SP's Land Forces Issue 5 - 2017

October-November 2017

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In This Issue Page 4 Artillery Employment and Future Technologies Synergised and orchestrated employment of all available firepower resources to shape the battlefield and to degrade the enemy in contact and depth battle entailing employment of mortars, guns and long range vectors in conjunction with IAF to achieve decisive defeat of the enemy Lt General Naresh Chand (Retd)

Photograph: Indian Army

Page 6 Targeting Technologies

Small arms and the artillery must be able to accurately engage the target both by day and night, also pinpointing where enemy fire is coming from and neutralizing Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd) Page 7 Shooting With Precision Electronic gunsights will become an increasingly important aspect of military and civilian small arms development in the coming years R. Chandrakanth Page 8 Technologies Secure Inhospitable Borders

When the Berlin Wall collapsed, there were only 16 border fences around the world.

Now, 65 countries have put up border fences, trying to keep at bay cross-border movement, terrorism, smuggling, drug racket, etc.

R. Chandrakanth Plus Gunners Celebrate 190th Raising Day

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Exercise Indra-2017 Concludes

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News in Brief

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Bofors Gun helped the Indian Army to win the Kargil War against Pakistan in 1999

Artillery in Battle Combat Capability – An Analysis Capability building and modernisation is an ongoing process but the challenge is to carry out the assigned mission with the existing resources  Lt General Naresh Chand (Retd)

Primary Role of Artillery In Offensive Operations. Offensive operations involve attack by own infantry on the defensive positions held by the enemy.

During attack, artillery fire can cause attrition, destroy/soften the target and also prevent direct fire on attacking troops from the enemy by keeping their heads down.

It can also prevent enemy’s artillery to

fire by engaging them with own artillery called counter bombardment. Artillery fire can prevent reinforcements from coming to the aid of their own troops by isolating the target area by fire. It can also carry out sporadic fire to harass the enemy, prevent them from resting or keep them guessing of the place and time of attack. Similar support is given to mechanised infantry while carrying out offensive operations.

Armour is also supported during offen-

sive operations specially when carried out through wooded area, urban/semi urban area and where crops are still standing to prevent accurate anti-tank fire.

In Defensive Operations. Defensive positions are normally held by infantry and likely routes/approach of attack are analysed and identified as Defensive Fire (DF) targets whose firing data (ballistic data) is pre- registered and recorded. A large number of DF targets are recorded to cater for

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It is a fact that Nirmala Sitharaman, the new Defence Minister has in a short period endeared herself to the services by showing an industrious and diligent streak in her personality. Her dynamism to get things done is being seen as a positive development by the Services because after becoming the Defence Minister she has been very active in pursuing her goals. Apart from holding regular meetings with all three Service Chiefs and the Defence Secretary

to ensure quick decision making in her ministry, she has laid special emphasis on the need to step up the pace of military procurement which despite some dynamism shown by the erstwhile Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar, in the past, the state of equipment procurement and modernisation remains entirely unsatisfactory.

The Indian Army lacks modern weaponry. This includes basic weapons like carbines, assault rifles, and sniper rifles, and larger weapons like the artillery guns and howitzers. Additionally it lacks helicopters (light and attack helicopters), surveillance and communication equipment, air defence guns and missiles and modern anti-tank missiles, night fighting aids and has a shortage of some categories of ammunition which has adversely affected even the training of the soldiery. This is just a sample of the items required to be replaced/procured at the

earliest. The list of items, if collated, arm and service wise would be endless. The Minister has also declared that she will hold meetings of the Defence Acquisition Council once every two weeks.

Her recent visits to the border areas in Arunachal and Sikkim, aerial survey of Dokalam and Nathu La area, and visits to the Army and Air force stations in these regions have evoked very positive responses from the countrymen and the Indian soldiery. These visits are indicative of the great interest she is taking in understanding the operational environment in the Eastern Theatre which we could say has been somewhat neglected by the political leadership in the past.

For a long time India has felt the need for a dynamic defence minister who was willing to understand issues on the ground and even visit to the high altitude areas to meet the soldiery. Gen-

erally they have satisfied themselves with briefings in the operational rooms/offices but would seldom move out to the operational sectors. Thus the visit of Nirmala Sitharaman to the operational sectors of the Eastern Theatre is a very positive step for it is not only good for the morale of the soldiery but is indicative of a devoted defence minister who wants to understand the operational dynamics of each theatre of operations and wants to see the actual ground conditions in various sectors of a theatre.

For many years we have been reading and hearing about the proposals for raising three new commands under three new Commanders-in-chief (Army Commanders equivalent) namely, the Cyber Command, the Space Command and the Special Forces Command. It seems that these are now likely to be sanctioned by the government in the

near future. These new tri-service organizations are currently being envisaged as agencies/division commanded by Major General equivalents of the army, navy, and the air force in the above fields. These three new organisations are likely to be raised shortly even though they have been in the pipeline for consideration for the past five years. So we are likely to see the raising of the Defence Cyber Agency, Defence Space Agency and the Special Forces Division in the next few months or so. Their formation was announced by the Ministry of Defence in July this year, and the proposal is with the government for approval.

Lt General V.K. Kapoor (Retd)

Photographs: Indian Army

every contingency. Correction for weather conditions like atmospheric pressure and wind direction is applied periodically so that fire is accurate. As soon as a particular sector comes under attack, fire can be called for on the DF targets in that area. The spread of the artillery fire will be effective against moving targets and cause heavy casualties to the troops in the open. Opportunity targets can also be easily neutralised.

(IGMDP) and first test-fired on February 25, 1988.It is reported to have a single-stage liquid fuel dual motor with a range of 150 km with a payload of 1,000 kg and is in service with artillery. Other versions are meant for the Navy and the Air Force. Prithvi is likely to be replaced by Prahar which is more accurate and under development.

Agni Missile. The Agni missile is a family of medium to intercontinental range ballistic missiles (MRBM/ICBM) developed by India under the IGMDP and tested in 1989.

After the development of Agni, due to its importance, Agni Missile programme was delinked from IGMDP and is being developed separately. The MRBM version of Agni is with the Army. Reported range of the MRBM version varies from 700-3000km.

BrahMos Cruise Missile. BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile, development of which started in the 1990s as a joint project between Russia and India to develop an Indian version of the P-800 Oniks cruise missile. The missile’s name is a portmanteau of the rivers Brahmaputra and Moskva.

Advantages of BrahMos over a subsonic missile are: it is three times faster, 2.5-3 times more range, 3-4 times more seeker range and 9 times more of kinetic energy. It has reported range of 290 km and has a separate version for the Navy and the Air Force. The land version has been service since 2007.

Terrain Regiment of Artillery is equipped and trained to operate and fight in all type of terrains like plains, desert, semi desert, high altitude including Siachen.

Scaling of Artillery Integral artillery is scaled at the level of a division with each of them having one artillery brigade. Similarly at corps level there are suitably equipped independent artillery brigades which provide reinforcing artillery to the divisions when required. Above the corps there are a few artillery divisions scaled as per the operational requirement.

The aim of artillery is to provide such over whelming destruction through fire power that own infantry/mechanised infantry and armour suffer minimum casualties during operations.

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Type of Armament held by Artillery The Regiment of artillery holds a variety of guns, mortars, rocket launchers, missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and surveillance systems to carry out their role.

Brief details are: Guns. Artillery’s arsenal consists of a variety of guns of various calibre like the indigenous 105mm Indian Field Gun (IFG) with range of about 17 km, 105mm Light Field Gun which is similar to IFG but lighter in weight thus most suitable for the mountains or a terrain where mobility problems exist. They were extensively used in Kargil to provide suppressive fire support to own infantry attacking Pakistan defences. In the heavier caliber there is 130 mm M46 with a range of about 27km, 155 mm FH-77B with a range of about 24 to 30km and upgraded M46 guns to 45 calibre where the range can go upto 39000m, depanding upon the projectile. In the self propelled category there is 130 Catapult which has been indigenously integrated by mounting the ordnance of the M-46 atop a Vijayanta tank chassis. Earlier Abbot of British origin was in service which has been phased out.

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SP’s Land Forces 5/2017

Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition (RSTA)

(Top) Rocket fire training at the field firing ranges; (above) Multiple rocket launcher firing.

Mortars. Mortars are ideal for firing in the mountains, on troops in the open or in open trenches. Artillery holds 120mm calibere mortars with a range of about 5 to 9 km.

Rocket artillery. India has a formidable arsenal in rocket artillery and their effect on the target end is devastating and demoralising for the enemy. The oldest is 122mm BM-21 Grad Multiple Barrel Rocket Launcher with 40 rockets on each launcher and a range between 11 to 20 km. The place of pride is 214mm Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher which has been developed

indigenously. Pinaka is named after the bow of Lord Shiva. It carries 12 rockets per launcher with a range of 10 to 38 km.

