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The Indian Army has issued a tender to support its program for the restoration and life extension of in-service T-72 main battle tanks (MBTs). According to a request for information (RFI) issued by the Indian Army on November 21, the program – named ‘Overhaul II of Tank T-72‘ – is carried out to ensure restoration of the T-72 to “as good as new condition”.

The program seeks to “neutralise effects of age, usage, and restoration of T-72 to near-zero hour [and] zero km state of operational readiness”, the RFI said.

The T-72 restoration process comprises “stripping of the tank, removal of assemblies, stripping of the repairable assemblies, inspection of the components of repairable assemblies, and replacement of assemblies [that are not repairable] with new ones”, the RFI added.

The process also includes “100% replacement of parts that have limited shelf life such as gaskets, seals, rings, bearings, fasteners, washers, and so on; testing of assemblies; integration in tanks; and quality assurance”, the RFI said.

The program, according to the Indian Army, includes rectification of major/minor weld defects and worn-out portions of the T-72 hull; replacement or revalidation of rubber parts, metal pipes, and engine sub-assemblies; and replacement or revalidation of cooling, fuel, lubrication, air induction, exhaust, and transmission systems components.

Indigenisation of Ammunition

Rising conflicts globally have posed challenges and disrupted supply chains. The ongoing war in Ukraine and before that the Ladakh stand-off made it imperative that a clear road map for ammunition procurement and long –term requirement should be in place.

The efforts to secure supply chains and avoid any impact on operational preparedness has led to finalisation of the long-term requirement for a decade and a clear road map for ammunition procurement has been put in place. About 85% of the ammunition requirement has been indigenised, from both the public and private sectors.

The aim is to build up ammunition stocks to desired levels, minimise imports and achieve self-sufficiency in the country, have multiple sources of supply, and possess indigenous manufacturing capability. First step is to indigenise all import-dependent ammunition — major platforms with long-term requirement.

Indigenisation of more than 30 variants, amounting to about Rs 16,000 crores as part of import minimisation, is under way and five or six variants of ammunition have been identified for production through the Indian industry, which will expand the indigenous vendor base. Subsequently, next-generation high-tech ammunition based on research and development is being identified for in-house development.

Bulk of the ammunition is being met by the Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) and the rest by the Indian industry. Less than 10% is met purely through direct imports and there is also some amount of legacy platforms in small numbers that are in the process of being phased out.

Under the three rounds of emergency financial powers granted by the Defence Ministry, the armed forces had undertaken major procurement and stocking of spares and ammunition. The fourth round of emergency procurement was completed recently and it ensured enough stocks of critical ammunition and also helped offset delays to some extent in deliveries of spares, components and ammunition since the war in Ukraine broke out in February 2022.

Most of the Indian Army’s armoured fleet is of Russian-origin and the air defence has several legacy systems. Currently, about 10 to 12 ammunition categories in over 30 variants are being indigenised on priority and these are undergoing field trials.

With several Indian private companies now in the race to manufacture ammunition in the country, the ammunition stocking through indigenisation efforts will help Army’s operational preparedness to meet future threats.

Pinaka Rockets for Rs 2800 Crore Approved

In a bid to augment the Indian Army’s arsenal, the Defence Ministry has approved a Rs 2,800 crore proposal for buying around 6,400 of two types of rockets for Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher systems, designated as Area Denial Munition Type-2 and Type-3.

The Indian Army will procure the rockets exclusively from indigenous sources and two main contenders include the Economic Explosives Limited of Solar Industries and the Munitions India Limited– a key ammunition-producer created by the corporatisation of the erstwhile Ordnance Factories.

The indigenous Pinaka weapon system has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation. The weapon system is one of the first few Indian military systems exported to foreign nations, including Armenia. Private sector companies Larsen & Toubro, Tata Defence and Economic Explosives Limited involved in the project have set up production lines for the Pinaka system that are being supplied in bulk to the armed forces.

The army has a requirement of 22 regiments of the Pinaka MBRL as part of larger artillery modernisation plans. Pinaka regiments of the Indian Army include launchers with automated gun aiming and positioning systems and command posts.

70,000 More Sig Sauer Assault Rifles

The defence ministry has approved the purchase of more than 70,000 Sig Sauer assault rifles, giving its personnel a significant increase in firepower for use in terrorist operations and other missions.

