYSM, AVSM and VSM awards.

www.spslandforces.com

Raytheon Moves Excalibur Towards full-rate Production

Raytheon has completed the initial operational test and evaluation (IOT&E) of the US Army’s Excalibur Increment b (Ib) precisionguided, extended-range projectile during a series of tests, taking a step forward towards its full-rate production. Several Excalibur rounds were fired from the army’s 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery, with several hitting their targets. US Army Excalibur Product

18

SP’s Land Forces 3/2014

add-ons like a tactical light and laser aiming device. The new side-arm needs to be a robust weapon to replace the current OFB Ichhapore Pistol Auto 9mm IA that remains the standard issue for regular Army infantry (special forces use the Austrian Glock 17 and Belgian FN-35).

Interest is likely to pour in from several quarters, including Italy’s Beretta (Px4 Storm), German-Swiss Sig Sauer (P226) and German Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen’s Walther P99. Some of these companies have aggressively marketed their wares at Indian trade shows in recent years. In 2009, the Indian Army had separately announced that it was looking for additional 9mm pistols for its special forces and para units. SP —SP’s Special Correspondent For complete versions log on to: www.spslandforces.com

Manager Lt. Colonel Josh Walsh said Excalibur continues to reach new levels in every test event. Raytheon Missile SystemsLand Warfare Systems product line Vice-President Michelle Lohmeier said: “It is an excellent example of a government-industry team working together to put a critical capability into the hands of our warfighters.”

Based on the combat-proven Excalibur Ia-1 and Ia-2 projectiles, Excalibur Ib is a 155mm precision-guided, extended-range projectile that uses GPS precision guidance to offer troops an accurate, first-round firefor-effect capability in any environment. It follows a simplified development approach compared with Excalibur Ia, and addresses the army’s objectives for improved reliability at significantly low costs. The fullrate production decision is expected to be announced later this year. Meanwhile, Raytheon is also funding a programme to equip its combat-proven GPS-guided projectile with a laser-spot tracker, giving the weapon a dual-mode GPS / LST guidance capability.

The programme aims to mitigate target location errors and support the attack of mobile targets while ensuring target precision when the GPS is either degraded or denied.

Boko Haram last month has since threatened to sell them into slavery if the government fails to release the group’s imprisoned militants. In a letter to congressional leaders, President Barack Obama said: “These personnel will support the operation of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft for missions over northern Nigeria and the surrounding area. The force will remain in Chad until its support in resolving the kidnapping situation is no longer required.” An unnamed US military official was quoted by Reuters as saying that the flights would be carried out by an unarmed Predator drone, which are in addition to the unmanned surveillance flights already performed by the Global Hawk aircraft. These personnel will support the operation of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft for missions over northern Nigeria and the surrounding area. Approximately half of the newly deployed forces would be responsible for the launch and recovery of the aircraft, while the rest will provide security to the ground forces, the official added. The deployment adds to the interagency team comprising individuals from the US State Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Africa Command (AFRICOM), which was sent by the Pentagon to Nigeria earlier this month. The US Department of Defense (DoD) has been flying unmanned surveillance flights over the dense forested regions of north-east Nigeria for almost two weeks, and also signed an agreement to share of intelligence data with the Nigerian Government.

10 WESTSTAR GS CARGOS for THE DEFENSE FORCES OF TIMOR LESTE

Scientists from the US Army’s Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) are developing new smokescreen compositions to help soldiers effectively mask themselves from enemy fire. Developed under a multi-year programme, the new formula is expected to replace the army’s World War II-era MP2S-HC screening smoke grenade, which delivers a dense cloud of grey hexachloroethane smoke with a discharge time of 100 seconds. The scientists are currently considering four basic smoke compositions, the first of which is a zinc-free composition, HX, which is similar to the hexachloroethane composition but doesn’t generate a toxic, irritant smoke containing zinc chloride. ECBC Pyrotechnics and Explosives Branch senior engineer Joseph Domanico said the chemical reaction of the HX composition produces slightly less combustion products and has a higher efficiency, which results in a similarly dense smoke cloud. The second hexachloroethanefree composition encapsulates chlorine atoms in a plastic matrix, which are subsequently freed by the heat of combustion, enabling the smoke to pull water from the atmosphere, thus producing a dense smoke cloud.