The firing sequence is programmable from 4-200sec. The third multi-barrel rocket launcher is 300mm BM-30 Smerch multiple barrel rocket launcher of Russian origin which carries 12 rockets per launcher with a range of about 20 to 70 km.

Surface to surface Prithvi-I Missile System. The Surface-to-Surface Missile Privthi was developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme

Target acquisition is the detection, identification and location of a target to such a degree that it can be effectively neutralised or destroyed. This role is carried out by Surveillance and Target Acquisitions (SATA) units of the Artillery. They hold groundbased sensors like radars and other similar devices, which could be land based or air borne from a UAV platform. Brief details are: l ANTPQ – 37 Firefinder. AN/TPQ37 Firefinder is a mobile radar system manufactured by ThalesRaytheonSystems (formerly Hughes Aircraft, which was acquired by Raytheon). The system is a long-range version of weaponlocating radar, designed to detect and track incoming artillery and rocket fire to determine the point of origin for counter-battery fire. The AN/TPQ-37 is an electronically steered radar, implying that the radar does not actually move while in operation. l Indigenous Weapon Locating Radar (WLR). This radar is developed by DRDO

>> lead story Photograph: Indian Army

The capability of the Regiment of Artillery can be judged from its performance during combat. It has performed with dedication and valour in every conflict since Independence and manufactured by Bharat Electronics Limited. The WLR is a mobile artillery locating Phased array radar developed

by India. This counter-battery radar is designed to detect and track incoming artillery and rocket fire to determine the point of origin for counter-battery fire. l Israel Aerospace Industries Long Range Observation System (LOROS).

LOROS is a multi-sensor imaging system for long-range day and night observation system. The system includes Highly gyro-stabilized turret with 4 sensors (Thermal imager, color charge-coupled device [CCD] zoom, B/W CCD spotter and intensified charge-coupled device [ICCD)] and laser range finder).

Airborne Workstations. Following are in service: l Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) Searcher UAV. Searcher is a multi mission tactical UAV which can carry out the role of surveillance, reconnaissance,

Heron, largest medium-altitude long-endurance UAV

target acquisition, artillery adjustment of fire and damage assessment. Searcher has been constantly improved from MkI to MkII and MkIII. The Searcher MkIII has multiple operational configurations, SAR/GMTI (Synthetic Aperture Radar/ Ground Moving Target Indicator),SIGINT and EO/IR has a maximum altitude of >23000ft, and of endurance of 18h and mission radius is 350km. l IAI’Heron. Heron 2 is the largest medium-altitude long-endurance UAV built in Israel with an operational altitude of 45,000 ft and is capable of missions of more than 36 hours duration. It provides

deep-penetration, wide-area, real-time intelligence to national agencies, theatre commanders and lower echelons with primary role being intelligence, surveillance and target acquisition.

Capability building Director General of Artillery, Lt General P.K. Srivastava has stated, in an recent interview with SP’s Land Forces, that the, “Rationalization Plan was first perceived in year 2000, wherein 155mm was made the standard gun system for Indian Artillery. Accordingly, ‘Artillery Profile’ was conceived and promulgated with emphasis on Mediumisation of

Artillery. Since then, based on our operational necessity, concerted effort has resulted in successfully contracting of 155mm/39 Cal Ultra-Light Howitzers from US Government and 155mm/52 Cal Tracked (SelfPropelled) Artillery guns with L&T. To give impetus to indigenization major projects such as 155mm/45 Cal Dhanush Gun System, design and development by OFB and 155mm/52 Calibre Advance Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) designed by DRDO in partnership with Private Industry, is also being pursued”. There are plans to acquire more modern RSTA systems and precision guided munitions. The Regiment of Artillery has decided to standardise the calibre of its guns at 155mm so as to ensure commonality of ammunition and smoother management of the inventory. Such a move will also unfurl a fire storm at the target end.

Capability building and modernization is an ongoing process but the challenge is to carry out the assigned mission with existing resources. The capability of the Regiment of Artillery can be judged from its performance during combat. It has performed with dedication and valour in every conflict since Independence. During Kargil operations, the then COAS honoured three artillery regiments for exceptional and exemplary valour with unit citations. Combat capability is not only of the weapon systems but the soldiers who man them.

Regiment of Artillery has won many awards since Independence which include 7 Mahavir Chakras and 92 Vir Chakras amongst others which speaks highly of their combat capability. Their motto Sarvatra, Izzat-o-Iqbal (Everywhere with Honour and Glory) says it all. SP

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>> artillery

Artillery Employment and Future Technologies Synergised and orchestrated employment of all available firepower resources to shape the battlefield and to degrade the enemy in contact and depth battle entailing employment of mortars, guns and long range vectors in conjunction with IAF to achieve decisive defeat of the enemy Photograph: US DoD

 Lt General Naresh Chand (Retd)

T

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he classic artillery weapon is the gun which has been under development since the 12th century. The aim of development of the gun always was to deliver heavier shells at longer ranges accurately.

The current calibre accepted universally is 155mm with a range of 40 km. Apart from range, lethality and accuracy, there are other parameters like transportation and mobility; interoperability with other systems; counter bombardment capability; digital targeting; reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition (RSTA) capability and cost. The key parameters out of these which are attracting attention globally are improving the accuracy and speed of delivery. Director General of Artillery Lt General P.K. Srivastava, during a recent interaction with SP’s Land Forces, commented on the shape of the future battlefield and the role of Artillery in it as follows: Likely Shape of Future Battle Field.

The future battlefield will be characterised by short and intense engagements; nonlinear battles; simultaneity of operations; increased battle field transparency; synergized and orchestrated employment of fire power resources and employment of precision and high lethality weapon systems in a hybrid warfare environment. All of this under the overall backdrop of a nuclear, biological and chemical warfare threat.

Likely Employment of Artillery.

The employment of Artillery in the future in such a short and intense battles will be characterised as under: l Due to high tempo of operations, there will be a requirement of real time surveillance and target acquisition at all stages of battle. l Synergised and orchestrated employment of all available firepower resources to shape the battlefield and to degrade the enemy in contact and depth battle entailing employment of mortars, guns and long range vectors in conjunction with IAF to achieve decisive defeat of the enemy. Therefore Artillery should have a balance of guns (towed and self propelled), rockets and missiles. There is also a need to have a variety of ammunition and warheads to achieve desired results at the target. l Artillery will be responsible for detecting and destruction of enemy artillery and rocket positions. l The trend is towards precision so as to reduce logistic cost of each successful engagement. l Dependence on artillery to achieve favourable outcomes will increase.

Technologies Speed of delivery through automation and integration This is achieved by automation of the RSTA. Artillery has already developed Artillery Combat Command and Control System (ACCCS-Project Sakthi) which is a major component of the Tactical Command Control Communication and Intelligence (Tac

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SP’s Land Forces 5/2017

M777 Howitzer in action

C3I) system of the Indian Army. US Artillery has the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS) which uses “Fires XXI” computer system for both tactical and technical fire control. Due to the dual capability of Fires XXI, it has replaced the Battery Computer System (for providing technical fire solutions) and IFSAS/L-TACFIRE (for tactical fire control) systems. Rockwell Collins has developed the Joint Forward Observer Mobile digital joint fires solution (JFO Mobile) which provides digital fires solution, enables digital calls for indirect fires on artillery, mortar and range systems, is fully integrated with AFATDS, enables targeting via a digital system and final request for fire support via combat net radio when required, passes firesupport requests to C2 systems or directly to digitally enabled fire support assets and can plan comprehensive fire missions. ACCCS, AFATDS and JFO mobile provide fast reaction to fire requests, synergies all the fire power resources and integrates into the army’s command and control network. There are plans for improvements to the M777A2’s Digital Fire Control System. Select US Army artillery units will be equipped with the Joint Effects Targeting System (JETS) system which is a new handheld device that enables artillery observers and infantry soldiers to provide precision target locations and can then provide laser designation for precision ammunition. The current system is Lightweight Laser Designator Rangefinder which weighs 35 pound (about 11 kg) and considered too heavy for a single gunner to man as compared to JETS which weighs only 5.5 pounds (about 2.5 kg).

Target acquisition Electro-optic Infrared, radar and laser systems provide the army with exceptional battlefield capabilities, both by day and night.

Indigenous Weapon Locating Radar (WLR) Swathi provides fast, automatic and accurate location of enemy weapons like mortars, shells and rockets at a range of 50 km.