The purchase of over 70,000 of Sig Sauer assault rifles is estimated to cost over Rs 800 crore. The military originally decided to purchase these rifles because it desired a weapon with a greater range. Among a number of contenders, the SiG 716 assault rifle was selected due to its superior calibre and longer range. Additionally, it is said to be more deadly than the AK-47 and its variations in the service, as well as the INSAS rifle.

In February 2019, 72,400 SiG 716 rifles (7.62 x 51mm calibre) were purchased from SIG Sauer of the US; 66,400 of them were for the Army, 4,000 for the Air Force, and 2,000 for the Navy. The American-made assault guns, which are being deployed by personnel in the Kashmir valley and the Ladakh section of the China border, have already resulted in over 70,000 indictments by India.

To improve its conventional and anti-terrorist capabilities, the Indian troops have also received a sizable quantity of Russian AK-103s. The AK-203, which is now being made at an ordnance facility in Amethi, will also soon be available to the Indian troops.

Handheld Thermal Image Devices

The Indian Army is in the process to induct around 10,000 Hand Held Thermal Imager-Uncooled (HHTI-UC) devices, for which the Request for Information (RFI) has been issued.

As per the RFI sought from the vendors, it requires the “HHTI-UC with latest technology parameters to enable soldiers to carry out surveillance up to 3,000 metres.” The surveillance device should enable day and night surveillance with a combination of high-resolution optical viewer, digital (low light) and thermal (uncooled) sensors.

The surveillance device should facilitate judging distance of area under surveillance using laser range finders, acquisition of magnetic bearing using DMC and provide own location to users employing inbuilt satellite navigation systems, including NAVIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation).

The surveillance device should weigh less than 3 kgs and facilitate recording and storage of minimum three hours of SD videos with removable storage devices. It should also enable seamless wired or wireless connectivity of minimum up to 50 metres with standard interfaces.

Once the vendors respond to the RFI, “Tentative date of issue of Request for Proposal (RFP) is June 2024. The total quantity required is approximately 10,000,” the RFI says. The procurement will be “in a phased manner, the desired quantity should be delivered within six months to twenty four months from the day of advance payment”.

The vendors should confirm in their response their capability of delivering requisite quantity of HHTI-UC within the stipulated time frame. Vendors are expected to forward the required documents and details by December 26 this year, the RFI said.

As per the RFI sought from the vendors, it requires the “HHTI-UC with latest technology parameters to enable soldiers to carry out surveillance up to 3,000 metres”. The surveillance device should facilitate judging distance of area under surveillance using laser range finders, it said.

AI-Enabled Gun-Mounted Scope

An indigenously-developed scope that can be fitted on any small weapon and turn it into a smart weapon is being tested by the Indian Army. The smart scope is powered by Artificial Intelligence that can detect humans up to 300 metres and also extensively boost border and close combat operations. Using AI algorithm and sensory data, it can tell the shooter when to fire. It had an 80-90% accuracy when tested for 100-300 metres

The smart scope is currently at its prototype stage, but a miniature version can be made too. The scope can help achieve one shot one hit capability and easily turn a soldier into a marksman. The scope first detects the target and makes a red bounding box, after which the camera checks for alignment using the laser and finder. Once the target box turns green, the shooter is alerted that he can fire.

The scope currently has only day firing capability, but it can be turned into night firing device too. The day camera has 50mm lens and 30X zoom.

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Modelled on soldier modernisation programmes around the world, the F-INSAS system has three components — weapons, protective gear and a modern communication system — which would be upgraded later to provide the soldier with real-time connectivity. When armed with such equipment, a soldier’s combat ability increases manifold.

The first sub-system of F-INSAS is a modern state-of-art assault rifle (AK 203 with a range of 300 metres) along with day and night holographic and reflex sights. The sights are mounted on the weapon and also on the helmet to enable 360-degree visibility and accuracy in operational conditions.

In addition to the primary weapon, the soldiers will also be kitted with a multi-mode hand grenade which has been procured indigenously along with a multi-purpose knife for close-quarters combat. The grenade can be thrown in both offensive and defensive mode.

The second one is a protection system that shields the soldier through a specially designed helmet and a bulletproof jacket.

