Aerial Targets
To enable live firing practice of air defence weapons on simulated targets for its soldiers, the Indian Army has launched a search for Indian vendors to indigenously design and develop Manoeuvrable Expendable Arial Targets, which could manoeuvre like a real target.
The Directorate General of Army Air Defence has issued a tender on July 13 for buying 125 aerial targets of which 50 will go to the army and the rest 75 to the Indian Air Force. The procurement is envisaged on an annual basis, according to the Request for Proposal. The last date for responding to the tender is 5 October.
The Indian Army employs a host of air defence weapons comprising of guns and surface-to-air missiles along with their associated Command, Control, and Support infrastructure to counter the air threats.
Post-formulation of Service Qualitative Requirement, the Acceptance of Necessity for the project was obtained on 7 November 2017 and in-principle approvals for the aerial targets project was accorded on 26 February 2018.
ALSO READ ARMY MODERNISATION: Army Making Plans to Acquire Light Tanks
The Indian Army expects the aerial targets to have a speed over 400 kmph. The maximum endurance should be over 30 minutes at Wide Open Throttle at sea level. The minimum and maximum altitude should be over 20 metres and 5,000 metres respectively.
The radio control range for the aerial targets should be at least 75 km. The system should be employable against Short Range, Medium Range and Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missiles.
The total cost of development of the two prototypes and procurement of 125 aerial targets along with associated equipment is estimated at Rs 62.5 crore ($8.34 million). The project is proposed under the ‘Make II‘ category of the Defence Procurement Procedure.
Weapon Locating Radars
Six Swathi Weapon Locating Radars (WLRS) are being acquired from indigenously built by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), at a cost of around Rs 400 crore to help the force to know the exact location of artillery guns fired by the enemy.
Armoured Protected Vehicles
The Indian Army needs an armoured infantry combat vehicle for quick movement of troops in the Eastern Ladakh area where the Chinese have deployed their armoured personnel carriers in large numbers. The force is looking at the three options which include the Tata WhAP and the American Stryker and Humvee.
The options are being evaluated. During the evaluation process, the indigenous platform would certainly have preference over the foreign products in meeting the requirements of the Army.
While the Tata vehicle is yet to enter service, the Stryker and Humvee have been part of the American defence forces for a long time now.
ALSO READ ARMY MODERNISATION: Army to Buy Smart Munitions, UAVs, Riot Gear Under Fast Track
Tata WhAP, which has been co-developed with a DRDO laboratory, has undergone several trials in recent times including high altitude tests.
The Strykers and Humvee are reportedly capable of being dropped from transport aircraft including the C-130J and the C-17s which are also operated by the Indian Air Force.
During the ongoing standoff with the Chinese in Eastern Ladakh, the Chinese troops had come to the Line of Actual Control at multiple points including Galwan Valley, Hot Springs, Gogra and Patrolling Point 15 using heavy vehicles including Armoured Personnel Carriers.
The Indian Army uses a large number of Russian-origin BMP infantry combat vehicles, which are used by the Mechanised Infantry regiments of the Indian Army in deserts, plains, and high altitude locations.
GPS-GIS Minefield Recording System
The Army’s Corps of Engineers is searching for an Indian vendor to design, develop and manufacture Minefield Recording Systems (MRS) based on Global Positioning System (GIS) and Geographical Information System (GIS) to prevent casualties among personnel during de-mining operations in the borders with adversarial neighbours.
The current requirement projected is for 1,840 of these MRS. The MRS based on GPS and GIS may be required more for the Line of Control on the Pakistan border on India’s West than in the northern borders with China, though the situation could change rapidly on the Line of Actual Control too considering the uncertainly in the over two-and-half month conflict in Ladakh.
Army Engineers would use these MRS based on GPS and GIS to locate the laid mines while carrying out de-mining. The laid mines remain in place for long duration and these are regularly recovered during de-mining.
During such recovery, casualties may take place due to inaccurate recording of location of the mines. The MRS based on GPS and GIS is envisaged to be such a system to instill confidence in the minefield record.
The EOI is to seek willingness of Indian vendors to participate in the ‘Make-II‘ project, in accordance with provision of Chapter IIIA of the Defence Procurement Procedure of 2016 (DPP-2016) incorporating all amendments up to 1 November 2019.
The Indian vendors meeting the technical, commercial and project requirements will be issued the ‘Project Sanction Order‘ as the next step to develop a prototype. ‘Make II’ procedure is an industry-funded project under Para 6 of Chapter IIIA of DPP-2016.
ALSO READ Army Modernisation : Frontline Troops Get SIG 716 Assault Rifles
Search for Domestic Ammunition Manufacturers
The Master General of Ordnance of the Indian Army issued Requests for Information (RFI), on 3 and 4 August, to facilitate preparation of Requests for Proposal and identify prospective manufacturers for participating in the proposal for indigenous production.
The Government of India will neither provide any special concessions nor any funding or investment to facilitate setting up of requisite infrastructure by participating firms.
The prospective manufacturers will be free to select their technology partners, negotiate and obtain Transfer of Technology. The technology partners could be indigenous Ordnance Factory Board or DRDO or any foreign vendor.
The Indian Army and Ministry of Defence will have no liability in technology transfer agreements between the participating vendor and their technology partners.
The Requests for Information are for:
• Round 20mm SAPHEI for Anti Material Rifle. Annual requirement is 6,415.
• Cartridge SA 9mm Subsonic Calibre 158 GR for 9mm SMG MP-9. Annual requirement is 1,54,233.
• Shell 155mm HE 77B, Shell 155mm Cargo, Shell 155mm Smk, Shell 155mm Ill, and Shell 155mm HE 107.
• 40mm LV HE AR -406 Ammunition. Annual requirement is 14,850.
• Rocket 122mm HE Shell Fragmentation for BM-21 (NON ER) and Fuze MRU/MRV 9E 244 for BM-21. Annual requirement is 2,102.
• Cartridges ZP 1, Cartridges ZP 2, and Cartridges NZP. Annual requirement is 52.
• Disposal Rocket Launcher C-90 CR-RB (M-3), Round for C-90 CR BK M 3.1 Anti-Bunker System (Annual requirement is 45 each) and Ammunition for TR-90 Trg System, all three from Spain. The annual requirement of Ammunition for TR-90 Trg System is 486.
• 300mm SMERCH 9M55K Cluster War Head (annually 12), 300mm Smerch 9M55S Fuel Air Explosive War Head (annually 6), and 300mm Smerch 9M55F HE Fragmentation Separate War Head (annually 12).
• Cartridges SA 7.62mm Rifle Ball with Steel Core Bullet Rimmed (annually 22,14,774), Cartridges SA 7.62mm Rifle Tracer with Bullet T-46 Rimmed (annually 15,03,935), Cartridges SA 7.62 mm Rifle API with B-32 Bullet Rimmed (annually 15,66,832), Cartridges SA 7.62mm Sniper Rimmed for Dragunov Sniper Rifle (annually 16,23,750), and Cartridges SA 7.62mm Match for Galil Sniper Rifle (annually 73,800).
Non-Kinetic Warfare Technologies
The Army has undertaken a major study, under an Army Commander, on advanced “niche and disruptive warfare technologies.” The aim of the study is to bolster the conventional war-fighting capabilities of the Army as well as prepare for “non-kinetic and non-combat” warfare in the years ahead.