India also has AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder which is a mobile WLR system of Thales Raytheon Systems. Its successor is TPQ-53 radar which in addition to its counter-fire and counter-

drone missions, can also perform short range air defense (SHORAD) role. Laser range finders provide accurate range to the target.

Airborne Sensors UAVs have revolutionised RSTA and target damage assessment due to their speed and reach. India has also acquired Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) Searcher and Heron UAV. Brief details with some other examples are: l Searcher. Searcher is a multi mission tactical UAV which can carry out the role of surveillance, reconnaissance, target acquisition, artillery adjustment of fire and damage assessment. Searcher has been constantly improved from MkI to MkII and MkIII. The Searcher MkIII has multiple operational configurations, SAR/GMTI (Synthetic Aperture Radar/Ground Moving Target Indicator), SIGINT and EO/IR systems. It has a maximum altitude of >23000ft (about 7010 m), endurance of 18h with a mission radius of 350km. l AAI Corporation’s (an operating unit of Textron Systems) Shadow®.

The Shadow is designated as the RQ-7B in US and operates at brigade level. It has range of about 125 km. RQ-7B transmits imagery and telemetry data directly to the Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System, Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System and others systems in near real time.

Precision Guidance Munition (PGM) A PGM (also called smart weapon, smart munition, smart bomb) is a guided munition designed to precisely hit a specific target. During the Cold War period, the Soviet Union’s superior tank force presented a serious conventional threat to US and NATO forces in Europe which was partly offset by US nuclear weapons but the requirement was to provide a non-nuclear offset which started the evolution of PGMs. The experience of US Forces in Vietnam also led to the conclusion that PGMs can engage infrastructure targets like bridges and also cause less collateral damage. Other targets could

be radars, integrated air defense systems and command and control centres within range. PGMs would be self guided and thus could be launched from a longer range when operating from an airborne platform thus reducing the risk to the pilot and the aircraft. PGMs used by US Forces have been successful in the Middle East and thus the adversaries have changed their tactics to include use of widely dispersed forces in urban areas thus requiring even more precision. PGMs is the area where artillery can improve radically to provide devastating, accurate and almost instant fire. As usual U.S. through Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) leads the field to develop PGMs to be launched from land as well as air. DARPA had been working on many technologies like lasers, electro-optical sensors, microelectronics, data processors and radars which would all become critical components of the the first PGMs. In 1978, DARPA integrated a number of these efforts under its Assault Breaker programme which laid the technological foundation for several smart-weapon systems like the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS), which integrated PGMs with advanced ISR systems; an Air Force air-to-ground missile with terminally guided submunitions; the long-range, quickresponse, surface-to-surface Army Tactical Missile System, which featured all-weather, day/night capability effective against mobile and other targets; and the Brilliant Antiarmor Tank (BAT) submunition, which used acoustic sensors on its wings to detect and target tanks. DARPA also miniaturized the GPS receivers in the 80s which led to advance development in inertial navigation.

Other developments were the Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) GPS kits, which gave unguided or laser-guided munitions high-precision capabilities. Key to these developments were gallium arsenide chips which enabled the RF and millimeter wave circuits needed in precision weapons. The self-guided, anti-armour Javelin missile’s success was due to its the two-dimensional arrays which made missile’s seeker almost fool proof. Other developments in inertial navigation is Precision Inertial Navigation Systems (PINS), Micro inertial navigation technology (MINT) and Chip-scale atomic clock program (CSAC). PINS is an effort to address the vulnerabilities of GPS navigation like jamming, spoofing, blind spots, etc. by using ultra-cold atom interferometers to reduce the positional accuracy drift of INS by several magnitudes to achieve near-GPS accuracies. MINT aims to create high-precision navigation aiding sensors that directly measure intermediate inertial variables, such as velocity and distance, to reduce the error encountered while integrating signals from accelerometers and gyroscopes. The CSAC program is designed to create ultraminiaturized, low-power atomic time and frequency reference units that will achieve a 200X reduction in size and a 300X reduction in power consumption, with no loss in accuracy, as compared to the existing technology. A projected application is a wristwatch-size, high-security UHF com-

>> artillery municator and jam-resistant GPS receiver, but overall CSAC could drastically improve channel selectivity and density for all military communications. All these technologies will at some stage be employed directly or indirectly for artillery PGMs. The US Army’s Armament Research and Development Center’s Munitions Engineering Technology Centre deals with current and new generations of Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) and Excalibur, as well as the Advanced Precision Mortar Initiative (APMI—GPS guidance for 120mm mortars) and the Very Affordable Precision Projectile (VAPP) to increase ground force precision strike. Precision guidance technologies have helped converting area suppression weapons into PGMs/like Excalibur, a GPS-guided artillery projectile extending the range and accuracy of current and future 155 mm howitzers. The Army’s PGK, which replaces the fuse in the nose of conventional 155-mm artillery, similar to what the Air Force Joint Direct Attack Munition did for “dumb” bombs.PGK provides a Circular Error of Probability of 50m for all ranges, depending on the type of ammunition being fired. There are plans to develop scalable lethality from non-lethal to lethal responses which will require more precise target locating devices and smaller munitions. PGMs need reliable power supply thus is another area of development is to provide reliable and small sized batteries which have a long shelf life. The future PGM will be having variable lethality, can be redirected or terminated in flight. It should be able to operate in any environment, with or without GPS and be able to change the type of explosion to match the target.

Non-Line-of-Sight Launch System (NLOS-LS) The NLOS-LS, previously known as NetFires and as the Advanced Fire Support System, was a technology demonstration programme focused on beyond line-of-sight fires for the Army’s Future Combat System.

It is planned for missiles in canister to be vertically launched, with a command and control system in a box. The round in its launch canister is a complete entity. Being in a box means NLOS-LS can be mounted on a Humvee or a truck, or set up on the ground.

The NLOS-LS can be utilized in the Army’s Unmanned Surface Vehicle and in the Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship. NLOS-LS has two missiles. The first is a Precision Attack Missile (PAM), which was formerly developed by Raytheon Corporation. The missile travels at high speed for minimal time to target or to reach maximum range. It has a variable thrust motor, an uncooled infrared laser seeker and a multi-mode warhead.

The PAM can be utilized for both hard and soft targets. The second is a Loitering Attack Missile (LAM), which has continued to be developed by both Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. It carries a laser detection and ranging (“ladar”) seeker, a turbojet motor, and wings that extend on launch. The missile has a 70km range with a 30-minute loiter time. It is able to loiter over targets of interest, do automatic target recognition and attack targets on its own.

Magneto Hydrodynamic Explosive Munition (MAHEM) Programme Explosively formed jets (EFJ) and fragments and self-forging penetrators (SFP) are used for precision strike against targets such as

armored vehicles and reinforced structures for which chemical explosive energy is used.

The MAHEM programme aims for higher efficiency by using compressed magnetic flux generator (CMFG)-driven magneto hydro-dynamically formed metal jets and SFP with significantly improved performance over EFJ.

Multi-Azimuth Defense — Fast Intercept Round Engagement System (MAD-FIRES) This programme plans to combine the precision and maneuverability of a smart missile with the rapid-fire capability of an artillery shell. Raytheon has been contracted to develop such a device. MAD-FIRES aims to incorporate enhanced ammunition rounds able to alter their flight path in real time to stay on target, and a capacity to continuously target, track and engage multiple fast-approaching targets simultaneously and re-engage any targets that survive initial engagement.

High Explosive Guided Mortar (HEGM) The aim of HEGM is to provide integral indirect fire mortar munition to Manoeuvre Battalion and at Special Operations levels.

The XM395 will engage targets as close as 500m-6,500m threshold and 1,000 m-15000m objective.

Some examples of current PGMs M982 Excalibur. This is a 155mm extended range guided artillery shell developed by Raytheon Missile Systems and BAE Systems AB. It is a GPS-guided munition, capable of being used for close support of within 75-150 m of friendly troops. It has a range of 40-57km and CEP of around 5-20 m.

M712 Copperhead. This can be fired from a 155mm calibre gun , is fin-stabilized, terminally laser guided, explosive shell intended to engage hard point targets such as tanks, self-propelled howitzers or other highvalue targets. It can be fired from many types of 155mm calibre artillery guns like M777, M198 etc. The projectile has a minimum range of 3 km and a maximum range of 16 km. For Copperhead to function, the target must be illuminated with a laser designator. Once the laser signal is detected, the onboard guidance system will operate the steering vanes to maneuver the projectile to the target. Copperhead operates in two modes.

Ballistic mode is used with good visibility and high cloud ceiling. Glide mode is used with low visibility and low cloud ceiling.