In a concentrated move to broaden the Weststar Group of Companies’ horizon and exert more presence abroad, Global Komited Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Weststar Group of Companies, today signed a contract worth RM2.2 million for the supply of 10 initial Weststar General Service (GS) Cargo military vehicles with the Defense Forces of Timor Leste.

Signed in the Defense Secretary of State’s office in Dili, delivery of the vehicles is due to be completed within four months of the contract signing.

Following months of negotiations and trials, the Defense Forces of Timor Leste has agreed to procure theWeststar GS Cargo utility vehicle as part of its military vehicle lineup expansion exercise. The initial batch of 10 units is part of the 50 units to be delivered in the pipeline later this year. The total worth of the contract is estimated to amount to about RM11 million.

“This particular deal inked with the Timor Leste government outlines our conviction stemming from the confidence the group as a whole exudes about growing our market share in each of the sector we have vested interests in,” said Dato’ Nik Hamdan, Weststar Group Senior Vice President.

Designed to facilitate a wide range of security and defense roles, the Weststar GS Cargo is available in various configurations that include hard and soft tops as well as manual and automatic transmissions sturdily put together to meet military-specific requirements for rigorous land base applications.

In addition, the 750kg low maintenance utility vehicle, built off the base model of a civilian chassis boasts a generous volume capacity, which can carry up to ten soldiers with full gear and cargo.

Further, the 2.5L engine vehicle operates efficiently on road and cross-country operations, hence offering a robust operational flexibility with superb mobility and maneuverability capabilities while at the same time being air transportable.

US Armed forces to Assist Search of kidnapped Nigerian girls

Germany hands over first Leopard 2A5 tanks to Polish Army

The US Government has sent 80 military personnel to Nigeria in an effort to find the 200 schoolgirls abducted by terrorist group

The Polish Army has taken delivery of the first batch of Leopard 2A5 main battle tanks (MBTs) from Germany at the 34th

US Army Scientists Developing new Smokescreen Compositions

Armoured Cavalry Brigade base in Zagan, Poland. Comprising 11 tanks, the batch is a part of the inter-governmental deal signed in November 2013, which covers the delivery of 105 surplus German Leopard 2A5 tanks and 14 Leopard 2A4 tanks, as reported by Dziennik Zbrojny. The €180m contract also covers the transfer of 18 Bergepanzer 2 armoured recovery vehicles, 120 Mercedes DB1017A trucks, 40 U1300L Unimog trucks, 40 Mercedes MB250 light off-road vehicles, as well as other special communication equipment. The tanks will be used by the 34th Armoured Cavalry Brigade, which so far has been armed with two battalions of PT-91 light tanks. Manufactured by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), the Leopard 2 is a successor to the Leopard 1 MBT, and is designed to engage moving targets while moving over rough terrain. Equipped with digital fire-control systems with laser rangefinders, a fully stabilised main gun and coaxial machine gun, and advanced night vision and sighting equipment, various Leopard 2 variants are currently used by the armed forces of Germany and other European and non-European nations.