The bulletproof jacket to guard against AK-47 and 9 mm bullets. The helmet comes with a mounted night vision and there is also an option of integrating a thermal imager – both needed for fighting in low-light conditions. The third sub-system consists of a communication and surveillance system, which may be upgraded later to incorporate real-time data connectivity.

The AK-203 rifles will be manufactured at Korwa near Amethi in a Russia-India joint venture.

A contract for more than six lakh rifles was signed in December 2021 with Indo-Russian Rifles Private Ltd.

The project, which began more than a decade ago, saw several turns and twists before reaching a stage where the system was handed over to the Indian Army at a ceremony in the presence of Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande.

The defence minister also handed over several other new machines and equipment to the army which would help the forces fight the Chinese troops on the Line of Actual Control.

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The trickiest, officials say, is the $950-million contract for delivery of four advanced Talwar class frigates for the Indian Navy that was inked in 2018. The warships are designed to operate with a Ukrainian power plant, with no alternative option available.

India had to pull through a diplomatic coup of sorts in 2019 when it managed to convince Ukraine to supply engines for the first two ships that are being made in Russia, despite the Crimea crisis. These Zorya Mashproekt RPC gas turbine engines have been delivered to the Kaliningrad shipyard and are being integrated on the warships.

Deals under threat
• Project 11356: $950-m deal to supply four frigates to the Indian Navy
• Two being built in Russia. Gas turbine engines are Ukranian
• S-400: Delivery of first regiment has taken place
• Prolonged crisis could impact future deliveries
• JV with Russia: Brahmos-Russian venture recently bagged export order from the Philippines JV for production of AK

Closure of Any Project Unlikely

However, two additional ships are to be made at the Goa Shipyard with Russian assistance and power plants for them are yet to be delivered. There are concerns that uncertainty of supplies from Ukraine could adversely impact the project.

India has also received the first regiment of the S-400 air defence system from Russia but the delivery of four more is still hanging in the balance. There are no indications yet of any delay from the Russian side on the deliveries but a prolonged crisis in Ukraine is being seen as a matter of concern. In addition, US sanctions on India for the purchase under its CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) regime is now a distinct possibility. Till now, India had avoided the sanctions that have been imposed on Turkey and China in the past.

The sanctions will not lead to the closure of any projects as India is determined to go ahead with its Russian partnership but they cause delays in payments and procedural difficulties that take time to resolve. India and Russia have managed to evolve a process of payments for military systems that bypasses all US influenced banking controls. A significant part of these payments are being made through the Rupee-Rouble route.

Other Indian projects that can come under the scanner are the two joint ventures with Russia to manufacture missiles and assault rifles. The Brahmos project is jointly owned by the two nations and has recently won an export order to the Philippines, with more on the horizon. The other joint venture to produce Kalashnikov AK 203 assault rifles in India is yet to fully take off as production has not yet commenced in Amethi, where the factory has to be set up.

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SSS Defence is set to become the second private sector company in India to manufacture small arms for the local and export markets after PLR Systems Ltd (PLR), a joint venture between Adani Group and Israel Weapon Industries (IWI). The four-year-old firm SSS Defence emerged as the lowest bidder for a contract to upgrade a small number of Indian Army’s AK-47 assault rifles, beating off competition from established Israeli rival Fab Defense.

It will begin manufacturing and testing small arms at its new facility that will be operational in Bengaluru in January 2022, with the complex also housing a first-of-its kind underground weapons testing tunnel to determine their effectiveness. A 150-metre-long tunnel will be set up as the first underground facility by a private sector company in the country for testing and evaluation of weapons ranging from pistols and assault rifles to carbines and sniper rifles. The testing process allows manufacturers to gather crucial tactical weapon data including muzzle velocity, action time and consistency.

Thus far it has built prototype weapons such as assault rifles and sniper rifles at a ‘bridge’ or make-shift facility in Bengaluru, and the new facility will allow the Bengaluru-based firm to ramp up annual production to 20,000 assault rifles and 3,000 sniper rifles depending on orders.

The upgrade would entail a new foldable butt stock for the rifle, a new dust cover that will allow mounting of sights, and changes to the fore end, which will allow mounting of a bipod or a knife when needed, besides hand guard and vertical grip. SSS has also offered to upgrade the rifle with a flash hider at no extra cost, since it was not part of the requirements issued by the particular unit of the Army. While all upgrades by Fab Defense involved parts made of polymer, SSS Defence is offering aerospace alloys.