XM395 Precision Guided Mortar Munition (PGMM). This is a 120mm guided mortar round developed by Alliant Techsystems. Based on Orbital ATK’s Precision Guidance Kit for 155mm artillery projectiles, XM395 combines GPS guidance and directional control surfaces into a package that replaces standard fuzes, transforming existing 120mm mortar bodies into PGMs. It has CEP of 5m at a range of 7000m.

M898 155mm Sense and Destroy Armour (SADARM) shell. SADARM can be fired from a normal 155mm artillery gun.

SADARM shell has a nose-mounted M762/ M767 fuse set to burst at 1,000 m above the target for releasing two SADARM submunitions. The submunition is ejected from the projectile with the help of two parachutes.

Each sensor with the submunitions has a milli- meter radiometer which scans an area of 150m in diameter,tracks and guides the submunition onto the target. SP

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>> technology

Targeting Technologies Small arms and the artillery must be able to accurately engage the target both by day and night, also pinpointing where enemy fire is coming from and neutralizing PhotographS: Trijicon, Vectronix

 Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

length). The key difference between Thermal IR and the other two is that Thermal IR is emitted by an object instead of reflected off it.

Most thermal imaging devices scan at a rate of 30 times per second, sense temperatures from -20 degrees Celsius to 3,600 degrees Celsius and can detect changes in temperature of about 0.2 degrees Celsius. Thermal imaging devices are generally ‘Un-cooled’ or ‘Cryogenically Cooled’. The un-cooled ones are more common wherein the IR detector elements are contained in a unit that operates at room temperature. These devices are noiseless, activate immediately and have inbuilt batteries. Cryogenically cooled devices have elements sealed inside a container that cools them to below 0 degree Celsius. The advantage of such a system is the incredible resolution and sensitivity that result from cooling the elements. These systems enable identifying whether a person is holding a weapon more than 300m away. Thermal imaging can detect persons in near-absolute darkness with little or no ambient light.

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echnological advances provide the means to target the enemy more effectively. If you can see the adversary before he sees you, monitor his moves continuously and target him effectively, the victory scales would axiomatically tilt in your favour. In this era of hybrid warfare and heavy exchanges of fire astride the Line of Control (LoC) periodically, the role of electro optical systems both in small arms and the artillery are important, coupled with the fact that a battlefield surveillance system perhaps is still a decade away. On one hand, there is advanced research of organic electro-optic (EO) materials and their hybrid systems for device applications, like polymer sol—gel waveguide modulators, polymer silicon slotted waveguides, and EO polymerclad silicon nitride ring resonators, providing new paradigm of high bandwidth, small footprint, and low energy consumption EO devices for telecom, datacom, and sensing applications. But at the same time, research and development is being undertaken globally to enhance the reach, improve the resolution and reduce the weight of sights in order to provide a better edge to own side.

Small arms and the artillery must be able to accurately engage the target both by day and night, also pinpointing where enemy fire is coming from and neutralizing it. In terms of indigenous EO products, we need to catch up with the foreign counterparts in terms of dimension, weight and performance. The ‘Make in India’ project and the Strategic Partnership Model (SPM) have opened avenues for developing state-of-theart EOs for our military.

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Weapon Sights Most modern assault rifles in use have optical sights like red dot sights and diopter sights. Most can be fitted with detachable scope mounts and night vision devices (NVDs). The Israreli Tavor TAR-21 assault rifle in use by our PARA (Special Forces) has a a standard Picatinny-type rail and is compatible with various scopes or night vision systems, the red-dot sight being standard issue. Optical sights allow users to see the image of an aligned aiming point in the same focus as the target. These include telescopic sights and reflex sights. There are also sights that project an aiming point onto the target itself, such as laser sights. A telescopic sight is based on an optical refracting telescope, equipped with some form of graphic image pattern (a reticle) mounted in an optically appropriate position in their optical system to give an accurate aiming point. The reflex sight is generally nonmagnifying optical device that allows the user to look through a glass element and see a reflection of an illuminated aiming point or some other image superimposed on the field of view. Then there are collimator sight (also termed ‘blind sight’) that allows the user looking into it to see an illuminated aiming point aligned with the device the sight is attached to regardless of eye position (with little parallax).

Laser Sights comprise lightweight laser placed on a handgun or rifle that is aligned to emit a beam parallel to the barrel; the laser light appears as a small spot on the target and the barrel of the gun is aligned and fired.

Most laser sights use a red laser diode. Others

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Fire Detection Systems

(Top) Trijicon’s Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight; (above) PLRF25C pocket laser range finder from Vectronix

use an infrared diode to produce a dot invisible to the naked human eye but detectable with night vision devices. A standard red dot sight uses a red light-emitting diode (LED) at the focus of collimating optics which generates a dot style illuminated reticle that stays in alignment with the weapon the sight is attached to regardless of eye position - nearly parallax free. Telescopes have narrow field of view and therefore are often equipped with a secondary ‘finder scope’ such as a red dot sight. Finally, there are also Holographic Weapon Sights (HWS) that use a laser transmission hologram of a reticle image that is recorded in three-dimensional space onto holographic film at the time of manufacture.

This image is part of the optical viewing window. The recorded hologram is illuminated by the collimated light of a laser diode built into the sight. The sight can be adjusted for range and windage by simply tilting or pivoting the holographic grating. To compensate for any change in the laser wavelength due to temperature, the sight employs holography grating that disperses the laser light by an equal amount but in the opposite direction as the hologram forming the aiming reticle. It is not ‘parallax free’ but can be offset by having a holographic image set at finite distance with parallax due to eye movement being size of the optical window at close range and diminishing to zero at the set distance; usually around a desired target range of 100m.

Night Vision Devices NVDs comprise an image intensifier tube (IIT), a protective housing and a mounting

system. Many NVDs also include sacrificial lenses, IR illuminators and telescopic lenses.

Night vision goggles (NVGs), night-scopes, night-monocular, night weapon sights are vital to any army. Longer reach and improved resolution better the chances of winning.

NVDs are of two types – Image Intensifiers (II) and Thermal Imagers (TI). Image Intensifiers are more common as their light amplification technology uses the small amount of ambient light like moon, stars-light and converts this light energy (Photons) into electrical energy (Electrons). To understand Thermal Imaging it is important to understand that Infrared (IR) can be split into three categories; Near IR (0.7 to 1.3 microns wavelength), Mid IR (1.3 to 3 microns wavelength) and Thermal IR (3 microns to over 30 microns wave-

Thermal imaging devices are generally ‘Un-cooled’ or ‘Cryogenically Cooled’.

The un-cooled ones are more common wherein the IR detector elements are contained in a unit that operates at room temperature.

This is an electro-optical system designed to pinpoint the location and sources of small arms fire. The system can handle simultaneous, multiple fire sources, including small arms and sniper fire sources, during day and night. at long ranges and with high precision and detection probabilities. Such systems comprises a FLIR, CCD with continuous zoom, a Laser Range Finder, a GPS, a commander control system and multiple “subscribers”, located with the unit’s snipers. It analyses the fire sources detected, verifying that each source is actually enemy fire. When verified, data is transferred to the supported unit, which can engage them with fire support, snipers or indirect fire.

An example of such system is SPOTLITE

by Rafael that rapidly closes the sensor-toshooter loop targets by processing within relatively short “window of opportunity” characteristic of urban warfare scenarios.

When required, the system can translate target data into coordinates for other shooters, or mark the target with a laser marker; distributing live images to relevant combat elements by day or night, supporting the platoon, company, battalion, reconnaissance units and special operations forces, by spotting fire sources with high level of precision, efficiently closing a “sensor to shooter” circuit at the tactical level: Global Companies Dealing with Sighting Systems The global market is awash with products of sighting systems and NVDs. Some of the leading companies in this field are listed below: l Safran Vectronix AG. The company provides state-of-the-art optronic equipment, systems and sensors for military and civil applications including handheld laser rangefinders and NVDs, tripod-mounted orientation and positioning systems and sensor modules for OEM partners, exporting over 95 per cent of products worlwide. The company offers accurate, reliable, high quality products with combat-proven low failure rate, and flexibility to address specific customer requirements, create customized solutions and provide support over the complete product life cycle. The US Continued on page 10...

>> Gun sights

Shooting With Precision Electronic gunsights will become an increasingly important aspect of military and civilian small arms development in the coming years Photograph: US DoD

 R. Chandrakanth

bullet drop compensator and other different reticle shapes such as chevrons.

There are other types of sights that may be referred to as ‘red dot’ sights. For some scopes, there may be a red dot in addition to the reticle. More commonly, ‘reflex’ and ‘holographic’ sights are referred to as red dot sights. Reflex sights use an LED to project a dot (or reticle or some sort) onto the image seen in the sight. Many people have laser sights on their guns. They cannot be used in bright light. They also tell your target precisely where you are.