China and Bangladesh strengthen defence cooperation The Chinese and Bangladeshi Defence Ministries have signed a series of agreements to help enhance Bangladesh’s defence capabilities. Signed with the Bangladesh Armed Forces and the Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) during a ceremony at Dhaka Cantonment, the four agreements will see China provide military support, including training and logistics, to the Bangladeshi Army, according to an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release. In addition, they cover the provision of assistance for the establishment of a language laboratory at BUP, which is run by the country’s armed forces. Chinese Central Military Commission Vice Chairman General Xu Qiliang, who led a 21-member delegation to the ceremony, was quoted by the Daily Star as saying that China wants to add a new dimension to the already friendly relationship it shares with Dhaka. The four agreements will see the Chinese provide military support, including training and logistics, to the Bangladeshi Army. The Bangladeshi Prime Minister’s special assistant Mahbubul Hoque Shakil told bdnews24.com that China is looking to help the country modernise and strengthen its armed forces. The mutual relations between the Bangladeshi and Chinese armies started with the establishment of diplomatic ties 40 years ago. China has emerged as the biggest weapons supplier to Bangladesh over the past five years. A wide range of military equipment, including anti-ship missiles, tanks, fighter aircrafts and other arms, was procured by Bangladesh between 2008 and 2012, according to the Sweden-based think tank SIPRI report.

Lockheed test-fires Javelin missile from new weapons turret

Lockheed Martin has successfully test-fired a Javelin missile from its newly developed turret at the Cranfield Ordnance Test and Evaluation Centre (COTEC) near Wiltshire, UK. Designed and built as a joint project between Lockheed Martin UK (LMUK) in Ampthill, and Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control in Texas, and Florida, the turret aims to support a number of potential business opportunities worldwide. The turret devel-

news in brief >> opment, based on the company’s expertise in designing infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) turrets and its experience in missile systems, and the test launch of both a 30mm cannon and a fully integrated Javelin missile, was completed in nine months. LMUK Ampthill Vice President and Managing Director Alan Lines said the test launch is the culmination of a ‘tremendous amount of cooperation and hard work between the UK and US teams’. “The team was able to leverage knowledge gained from other ground vehicles programmes, such as the warrior capability sustainment programme and scout specialist vehicle, as well as the US ground combat vehicle and amphibious combat vehicle,” Lines said. Lockheed’s turret solutions are claimed to exceed the accuracy requirements for both static and on-themove firing. When combined with enhanced protection, they can also maximise mission success and increase crew effectiveness.

GDLS to convert additional US Army Strykers to DVH standard

General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) has secured a multimillion-dollar contract to convert additional US Army flat-bottom Stryker infantry-combat vehicles (IFV) to the latest double-V hull (DVH) design. Awarded by the army’s tank-automotive and armaments command (TACOM) and life-cycle management command (LCMC), the $163m agreement covers the conversion of 93 vehicles.

Manufactured by GDLS Canada, the Stryker is an eight-wheel drive armoured vehicle, designed to provide infantry with enhanced protection and survivability from artillery fragments, roadside mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The army and GDLS had launched the Stryker DVH-exchange pilot programme in 2012 to evaluate whether components from the legacy Stryker flat-bottom hull (FBH) variants could be rapidly refurbished and installed on DVH. Specifically, the process involved refurbishment and reuse of common parts from FBHs in the new DVH exchange vehicles, which are expected to possess all of the same capabilities as new DVH production vehicles. In addition

>> Show Calendar 16–20 June EUROSATORY 2014 Viparis Nord Villepinte, Paris, France www.eurosatory.com 24–26 June Soldier Equipment & Technology Expo and Summit Fort Bragg, North Carolina, USA www.soldierequipmentexpo.com 29–30 July Military Vehicles Exhibition & Conference Detroit Marriott, Renaissance Center, Detroit, USA www.militaryvehiclesexpo.com 20–21 August Integrated Air & Missile Defence Asia Venue to be confirmed, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia www.airmissiledefenceasia.com 17–21 September Africa Aerospace and Defence Air Force Base Waterkloof, City of Tshwane, Centurion, South Africa www.aadexpo.co.za

to mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) survivability, the DVH configuration also features a more rugged suspension system with improved mobility and lower operating costs.

Jointly executed by GDLS and the Anniston Army Depot, the pilot programme was successfully completed on time and under budget in April 2013. Some 52 Stryker vehicles were delivered to the army.

and Danish industry stands out as a reliable and valuable partner.’