The weapons to be manufactured at SSS Defence’s eight-acre unit at Jigani near Bengaluru’s well-known technology hub, Electronic City, include the Viper and Saber sniper rifles, P-72 assault rifles and the P-72 carbines. The weapons facility represents an investment of around ₹200 crore.

The company is also setting up an ammunition manufacturing plant at Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh that is expected to be operational next year.

PLR Systems to Supply Navy With Israeli Pistols

The Navy has placed an order for the supply of 500 India-manufactured specialised Israeli Masada 9mm pistols for its elite commando unit with an Indian private firm, PLR Systems. These will replace the current lot of 9 mm pistols in use with the naval commands or MARCOS. The delivery of these pistols, along with specialised kits and sights, will be completed early next year. The order was placed under fast-track procurement procedure.

PLR Systems is a joint venture with Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), which has been bought over by the Adani Group. The production factory is situated in Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior.

PLR is already supplying India-made rifles and pistols to central armed police forces (CAPF). The 56×45 mm chambered Tavor X 95, in use with the Special Forces and the CAPF, is already being manufactured in India and has been supplied to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

Under the joint venture, PLR System is also making other smalls arms like Galil sniper rifles and Uzi Pro submachine gun with indigenous content ranging from 40-60 per cent under transfer of technology.

Even though these systems are in use with the defence forces and manufacturing is taking place in India, fresh orders are hard to come by. This is because in case of a repeat order, the contract is sent to IWI directly instead of the local manufacturing unit. This happens because an order to the local manufacturing unit would mean a change in the name of the contracting firm. Under the procurement rules, this would be seen as a contract being given to a new company. This means that fresh trials will have to be held, even when it is the same rifle manufactured in India with a large indigenous component.

Thales to Invest $1.2 Billion in India

French aerospace and defence major Thales Group is betting big on India — especially the emerging drone space here — and has decided to invest a billion euros (about $1.2 billion) in the country over the next five years.

Its drone offerings — that range from manufacturing to traffic management and countering rogue drones — will account for a significant part of this planned mega investment.

India currently has 6 lakh drones, a number that the French major expects will rise at least six times in 5-8 years. “Our solutions allow civil and military aviation authorities to detect — even without data transmission — and verify a drone’s registration number, identify its pilot, and confirm its flight authorisation, all in a few seconds. By the same time, to cope with unexpected or non-registered drones, detection and classification are the first steps before engaging a graduated response,” says Ashish Saraf, Thales India VP & country director.

Russia waives royalty on AK 203 Assault Rifles

With Russia waiving a royalty clause in favour of technology transfer, the green signal has been given for the deal to manufacture AK 203 assault rifles at the Amethi factory. The Rs 5,124 crore contract is likely to be inked in the coming months, with production expected to commence next year.

All issues related to the cost and indigenisation content that had held back the project till now have now been sorted out and a go-ahead has been given by the Defence Acquisition Council.

Central to the cleared proposal will be a full technology transfer for the rifles that are to be manufactured in India. In earlier discussions, the Russian side had asked for a royalty on each rifle being produced in India. This has now been waived and India will pay for technology transfer, waiving the royalty.

The move, sources said, would result in saving of at least Rs 200 crore in the coming years and would ensure that India gets the knowhow to produce modern assault rifles that can also be exported in future. As part of the contract, 70,000 rifles will be imported directly from Russia while 6,01,427 will be produced by an OFB-Kalashnikov joint venture.

The ongoing restructuring of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) is not expected to have any impact on the joint venture for the production of AK 203 rifles and a complete transfer of technology is expected to be achieved within 32 months of the contract.

The plan to manufacture has been under discussion for almost two years, with the contract stipulating 100% transfer of technology and possible exports in future from the Indian plant. The Amethi factory in Amethi was inaugurated in 2019 but production is yet to commence.

As the AK 203 deal was being negotiated, the army had placed import orders for the Sig Sauer 716 assault rifles, which were priced at Rs 89,000 a piece. Emergency financial powers were used to order 1.4 lakh of the US-made rifles. In contrast, the Russian origin rifles that will eventually be fully produced in India are expected to cost a little over Rs 70,000 per piece after production starts.

