Innovations made by all ranks of the Army to enhance operational efficiency, promote the innovative spirit of and incorporate latest technologies in current weapon systems, were displayed for inspection by the Chief of Army Staff, Gen MM Naravane, on 13 January in New Delhi. The event was organized by Army Design Bureau, as part of the Army Day 2021 celebrations.
The event was attended by officers from HQ Integrated Defence Staff, Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, scientists from DRDO and representatives from industry.
To counter the operational challenge of intrusions by the enemy drones / quadcopters on the western borders for dropping arms and ammunition or surveillance, the Army’s Northern Command has developed quadcopter jammers, which have the capability to defeat all types of quadcopters coming from across the borders.
The innovations were based on niche technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the performance of the in-service Battle Field Surveillance Radars (BFSR), long range observation systems (LORROS), and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).
Innovations like 9x19mm pistol ‘ASMI’, India’s first universal (both for men & women soldiers) lightweight Bullet Proof Jacket ‘SHAKTI’, Bullet Proof Helmet ‘Abhedya’, Wall Penetration Radar ‘Argos’ and Anti-Mine Boot ‘Padam Kavach’, developed by the Indian Army innovators were also showcased.
Other innovations like unmanned ground vehicles for remote explosion of IEDs (XPLODER), identification and marking of minefields and ‘Bullet Proof Bamboo Concrete Panel’ will further increase the protection of troops in operational areas.
Gen Naravane felicitated the innovators and expressed his satisfaction over the efforts being undertaken towards capacity enhancement through indigenization and exhorted the vast pool of talent with the Indian Army to come forward with innovative solutions and contribute towards ANB in defence. The COAS later unveiled the ‘Compendium of Innovations -2021’.
All-in-One Quadcopter Jammer System
An All-in-One Quadcopter Jammer System has been developed by one of the Electronics & Mechanical Engineers’ unit deployed in the Kashmir valley to counter quadcopters being used for anti-national activities.
The jammer system can effectively counter any type of quadcopters at a range of approximately 800 meters. Indian Army is planning to deploy such systems on the international border/ Line of Control/ Line of Actual Control and in hinterland to counter enemy quadcopters.
Sapper Scout
An Indian Army Captain from the College of Military Engineering, Pune has developed an Unmanned Ground Vehicle for mine detection and improvised explosive device (IED) disposal called “Sapper Scout” to avoid casualties and aid the troops in operations. The Army has suffered many casualties due to landmines over the years. The oficer conceived and developed the Sapper Scout to detect and mark the mines enabling the troops to safely evade minefields.
Xploder
In a major boost to protect troops from IEDs, the officer has also developed a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) called “Xploder”. The ROV is backpack sized and light in weight for easy carriage by soldiers during operations. It aids the troops during room intervention operations, flushing of hideouts and remote disposal of IEDs. The wireless electronic detonation circuit (WEDC) developed by the officer will be used to remotely trigger and destroy suspected targets including IEDs from longer ranges.
Indoor Surveillance Microcopter
The Simulator Development Division (SDD) has developed a manportable microdrone, which has the capability to fly inside buildings in GPS denied environment for indoor surveillance, thereby giving precise location of terrorist hideouts, which enables their neutralization with minimum collateral damage. The small dimension of the drone enables its entry inside a building through windows, ventilators or doors.
The microcopter has state-of-the-art capability for obstacle avoidance in indoor environment and can provide live video feed to the operator. It can operate in low light conditions and is highly stable in GPS denied environment. With 20 minutes endurance and 100 metres range, it can be used for close recconaissance around target buildings for planning operations.This innovation can be extensively utilised by the armed forces in counter-insurgency/ counter-terrorist operations.
9 mm Machine Pistol ASMI
India’s first indigenous 9mm machine pistol “ASMI” has been developed by Lt Col Prasad Bansod from Infantry School, Mhow with assistance from ARDE, Pune in a record time of four months. The weapon fires the in-service 9 mm ammunition.