Paladin M109A7 155mm Artillery System, United States of America

TenCate advanced armour on Nexter platforms TenCate Advanced Armour Denmark A/S has won a contract for the supply of lightweight composite armour to Nexter Systems. The TenCate armour system to be supplied protects vehicle occupants against the effects of blasts, fragments, and projectiles.

The solution is engineered to fit the Nexter vehicle platform.

Following this order the French ambassador to Denmark, François Zimeray, visited the Ten Cate Advanced Armour facilities.

Upon a request from the French Embassy, TenCate was singled out by Nexter as an example of how Danish Industry stands to benefit from Nexter’s involvement in the armoured personnel carriers (APC) and artillery procurement projects currently being undertaken by Denmark.

Steen Tanderup, Managing Director TenCate Advanced Armour EMEA & APAC, said: ‘We are very happy to be selected as supplier for this project, and to develop further the good relationship between TenCate and Nexter Systems. Nexter Systems is a very interesting partner for TenCate with a wide range of vehicle platforms and a significant level of activity in export markets, thus representing a good match for the TenCate Advanced Armour global growth strategy.’

Alexandre Penley, Director International Affairs of Nexter Systems, said: ‘The order placed with Ten Cate Advanced Armour is a direct consequence of Nexter’s willingness to diversify its supplier base in a long term perspective and to use industrial cooperation as a preferred and essential means to deliver best value for money to our customers. From this perspective, TenCate Advanced Armour

Editor Lt General (Retd) V.K. Kapoor Senior Editorial Contributor Lt General (Retd) P.C. Katoch Senior Technical Group Editor Lt General (Retd) Naresh Chand Air Marshal (Retd) B.K. Pandey

Seminar on Self-Reliance in Land Systems Through Indigenisation A joint seminar on ‘Self-Reliance in Land Systems through Indigenisation – The Future Perspective’ was organised on April 30, 2014 by CLAWS (Centre for Land Warfare Studies) and Directorate General of EME (Electrical and Mechanical Engineering) at Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi. The chief guest for the event was the Dr Rajgopal Chidambaram, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India. The chief guest mooted the idea that the seminar must provide a platform to the defence industry to project their capabilities and gain insight into the policies and procedures on indigenisation as well as provide an opportunity to both the army and the industry to build an enduring partnership which will be instrumental in addressing the issues related to indigenisation of military equipment. He set the tone of the seminar by extorting the Indian industry to give their full support in turning the notion of total indigenisation equipment into a reality.

On the sidelines of the seminar an exhibition was also organised to display the diverse range of items under indigenisation through SME (Small and Medium Enterprise) at present. The seminar witnessed contribution of ideas of a large cross-section of the private industry, PSUs, military and academic experts. The crucial take-aways from the seminar were the compelling thoughts and ideas which came up during the technical sessions and gave a positive direction to the industry houses in planning their future investments and the policy makers in framing policy guidelines to keep all the stake holders on the same page and focused towards the common goal.

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Jayant Baranwal

Assistant Group Editor R. Chandrakanth

The Paladin M109A7 next-generation artillery system being manufactured by BAE Systems is a significant upgrade to the combatproven M109A6 Paladin cannon artillery system. The enhanced artillery system will offer key fire-support for a variety of potential combat missions conducted by the US Army’s Armored Brigade Combat Teams (ABCTs) in conventional, hybrid, irregular and counter-insurgency combat environments. The US Army awarded a $688 million contract to BAE Systems in October 2013 for the production of Paladin M109A7 artillery systems, with an option to procure a total of 66.5 vehicle sets including a self-propelled howitzer and an ammunition resupply vehicle. The artillery system was inducted into low rate initial production (LRIP) in May 2014, while full rate production is expected to commence in 2017. As part of a $195 million initial contract, The first vehicle is expected to be delivered in mid-2015. Paladin M109A6 is a cannon artillery system developed by the Ground System Division of United Defense LP (now BAE Systems Land and Armaments) and manufactured at the Paladin Production Operation centre at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.