Solar Industries to Develop Armed Drones

Solar Industries or Economic Explosives Ltd (EEL) has developed the first indigenous drones and loitering munition systems. The munition loiters over a given area and swoops down to strike when the target is located. Two fixed winged planes and a hexacopter have been developed.

The systems are billed to be better suited to the terrain along all Indian frontiers. The Army at present has similar systems from Israel and Polish sources.

Apart from the drones, the company has also developed anti-drone missiles, which can fire a salvo and take on a swarm of drones well before it can strike. User trials are planned in the coming months for different versions of the drone as well as the anti-drone systems.

EEL is a fully owned subsidiary of Solar Industries Limited (SIL) — headed by businessman Satyanarayan Nuwal. Solar Group will be the first indigenous company to develop it in-house. The company as developed three versions weighing 1.5kg, 4kg and 10kg, with range of 15, 25 and 100km respectively.

The EEL release said it has developed the anti-drone system, which is capable of soft kill, which means impairment of its system, and also striking it down using micro missiles. This is also the first of its kind in India.

Armed Forces’ Emergency Powers Extended Again

The Defence Ministry has once again extended the emergency powers accorded to the Army, Navy, Air Force and the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) for urgent revenue procurements and works amid continuing tensions with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, even as the ministry emphasised strengthening the existing rules of procurement.

Emergency powers for revenue procurements through fast-track process have been extended for three more months till December 31. This is the third extension of emergency powers granted for revenue procurements since last year when they were first invoked. While they were first extended till March from December last year, they were again extended till August this year.

No extension was, however, granted to the emergency powers accorded to the three Services for capital procurements.

The ministry has also stressed on the need to strengthen the existing procurement processes under the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) for capital procurements and Defence Procurement Manual (DPM) for revenue procurements, instead of frequently bringing in emergency powers for urgent procurements.

The emergency revenue procurement powers were delegated under the respective Army, Navy, Air Force and Integrated Defence Staff Schedule of Powers under the revised Delegation of Financial Powers to Defence Services (DFPDS-2021) unveiled by Rajnath Singh in September this year.

DAC Approves Proposals Worth Rs 7,965 crore

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), in its meeting of 2 November 2021, accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for capital acquisition proposals for modernisation and operational needs of the Armed Forces amounting to Rs 7,965 crore. All of these proposals (100%) are under ‘Make in India’ with focus on design, development and manufacturing in India.

Key approvals of procurement from domestic sources include twelve Light Utility Helicopters from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL); Lynx U2 Fire Control System from Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) which will enhance the detection tracking and engagement capabilities of Naval war ships and Mid Life Upgradation of the Dornier Aircraft from HAL to increase the Naval capacity of maritime reconnaissance and coastal surveillance.

As a further impetus to ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, a global procurement case of Naval guns has been foreclosed with these guns’ quantity added to the upgraded Super Rapid Gun Mount (SRGM) being manufactured by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL). These SRGMs provide niche capabilities of engaging fast manoeuvring targets using guided munitions and range extensions and are to be fitted on the warships of the Indian Navy.

Ban Lifted on AgustaWestland & Leonardo

India has formally lifted the ban on Italian firm AgustaWestland and its parent company Leonardo, paving the way for them to take part in the multiple ongoing projects and bid for upcoming defence contracts.

One of the earliest casualties of the scandal, in fact, was the cancellation of India’s proposed Rs 1,200 crore deal to buy Black Shark heavy-weight torpedoes from a Finmeccanica subsidiary for the six French-origin Scorpene submarines being constructed at Mazagon Docks.

It was in early-2012 that allegations of Rs 360 crore being paid as bribes to Indian politicians, bureaucrats and IAF officers to swing the Rs 3,546 crore deal to supply 12 AW-101 VVIP helicopters had first surfaced in a probe by prosecutors in Italy. The deal had been inked in 2010.

The ban on Leonardo SpA and its subsidiaries had “limited India’s options” in the international arms market because the conglomerate produces a wide array of weapon systems ranging from torpedoes and 127mm naval guns to radars and short-range surface-to-air missiles.