“ASMI” which is an acronym for Pride, Self Respect and Hard Work, sports an upper receiver made from aircraft-grade Aluminium and lower receiver from carbon fibre, manufactured by 3D printing process including trigger components made by metal 3D printing. It features a 8-inch barrel and 33 rounds high capacity magazine with an overall empty weight of under 2 kgs.
The weapon has a huge potential in the Armed Forces as personal weapon for heavy weapon detachments, commanders, tank and aircraft crews, drivers/ dispatch riders, radio/ radar operators, CQB, CI/ CT operations, VIP protection duties and policing.
ASMI is likely to find huge employability within the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and state police services and potential for exports with likely production cost of under Rs 50,000 per weapon.
Innovations by Maj Anoop Mishra
Shakti Bullet Proof Jacket (BPJ). India’s first universal BPJ for both men and women soldiers with 100 per cent indigenous content is claimed to be the only second body armour in the world which fits men and women both. First of its kind semi-flexible variegated armour protection, it takes the contours of the body and fits any body type. It comes in two variants – Level IV protection capable of stopping a sniper bullet from a distance of 10 metres and weighs just 6.2 kgs. Level III+ (Special Forces variant) capable of stopping an AK-47 round from a distance of 10 metres and weighs just 4.2 kgs. The cost of the BPJ is half of the current body armour with same level of protection.
Abhedya Ballistic Helmet. This is India’s first 100 per cent indigenous ballistic helmet capable of stopping a rifle round from a distance of 10 metres. The helmet comes in two variants – Level III which is capable of stopping an AK-47 MSC round and Level III+ for AK-47 HSC armour piercing round. Advance Gel technology brings down trauma to zero mm. Helmet can be worn in all types of weather conditions and it comes with boltless design and Mil standard four-point strap. Cost of Level III helmet is one-fourth the cost of helmets in the international market. There is no Level III+ helmet as of now in the world which makes Abhedya a pioneer in rifle protection ballistic helmet technology.
PadamKawach Anti-Mine Boot. India’s first non-metallic and non-ceramic Boot Anti Mine. The current boot anti-mine causes fragmentation and splinter effect when it comes under mine blast seriously injuring the wearer as well as fellow soldiers as they have heavy metal or hard ceramic content. This is a critical technology developed in India, wherein ballistic rubber has been developed to mitigate mine blast and it behaves like normal DMS shoes. PadamKawach is waterproof and fire resistant. PadamKawach Mk III is the only Boot Anti-Mine in the world capable of mitigating a blast of a mine with 70 gms explosive. All PadamKawach series of anti-mine boots have been tested in international labs and passed all international standards.
ARGOS – Wall Penetration Radar (WPR). Named after a mythical creature with thousand eyes in Greek mythology, capable of seeing through anything and everything, the Argos wall penetrating radar is not only the world’s best wall-penetrating radar but is the lightest and can be worn by the soldier on body armour or helmet. Soldiers can see through RCC wall from a standoff distance of five metres and are not required to close in to the wall. It is weather proof and can penetrate through dense forest and identify multiple targets for upto 70 metres. It can detect human heart beats under rubble or under snow down to six feet, hence it is ideal for search and rescue operations. It can detect tunnels or hideouts underground from a standoff distance.
The Argos will change the counter-insurgency operations dynamics in the Kashmir Valley and the North-East. The cost of the equipment is 1/10th of any WPR sold worldwide or currently deployed with the Army or disaster management agencies.
DYNAM Rope. Currently steel wire ropes (SWR) are used in recovery vehicles. These ropes require lot of maintenance. They are heavy and may snap violently on overloading. DYNAM rope was develop to overcome these drawbacks. It is 80 per cent lighter, requires zero maintenance and with the same thickness of SWR it can lift 10 times the load. It comes with snap protection. It can be deployed for recovery vehicles, tanks or even ship anchorage saving weight and increasing efficiency of the equipment. There are just a handful of countries which have mastered this technology. It has immense application in civil arena. Virtually it can replace all steel wire rope from every sector.