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lobally, the legal small arms market is forecast to grow from $4.1 billion in 2014 to $5.3 billion in 2020, a compound annual growth rate of 4.2 per cent, according to projections in a new industry report from MarketsandMarkets.

The projections reflect sales of small arms in the hunting, sport shooting, self-defense, law enforcement and professional markets. Products include pistols, rifles, machine guns and carbines and according to the forecast five companies — Sturm Ruger, Alliant Techsystems, Smith & Wesson, Freedom Group and Colt Manufacturing — account for more than 40 per cent of the total market.

These firearms come with or without gunsights and there are numerous optical devices that assist in aiming a firearm for precision firing. Gunsights include the simple iron sights on pistols and the more complex front and rear sights on target and high-powered sporting rifles. The first gunsights appeared as early as 1450.

They consisted of a bead front sight and a notched standing rear sight. Since then, other designs have allowed great accuracy in situations in which the shooter can take his time in preparing to fire. Yet others, e.g., the open rear sight, allow for aiming and shooting quickly. Special telescopic sights appeared in the 1600s. In 1737, King Frederick the Great of Prussia is said to have used telescopic sights. Snipers’ rifles with telescopic sights were used in the US Civil War and World War I. Optical advances in the 20th century led to hugely varied telescopic or “scope” sights in varying powers and often varying ranges of magnification.

A gyro gunsight (GGS) is a modification of the non-magnifying reflector sight in which target lead (the amount of aim-off in front of a moving target) and bullet drop are allowed for automatically, the sight incorporating a gyroscopic mechanism that computes the necessary deflections required to ensure a hit on the target. The sight was developed just before the Second World War for aircraft use during aerial combat.The sights usually contained more than one reticle to assist in proper aiming point: a fixed one (signifying the direction the guns are pointing), a moving one showing the corrected aiming point, and a reticle to match to a target plane’s known wingspan (to adjust the sight for the target’s distance).

Gun owners are keen on improving their marksmanship and only gunsights can help them achieve that. Basically, there are three types of sights used on firearms open sights; aperture (peep) sights and telescopic sights.

Open Sights There are many types of ‘iron sights’ or open sights. The simplest is the type found on many shotguns. It’s a round bead at the muzzle end of the barrel. You simply look down the top ridge of the shotgun and put the bead on the target. It’s not the most accurate type of iron sight but it works well enough for most types of shooting that you’ll do with a shotgun. Then there are front and rear sights on the target which needs a bit of practice as at no point will both sights and the target be in sharp focus.

Electronic Gunsights

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Allissonoptical Creative 1 25/10/16 A US Marine sights his target through an advanced combat gun 2.pdf sight scope

Aperture Sights The peep’ or aperture sight is easier to use than open sights. The shooter has to look through the ‘aperture’ and center the bead on the front sight in the aperture. Like open sights, the two sights won’t be in clear focus.

For precision shooting, normally a smaller aperture is selected while a larger aperture is used in hunting.

ent light from around the sight, although this can lead to a mismatch in lighting — such as sunlight hitting the light pipe directly, or standing in a shadow — causing the reticle to be much brighter or darker than the target. Reticles have other features such as a

Electronic gunsights, such as those developed by TrackingPoint will become an increasingly important aspect of military and civilian small arms development in the 3:44 PM coming years. Such optics have already given 3:44 PM dramatic improvement to accuracy and hit probability in larger military systems, for example tanks and other armored fighting vehicles. While TrackingPoint’s system is clearly geared towards the precision shooter, it hints at other capabilities that could be applied through electronic gunsights in other areas where small arms are used. SP

Telescopic Sights For targets that are either very small or very far away, telescopic sights are used. Telescopic sights offer magnification of the target. Magnifications between 2x and 24x are common. While some scopes have a fixed power (2x, 4x...) many are variable. Variable scopes generally have a limited range of magnification. For example, a scope may have a 3-9 or a 6-24 range of magnification.

Larger lenses typically allow more light in but the quality of the optics plays a big part in the quality of the image through the scope.

There are two ‘turrets’ that allow for adjustment of the scope. The top turret allows one to adjust for elevation (up and down). The side turret allows to adjust for windage (left and right). Generally these are set and covers are screwed onto them to prevent the setting from being changed and in some instances to make the scope fully waterproof.

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Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight (abbreviated ACOG) is a series of telescopic sights manufactured by Trijicon. The ACOG was originally designed to be used on the M16 rifle and M4 carbine, but Trijicon has also developed ACOG accessories for other firearms. Models provide fixed power magnification levels from 1.5x to 6x. ACOG reticles are illuminated at night by an internal phosphor. Some versions have an additional daytime reticle illumination via a passive external fiber optic light pipe or are LED-illuminated using a battery.

The ACOG is available in a variety of configurations from the manufacturer with different reticles illumination, and other features. Most ACOGs do not use batteries for reticle illumination, being designed to use internal phosphor illumination provided by the radioactive decay of tritium. The tritium illumination has a usable life of 10-15 years.

Some versions of the ACOG have an additional daytime reticle illumination via a passive external fiber optic light pipe. Normally this allows the brightness of the reticle to match the field of view since it collects ambiK

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>> border protection

Technologies Secure Inhospitable Borders When the Berlin Wall collapsed, there were only 16 border fences around the world. Now, 65 countries have put up border fences, trying to keep at bay cross-border movement, terrorism, smuggling, drug racket, etc.

Photograph: Indian Army

 R. Chandrakanth

low-flying air targets. It was developed for the specific requirements of security scenarios; with its primary fields of application in border security systems, as well as the protection of critical infrastructure and perimeter. The Spexer 2000 has already proven its remarkable performance in integrated security systems in numerous regions of the world, where it is successfully being used to detect traditional as well as asymmetric threats.

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hen on November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall, a symbol of a country divided and termed the ‘Wall of Shame’ was brought down, one thought borders would start disappearing.

On the contrary, they have increased and countries are increasingly becoming protectionist, in the backdrop of illegal migration and the consequent social tensions that go along with it. When the Berlin Wall collapsed, according to …. there were only 16 border fences around the world. Now, 65 countries have put up border fences, trying to keep at bay cross-border movement, terrorism, smuggling, drug racket etc.

Battlefield Surveillance Radar

President Trump’s Mexican Wall Costs Huge And we all know how Donald Trump campaigned during the Presidential election with one of the central themes being building a wall along the border of Mexico and the latter having to pay for it. President Trump has already set in motion his grandiose plans to build an “impenetrable, physical, tall, powerful, beautiful, southern border wall” between the US and Mexico. The border is about 1,900 miles (3,100 km) long and traverses all sorts of terrain. Trump says his wall will cover 1,000 miles and natural obstacles will take care of the rest at a total cost of $10 billion, while fact checkers say it could be between $12 and $15 billion.

India Securing Its Long Borders

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Similarly, India has the onerous task of securing its border both on the eastern and western fronts. Half of the 4,096 km border India shares with Bangladesh has been fenced and the project is to be completed by 2019. The aim of the project is to curb infiltration and smuggling of cattle and fake Indian currency notes.

On the western front, the India and Pakistan Border, known locally as the International Border (IB), is an international border that demarcates the Indian states and the four provinces of Pakistan.The border which is 2,900 km in length has been a site of numerous conflicts and wars between the countries and is considered as one of the most complex borders in the world.

Countries have started protecting their borders from the illegal movement of weapons, drugs, contraband, and people, while promoting lawful entry and exit. The article examines how many of the countries are securing their borders. Indeed, border and perimeter security is a major challenge particularly when the borders run for thousands of kilometers, often through difficult and varied terrain.

Smart Technologies for Quick Detection Building a wall and watch towers like in the Cold War days is no longer secure enough.

Border and perimeter security is a major infrastructure activity, requiring huge investments, massive deployment of technologies and also people. Smart technologies are coming into play as they reduce the

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Border Recceby Indian Army along the Indo-Pakistan border

dependence on the foot soldier to keep a tab on the borders which is not possible roundthe-clock considering how inhospitable some of the border posts may be.

There are many border and perimeter security equipment available in the market, ranging from electric fencing or laser fencing to thermal cameras, sniper detection, ground surveillance radars, intrusion sensors, C41 (command, control, communications, computers and Intelligence) systems, under vehicle surveillance systems, turnstiles and revolving doors, tire killers and more.

With infiltration happening on the stealth, the need for laser fencing and other sophisticated fencing along the borders has been felt. The Border Security Force (BSF) is all set to get more teeth to man the 198 km India-Pakistan international border using a newly developed technology that can detect intrusions and relay information immediately to the nearest post for action.