The US Army and BAE Systems signed a memorandum of understanding for the Paladin integrated management (PIM) programme to upgrade the M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzer and its associated M992A2 field artillery ammunition support vehicle. The authority intends to procure 580 sets of PIM vehicles, which are expected to sustain through 2050.

BMP-3F is a Marine Fighting Vehicle BMP-3F is a marines fighting vehicle designed and manufactured by Russian company Kurganmashzavod, for more sustained amphibious assault operations. The vehicle features a flexible design to operate under difficult sea conditions, and offers increased firepower, manoeuvrability and protection of the marines over its base model, the BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicle, which was first produced in the late 1980s.

Other variants in the BMP-3 family of vehicles include BMP-3K command post vehicle and the BRM-3K combat reconnaissance vehicle. The marines vehicle features higher floatability reserve factor and stability and can be afloat at sea state three and do firing with necessary accuracy at sea state two.

The vehicle is operated by a crew of three and accommodates seven soldiers. It has a length of 7.14 m, width of 3.5 m and height of 2.5 m, while the weight is 1,8,700 kg.

The vehicle is equipped with a light weight anti-surge vane and an air intake tube.

The BMP-3F marines fighting vehicle is equipped with a 100mm semi-automatic 2A70 gun / missile launcher serving as the primary armament. The launcher, stabilised in two axes, can fire 3UOF HE-FRAG rounds or 3UBK10 anti-tank guided missiles. The vehicle is also armed with a 30mm 2A72 automatic gun, which is also stabilised in two axes. The automatic gun fires 3UOR-6 and 3UOR-8 rounds. A 7.62mm PKTM coaxial machine gun, two 7.62mm bow machine guns and an 81mm smoke grenade launcher are also fitted. SP

Contributors India General (Retd) V.P. Malik, Lt General (Retd) Vijay Oberoi, Lt General (Retd) R.S. Nagra, Lt General (Retd) S.R.R. Aiyengar, Major General (Retd) Ashok Mehta, Major General (Retd) G.K. Nischol, Brigadier (Retd) Gurmeet Kanwal, Brigadier (Retd) S. Mishra, Rohit Sharma Chairman & Managing Director Jayant Baranwal Executive Vice President (Planning & Business Development) Rohit Goel Administration Bharti Sharma Creative Director Anoop Kamath Design Vimlesh Kumar Yadav, Sonu Singh Bisht Research Assistant: Graphics Survi Massey Sales & Marketing Director Sales & Marketing: Neetu Dhulia General Manager Sales: Rajeev Chugh SP’s Website Sr. Web Developer: Shailendra P. Ashish Web Developer: Ugrashen Vishwakarma Published bimonthly by Jayant Baranwal on behalf of SP Guide Publications Pvt Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, photocopying, recording, electronic, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publishers.

Printed in India

by Kala Jyothi Process Pvt Ltd © SP Guide Publications, 2014 Subscription/ Circulation Annual Inland: `600 • Overseas: US$180 Email: subscribe@spguidepublications.com subscribe@spslandforces.com Letters to Editor editor@spslandforces.com For Advertising Details, Contact: neetu@spguidepublications.com rajeev.chugh@spguidepublications.com SP GUIDE PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD Corporate Office A 133 Arjun Nagar, Opp Defence Colony, New Delhi 110 003, India Tel: +91(11) 24644693, 24644763, 24620130 Fax: +91 (11) 24647093 Regd Office Fax: +91 (11) 23622942 Email: info@spguidepublications.com Representative Offices Bengaluru, INDIA Air Marshal (Retd) B.K. Pandey 204, Jal Vayu Vihar, Kalyan Nagar, Bengaluru 560043, India.

Tel: +91 (80) 23682204 MOSCOW, RUSSIA LAGUK Co., Ltd, Yuri Laskin Krasnokholmskaya, Nab., 11/15, app. 132, Moscow 115172, Russia.

Tel: +7 (495) 911 2762, Fax: +7 (495) 912 1260 www.spguidepublications.com www.spslandforces.com RNI Number: DELENG/2008/25818

3/2014 SP’s Land Forces

19