Developed by Delhi-based defence IoT firm, CRON Systems, the made-in-India technology is called Kavach (KVx) series laser walls and is a notch higher than the existing laser walls. The intrusion detection system based on infrared array is invisible and more advanced than laser walls.

Laser Fencing Along the India-Pakistan border laser fencing is coming up in a big way. The laser wall is a mechanism that detects objects passing across the line of sight between a laser source and a detector, and sets off the alarm if it’s breached. They are equipped with night and fog operability tools to ensure functioning in low visibility conditions. The laser sensors are connected through satellite-based signal command system to ensure remote monitoring. Although expensive, but it is an effective solution to plug the loopholes and checkmate the enemy.

Israeli Technologies to the Fore India is also seeking technologies from Israel which has highly sophisticated border security system on the border outposts in Gaza.

The security system includes high-quality long-range day cameras along with night

observation systems employing third generation thermal imagers. Israel has expressed willingness to share with India its technology for border protection. The Israeli border fencing along West Bank, Gaza and Egypt also consists of latticed steel, topped and edged with razor wire, extending at least two metres below ground and in some sections reaching seven metres above the ground.

Ditches and observation posts with cameras and antennae line the route. In an electronic fence, an electronic pulse runs through the fence, setting off an alarm on contact that will allow security guards to locate the exact spot of attempted infiltration.

Optical Surveillance This is one of the oldest surveillance technologies around mainly made up of night vision, telescopes, binoculars and spotting scopes.

Night Vision: A night vision device (NVD) is an optical instrument that allows images to be produced in ultralow levels of light virtually approaching total darkness.

They are most often used by investigations agents, the military and law enforcement agencies, but are also used by civilians like hunters and wildlife photographers. Night vision devices were first used in World War II and the technology has evolved greatly since then, leading to several “generations” of night vision equipment with performance increasing and price decreasing.

Spotting Scopes and Binoculars: Although everyone is familiar with binoculars, spotting scopes are less known. Spotting scopes are generally a single scope, or monocular with a greater magnifications and are generally used by investigators and nature watchers.

Telescopes: Whether you are looking at Mars, the moon or in open terrain you don’t get much better magnification than a telescope to see those finer details and this could be used to advantage for surveillance along a fence.

Border Surveillance Radar Hensoldt’s Spexer 2000 is a high-performance border surveillance radar for the automatic detection and classification of ground, sea and

It is generally a man-portable batterypowered electronic short-range battlefield surveillance radar to provide all-weather surveillance against intrusion. The radar is capable of searching a specified sector and performing track while scanning for multiple targets. The radar detects, tracks and aids in classifying the moving targets. Such radar systems can be carried by one or two soldiers. They are compact and can be set up within a few minutes to match the speed and requirements of the users. The radar has sophisticated built-in software algorithms to detect, track and classify targets like crawling man, group of walking men, light and combat vehicles, and low flying helicopters.

It also has a built-in interface for automatic transfer of target data to remote locations and capability of integration with imaging sensors. The radar is amenable for mastmounted role on any light vehicle.

Unattended Ground Sensors For the detection of movement at a border crossing, Self-Powered Ad-hoc Network (SPAN) nodes may be equipped with ground-vibration or acoustic sensors, while for structural-integrity applications, stress sensors would be employed. According to Lockheed Martin, several undisclosed agencies within the US Government are currently testing the ability of unattended ground sensors to protect personnel stationed in war environments, and to assist with border surveillance. Unattended ground sensors may be in the form of IR devices, pressure devices, magnetic devices, electromagnetic devices, or acoustic devices.

Imagery analysis For instance Textron’s RemoteView gives comprehensive imagery analysis; quickly finds, interprets and annotates items of interest; includes toolsets for imagery and multi-image analysis. From imagery analysis to precision positioning and 3D visualization, RemoteView is the proven solution for situational understanding and interoperability. As the geospatial intelligence solution of choice within countries around the globe, RemoteView is used across a broad spectrum of industries including: military and defense, border security, disaster relief, natural resource management, civil engineering, ecosystem monitoring, city planning, environmental engineering, oil and gas exploration, real estate, utility and more.

The choice of secure and safe technologies is amazing but they all come at a huge cost. That is the price a government has to pay to keep its border’s safe, failing which we have seen how illegal migration has led to all kinds of problems across the globe. SP

>> anniversary

Gunners Celebrate 190th Raising Day PhotographS: Indian Army, Twitter

 SP’s Research team

following Gallantry Awards: l Ashok Chakra 1 l Mahavir Chakra 7 l Kirti Chakra 8 l Vir Chakra 92 l Yudh Sewa Medal 3 l Shaurya Chakra 56 l Sena Medal (Gallantry) 441 The Regiment has also been awarded 40 Honour Titles.

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he date September 28th has a special significance in the annals of the history of the Regiment of Artillery as the first Indian Artillery Unit, 5 (Bombay) Mountain Battery equipped with 2.5 inch RML gun, was raised on this momentous day in 1827.

The Regiment celebrates the occassion every year as Gunners Day. Artillery was first used in India in the 14th Century by the Bahmani Kings during the Deccan War against Vijaynagar Kingdom. Guns were also employed on the Indian sub continent by Babur during the Battle of Panipat in 1526. A force multiplier throughout the Mughal Period, and later during the reign of the Marathas, Hyder Ali, Tipu Sultan and the Sikhs under Maharaja Ranjit Singh, artillery has eternally been an arm to reckon with.

The East India Company raised the first regular company of Artillery in 1748, with a small percentage of Indian Gunners called Gun Lashkars, Tindals and Serangs. Bombay Artillery was raised on September 28, 1827, and was later on renamed 5 Bombay Mountain Battery. Thus September 28 is celebrated as the ‘Gunners Day’. Since then gunners have taken part in all operations including the First and the Second World War. The Indian Gunners performed with valour and dedication and by the end of World War II, Indian gunners had won one Victoria Cross, one George Medal, 15 Military Crosses, two IOMs, 22 IDSMs, 18 Military Medals, five OBEs, one MBE, three British Empire Medals, 13 Burma Gallantry Medals and 467 ‘Jangi Inams’.

With Independence came greater challenges and the Regiment proved its mettle during the operations of 1947-48, 1962, 1965, 1971 and 1999. After the Kargil conflict, Artillery has acquired further prominence with its vast array of weapons.

In addition, since the mid 1980s, gunners have been fighting shoulder to shoulder with the infantry in Counter Insurgency operations in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and the North Eastern States.

Amongst the present inventory of the Artillery are the 120mm mortars, the indigenously manufactured 105mm Indian Field Gun (IFG) and its lighter version for employment in mountains called Light Field Gun (LFG). The 155mm FH 77B Bofors, which created havoc during the Kargil War, and the 130mm Medium Gun of Russian origin are two of the most versatile and effective gun systems employed in all types of terrain and climatic conditions, ranging from the Siachen Glacier to the deserts of Rajasthan.

Over the ages, Artillery has proven to be the arm of decision, a battle wining factor and will continue to be a pivotal arm in all future Battles. The Regiment of Artillery today has embarked itself on a path of modernisation, both in terms of equipment and support systems under “Make in India” initiative of the Government of India.

Modernisation of Firepower The Indian Artillery is modernising rapidly with acquisition of 155 mm calibre gun systems in the towed, self-propelled and air portable versions. New multiple rocket launchers, with very high TNT content, having ranges longer than 60-70 kms have

Celebrations The main theme of celebrations is to remember the martyrs and the glorious past of the Gunners. All Gunners then rededicate their resolve to follow the example of martyrs in the ‘service of the nation’. A Sainik Sammelan is also held for all ranks of the station/regiment which is addressed by the senior most gunner. This is followed by a get together of the retired and serving personnel. Gunners Day is celebrated all over India and abroad (on UN missions) by all gunners.

(Top) Wreathes laid at Amar Jawan Jyoti by General Deepak Kapoor (Retd) and Lt General P.K. Srivastava, DG Arty on the 190th Gunners’ Day; (middle) General Deepak Kapoor (Retd) interacting with Gunners on the 190th Gunners’ Day in New Delhi; (above) Artillery Regiment celebrated 190 Raising Day across Telangana and Andhra Sub Area in Secunderabad Cantonment.

been acquired to achieve greater lethality. In order to address destruction of full array of targets in the battlefield, advanced ammunition systems such terminally guided munitions, sensor fuzed ammunition, precision guided munitions and a variety of cargo ammunitions are being introduced into the Artillery. The introduction of long range weapon locating and surveillance radars, and UAVs have increased the reach and enhanced the ambit of battle field

transparency. The BrahMos is a supersonic land cruising missile capable of destroying pin point targets deep inside the enemy territory. The efforts of all generations of illustrious gunners and the introduction of new generation missiles, rockets, surveillance equipment and ammunition are paving the way for the Regiment of Artillery to be the arm of the future that can destroy targets with greater lethality than ever before. Till date the Regiment of Artillery has won the

Celebrations at some important stations Delhi. At the level of Army Head Quarters, a wreath laying ceremony was held on the auspicious occasion of 190th Gunners’ Day at the Amar Jawan Jyoti. Wreath was laid

by General Deepak Kapoor (Retd), former COAS and Lt General P.K. Srivastava, Director General Artillery and Colonel Commandant Regiment of Artillery to remember the sacrifices of our fallen heroes. A gettogether of serving officers veterans was held in the evening.

School of Artillery, Devlali. It is the ‘Alma Mater’ of Gunners where the celebrations started by flagging off the Cycling Expedition of Gunners from September 28 to October 3, by Lt General R.S. Salaria, Commandant School of Artillery and Col Commandant Regiment of Artillery. The Cycling Expedition consisting of two Officers and 10 Other Rank covered a distance of approximately 500 kms over a period of five days. The route of the expedition was Devlali-Yeola-AurangabadAhmednagar-Shirdi-Devlali. The Commandant addressed a Sainik Sammelan on the occasion, attended by all the Gunners of the station. Devlali has a special historical value as it was in September 1867 that the British started functioning from this location. This was followed by a wreath laying ceremony to pay homage to the fallen Gunner martyrs. A get together of serving and veterans officers was held in the evening.

Hyderabad. The Regiment of Artillery celebrated its 190th Raising Day across the Telangana and Andhra Sub Area (TASA).

Hyderabad has special significance as the Artillery Centre is located at Golconda. The senior most Gunner in the station Major General N. Srinivas Rao, General Officer Commanding (TASA) called upon all the Gunners to rededicate themselves to uphold the ethos and spirit enshrined in the motto of the Regiment of Artillery, ‘Everywhere with Honour and Glory’. A wreath laying ceremony was held at Artillery Centre, Golconda. The wreath laying was a fitting tribute to the valour of all the Gunners who have made supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation. Veer Naris (War Widows) were felicitated with financial assistance on this occasion. Finally a get together was organised on the occasion attended by senior officers from other arms and services, serving Gunner officers and veterans. SP

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>> exercise / technology

Exercise Indra-2017 Concludes Photographs: Twitter

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he Indo-Russian defence cooperation received a major inspiration with Exercise Indra2017, the first ever tri-services joint exercise between Indian and Russian Armed Forces which was conducted in the Eastern Military District of Russia from October 19 to 29, 2017. Exercise Indra in its previous nine avatars has been conducted as a single service exercise alternately between the two countries. The year 2017 marks a major milestone as this exercise has been upgraded to involve all the three services of the armed forces (Army, Navy and Air Force), which further accentuates the importance of joint services in the present world environment.

Exercise Indra 2017, the first tri-service exercise between India and Russia, in its final phase, showed the Task Force comprising of armoured, mechanised infantry and infantry elements, ably supported by fighter aircrafts and armed helicopters successfully extricating a humanitarian aid convoy from a terrorist attack. A terrorist attack on a humanitarian aid convoy was simulated as per the exercise setting. The humanitarian assistance was depicted for trapped civilians in a counter insurgency environment

under UN mandate. The attack tested the response mechanism of the combined task force of Indian and Russian defence forces.

The terrorists were successfully isolated and the humanitarian aid convoy was escorted to safety. Simultaneously, fighter aircraft and armed helicopters pulverized the target in an exceptional display of firepower while artillery elements comprising of 122mm, BM21, GRAD and howitzers further softened the target. Tanks closed in on the target along with mechanised infantry elements and cordoned off the entire area, and the stage was set for the infantry to launch the final assault.

Later, speaking to the media, Major General N.D. Prasad, the Task Force Commander of the Indian contingent expressed his happiness at the professional synergy displayed during the entire exercise not only between the air force, navy and the army elements of the Indian defence forces, but also between the Indian and Russian defence forces, in spite of language constraints. He stated that the manner in which the exercise was conducted between India and Russia is a reflection of the high level of professionalism of both sides and that the exercise has proved to be a great learning ground. Rear Admiral

Biswajit Dasgupta, the Naval Component Leader and Air Commodore R.G.K. Kapoor, the Air Force Component Leader reiterated that the synergy on display between the three services of both sides has reinforced the importance of tri-service cooperation and is the harbinger of things to come in future operations.

The last drill of Exercise Indra-2017 was carried out on October 28, 2017 when the amphibious landing took place at Cape of Klerk training area, undertaken

by Indian and Russian naval elements with air support. The active sea phase of naval component commenced on October 26 in the Sea of Japan and personnel of both the countries were put through various tactical and operational manoeuvres.

They displayed high levels of professionalism and the exercise generated an outstanding level of professional synergy and understanding of each other’s doctrines, concepts and methodology of execution of operations.

The Air Force component undertook various practice missions by combined Indo-Russian crew in fighters, transport and helicopters during the training phase.

These aircraft formed an integral part in

the Joint Ops that were undertaken and also provided air support for the amphibious landing mission.The exercise culminated on 29th October in a grand closing ceremony which will be held at Vladivostok.

After intense and exacting military training, the joint exercise concluded with a closing ceremony, wherein both the contingents showcased their immense talents with unique traditional touches. It was witnessed by senior officials and dignitaries of both countries including Ambassador of India to the Russian Federation, Pankaj Saran. Personnel from the Indian as well as Russian contingents were awarded medals of excellence for their outstanding performance during the exercise. Fighters and Helicopters co-piloted by Indian and Russian pilots took part in the flypast along with an Indian Air Force Il-76 aircraft.

The exercise also provided an opportunity to both the armies for greater cultural understanding, sharing experiences and strengthening mutual trust and cooperation. Participants from both the armed forces expressed immense satisfaction at the conclusion of the training, in terms of the standards achieved in the validation phase of the training. SP

PLRF25C is ready for combat operations in the most extreme conditions.

The PLRF25C fits easily in any pocket and is water resistant up to 1m deep for 30 minutes (optional 10m): – Other products include ‘thermal acquisition clip-on system for NVDs’ that add additional capabilities; low power consumption, optimal sensor technology and high-performance optics integrate seamlessly to provide state-of-the-art long-wave IR technology. Then is the ‘compact observation and location unit for day/ night viewing, with geo-location functions in a compact and userfriendly package called ‘MOSKITO’ that measures range, azimuth and vertical angle. In addition, it incorporates the latest image intensifier technology for night time viewing, including self-regulation to different levels of brightness. l Aimpoint AB. The company supplies electro-optical sighting systems including passive red dot collimator sight, laser device, fire control systems and mounts. It was awarded the first multi-year contract ever for red dot sights by the US Army in 1997. Aimpoint has continued to deliver large quantities of sights to the US Army, French Army, US Air Force, US SOCOM,

Swedish Army, Norwegian Army, Dutch Army, Danish Army and Italian Army. l Optex Systems. This US-based company manufacturing OEs has secured a contract to supply new periscopes for the US Army. Under the terms of the $8,41,000 deal, the company will supply an undisclosed number of periscopes to be installed aboard the army’s Abrams tanks. The periscopes will feature glass and plastic laser protection for soldiers’ eyes. l Photonic. Photonic is a globally active contractor for optical and opto-electronic instruments, whose optical products provide for infantry and artillery weapon systems. The company has also developed a unique sighting system to lay muzzle-loaded indirect fire weapons such as 60mm mortars. l Trijicon. This US company has led the industry in the development of superior any-light aiming systems since the company’s founding in 1981. Worldrenowned for its innovative applications of tritium and advanced fibre optics, Trijicon manufactures the most advanced riflescopes and sights for tactical and sporting applications. It manufactures optical sighting devices for firearms, specializing in self-luminous optics and night sights, mainly using

the low energy radioactive isotope tritium,light-gathering fiber optics and batteries. Additionally, Trijicon is a contractor for the US military and supplies the Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight (ACOG) and RX01 reflex sights.The ACOG, Reflex, TriPower, AccuPoint, and Night Sights are available to military, law enforcement, and civilian markets. l Thales Optics. The Sight Unit Small Arms, Trilux (or SUSAT) is a 4x with telescopic sight with tritium-powered illumination, utilised at dusk or dawn. The full name of the current model is the SUSAT L9A1.

The SUSAT sight was developed in the United Kingdom by Royal Armaments Research Development Establishment (RARDE) and is manufactured by United Scientific Instruments and Avimo, now known as Thales Optics.

Targeting... continued from page 6

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Army has contracted the company to build the Army’s next-generation laser target locator; contract for $304.5 million announced in April 2017 to build the Laser Target Locator Module II (LTLM II) enabling foot soldiers identify target locations in daylight or at night, as well as in obscured-visibility such as fog or smoke.

– The LTLM II is a lightweight, handheld system with day and night imagers, a laser rangefinder, digital compass, and a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver: – Vectronix’ STERNA provides true north capabilities 24 x 7 in virtually any environment working in virtually all weather conditions; operating independently without GPS, celestial bodies, survey, or landmarks, and can operate in a magnetically charged environment, permitting soldiers to operate in virtually all battle and hostile environments: – Vectronix pocket laser range finder offers snipers/spotters, marksmen and forward observers the smallest, most powerful MILSPEC eye-safe laser range finder available, with ranging measurements up to 4,000m - weighing 500g and measuring only 131mm x 88mm x 56mm, the

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SP’s Land Forces 5/2017

Conclusion Conflict situations demand that we provide the wherewithal to our soldiers to have greater advantage through battlefield transparency by night including through poor visibility due to rain, fog, mist, snow, sandstorm, blizzards. Where the Indian defence market has opened up for joint ventures with OEMs, we must provide the state-ofthe–art electro-optics technology to our soldiers for effectively target the enemy. SP

>> News in Brief Raksha Mantri made her maiden visit to CVRDE, Chennai

for 41.9 consecutive hours, a significant increase over the 25-hour capability of the current Gray Eagle UAS.

Lockheed wins $337m orders to supply M-TADS/PNVS systems

The Raksha Mantri Nirmala Sitharaman made her maiden visit to Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE), Avadi, Chennai. Chairman DRDO & Secretary Department of Defence R&D Dr S. Christopher and Distinguished Scientist & Director, CVRDE Dr P. Sivakumar, made a brief presentation on the achievements and on-going national programs of CVRDE in Combat Vehicles & Technologies. The dignitaries were taken to various technology centres by Director, CVRDE to witness the products and systems/technologies developed by CVRDE.

Rafael to produce & provide SPIKE LR2 5th Gen missiles

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. has been awarded a contract with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to supply more than one thousand SPIKE LR2, 5th generation electro-optical, precision-guided missiles.

The SPIKE LR2 has a range of 5.5 km when fired from ground launchers (an increase of over 35 per cent from the 4 km range of the original SPIKE LR) and up to 10 km when fired from a helicopter (using the RF Data Link).

GA-ASI transitions to an All Gray Eagle Extended Range production

Lockheed Martin has received orders worth $337m to supply Apache modernised target acquisition designation sight/pilot night vision sensor (M-TADS/PNVS) systems to the US, the UK and Saudi Arabia.

The orders have been placed as part of a new indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract awarded by the US Army. The contract, with a five-year period of performance, includes at least $2bn in potential orders, Lockheed stated.

surveillance cameras in support of the US Army’s EO/IR-Force Protection (FP) programme. The programme seeks to provide improved perimeter security and force protection for the US troops stationed around the world, such as Iraq and Afghanistan.

Deliveries under the deal are expected to begin later this year, with planned completion within one year. The contract expands the use of FLIR stabilised surveillance systems for the EO/IR-FP programmes, FLIR stated. FLIR’s TacFLIR is available in three versions, including TacFLIR 380HD, TacFLIR 280-HD and TacFLIR 230. To date, FLIR has delivered more than 1,000 EO / IR sensors to the US Army as part of this programme to support the safety of US forces and those of allies, including a variety of systems. Earlier this year, FLIR secured an $8.8m contract as part of the same programme to deliver other FLIR Ranger radars.

UK University researchers develop smart helmets for soldiers

US Army test Northrop Grumman’s integrated battle command system

Northrop Grumman-developed integrated air and missile defense (IAMD) battle command system (IBCS) has successfully completed a key developmental test conducted by the US Army soldiers, the three-week Soldier Checkout Event (SCOE) test saw IBCS being used as the common C2 across battalion and battery-level operations. The US soldiers also used Sentinel and Patriot radars and Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC)-2, PAC-3 and PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement interceptors to fight 26 simulated air battles against hundreds of tactical ballistic missile threats.

The SCOE also tested IBCS’s ease of use and involved a 72-hour endurance run of the system, including 18 additional air battles.

FLIR to supply TacFLIR land surveillance camera systems FLIR Systems has secured an order to supply TacFLIR land surveillance camera systems for the US Army. Valued at $74.7m, the order requires the company to deliver

Senior Editorial Contributor Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd) Senior Technical Group Editor Lt General Naresh Chand (Retd) Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd) Assistant Group Editor R. Chandrakanth Contributors India General V.P. Malik (Retd), Lt General Vijay Oberoi (Retd), Lt General R.S. Nagra (Retd), Lt General S.R.R. Aiyengar (Retd), Major General Ashok Mehta (Retd), Major General G.K. Nischol (Retd), Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal (Retd), Brigadier S. Mishra (Retd), Rohit Sharma Chairman & Managing Director Jayant Baranwal Executive Vice President (Planning & Business Development) Rohit Goel

Asst-Admin, HR & Infra Pooja Tehlani Creative Director Anoop Kamath Design Vimlesh Kumar Yadav, Sonu Singh Bisht Research Assistant: Graphics Survi Massey

A team of researchers at Nottingham Trent University in the UK are developing smart helmets to help prevent soldiers from incurring hearing injuries. Tiny microphones are being knitted into the fabric covering army helmets to record the noise soldiers experience in the field. The ATRG’s e-yarn technology platform will be used to embed the micro electromechanicalsystem microphones (MEMS), keeping them dry. The microphones knitted into the fabric will be undetectable to the user and avoid interfering with military activities. The MEMS are capable of measuring the level of noise that soldiers are exposed to in the field over a length of time.

The MEMS will be positioned above each ear as an acoustic injury is more likely to be asymmetric due to military activities, meaning one ear might be affected more than the other. According to the researchers, a short exposure to sound levels exceeding 140dB can cause permanent hearing damage.

Harris wins $260m order to supply tactical communications network

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) officially transitioned its production line from the MQ-1C Gray Eagle to its new long-range variant, the MQ-1C ER Gray Eagle Extended Range following the completion of the last contracted MQ-1C aircraft.

GA-ASI’s investment in airframe composite tooling enabled the company to start manufacturing the MQ-1C ER ahead of schedule, with its production running in parallel with the MQ-1C line. The first four MQ-1C ER aircraft are now being used for developmental testing that will lead to follow-on operational test and evaluation in spring 2018. Customer deliveries of MQ-1C ER will begin in summer 2018.

The MQ-1C Gray Eagle UAS has been fielded to 12 US Army operational units and has accumulated more than 290,000 flight hours. The MQ-1C is the Army’s most active kinetic platform in theater.

In addition to improved reliability and maintainability, MQ-1C ER brings considerable improvement in endurance and payload capabilities. As part of a recent endurance test flight, an MQ-1C ER aircraft flew

Editor Lt General V.K. Kapoor (Retd)

Administration Bharti Sharma

US Army accepts first M1A2 SEPv3 version of Abrams main battle tank The US Army has accepted the first of six M1A2 system enhancement package version 3 (SEPv3) of Abrams main battle tanks (MBTs).

The M1A2 SEPv3 vehicles have been integrated with joint tactical radio system handheld, manpack, and small-form fit radio for battle command and communications interoperability. The other improvements delivered include armour upgrades, redesign of line replaceable unit/ line replaceable modules and installation of an ammunition data link to programme the M829A4 advanced kinetic energy and advanced multi-purpose rounds. The M1A2 SEPv3 also received improved amperage alternator, slip ring, enhanced hull power distribution unit / common remote switching modules and the battery monitoring system to address the power demand growth potential. The Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 tank will replace the M1A2 SEPv2, which has been in production since 2005.

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Jayant Baranwal

Harris has received a $260m order to develop battlespace communications network for an undisclosed Asia-Pacific country. Under the contract, the company will develop an integrated tactical communications network as part of an Asia-Pacific country’s modernisation programme. The integrated network will be made up of tactical radios, network planning, monitoring and routing software, and other systems and technology from Harris and partnering companies.

Featuring Harris’ Falcon III AN/PRC158 multi-channel manpack radios and vehicular amplifiers, the network will provide voice and data services to tactical forces for line-of-sight and beyond-lineof-sight applications. The Falcon III AN/ PRC-158 radios’ software communications architecture can accommodate a variety of narrowband and wideband waveforms.

Covering the full 30MHz-2,500MHz frequency range, these radios offer embedded routing and crossbanding, optional mission modules for advanced capabilities and the ability to crossband voice and data. Each of the manpack’s two channels can transmit and receive voice and data simultaneously, and it comes fully-equipped with integrated MUOS hardware. SP

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