The defence ministry’s decision to resume business with Leonardo SpA is “subject to certain conditions imposed on the company.” Under the conditions, Leonardo SpA cannot make any commercial claims or file any civil suit against the Indian government for any previous deal. Moreover, new business dealings will take place “without any prejudice” to the ongoing investigations into the alleged VVIP helicopter scam by the CBI and Enforcement Directorate, which will continue.

A new notification dated 12 November, issued by the Defence Ministry with a list of firms debarred/put on hold/suspended from doing business with it, does not name both the Italian companies that were banned in 2014 by then Congress-led UPA government over allegations of kickbacks in the VVIP chopper scam.

Leonardo has given a letter withdrawing its claims on Euros 350 million for the cancelled order of the VVIP choppers.

Lifting of the ban will allow Leonardo, earlier known as Finmeccanica, to participate in the Project 75 of the Indian Navy, under which six Scorpene submarines are being built. The submarines, four of which have been delivered to the Navy, do not have the heavyweight torpedoes that were to be procured from Leonardo. This acquisition got hit as the Italian firm was blacklisted and there was no leeway.

The lifting of the ban also ensures that Leonardo will be able to take part in upcoming Naval tenders for the new radars and turrets for its warships.

Multiple extensions of suspension of business dealing with Leonardo were given since 2014 and the last was to expire by end-November.

According to the government decision, while the ban would be lifted, the probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate would continue into the Rs 3,600 crore VVIP chopper scam. The ban in 2014 had led to the company’s exclusion from a large number of defence projects where it had products to compete with others including multiple naval helicopters deals.

The company had also gone through a global re-branding exercise and changed its name from the scam-tainted Finmeccanica to Leonardo in 2016. Headquartered in Italy, Leonardo products and solutions are used in over 150 countries worldwide.

Leonardo was among the 15 arms companies on the “put on hold/suspended” list of the defence ministry till September this year. At the top are six companies, including Singapore Technologies Kinetics, Israel Military Industries, Rheinmetall Air Defence (Zurich) and Corporation Defence (Russia), which are “debarred” completely.

Engine manufacturer Rolls Royce and Tatra truck manufacturer (Czech Republic), in turn, are the four companies with whom “restricted procurements” are allowed on the basis of operational urgency, national security and non-availability of other alternatives.

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The Indian Army has been diversifying its small arms inventory, as part of an attempt to phase out its aging assault rifles and light machine guns. The Indian domestically-produced Small Arms System (INSAS) has been in use since 1998.

AK-203 7.62x39mm Assault Rifle

Russia’s state arms seller Rosoboron-export, which is part of the state tech corporation Rostec, has prepared a contract for signing with India on the delivery of the latest 7.62x39mm AK-203 assault rifles. Compared to the baseline AK-203 version, the variant being produced for India has a fixed side-folding stock, but is otherwise similar in design to the version being employed by the Russian military.

The assault rifle weighs 3.8 kg empty, and it has a rate of fire of 700 rounds per minute and is accurate to a range of 800 meters. The AK-203 assault rifle designed for the Indian Amy features a 415mm barrel and it is equipped with a Picatinny rail, which can be used with a variety of sights or scopes as well as flashlight and other equipment.

New Carbine

The Indian Army has issued a fresh Request for Information (RFI) for a fast-track procurement of 93,895 carbines. This comes five months after the defence ministry revoked the case for procuring a similar number of carbines under the Fast-Track Procedure (FTP).

The RFIs were issued on 10 February to multiple Indian and global manufacturers, including Caracal, Colt, SiG Sauer, Beretta, Thales and Adani Defence. In 2018, UAE gun maker Caracal’s CAR 816 carbine had emerged as the lowest bidder in the FTP initiated by the Indian Army for a new compact weapon to replace its World War 2 vintage 9 mm 1A1 ‘Sterling’ carbine. As before, the army wants the new carbine chambered for the 5.56×45 mm cartridge. At just a single page, the army’s new RFI is far simpler compared to its three-page RFI in 2018. The service aims to procure the weapons within a year of the contract signing.

The size of this deal is not yet known, but if one were to make estimation from Caracal’s 2018 bid, then it would likely be upwards of $110 million (over Rs 800 crore).

Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar, who heads the Defence Procurement Board (DPB), finally pulled the plug on the acquisition last September. The earlier deal was questioned by senior defence ministry officials on two grounds.

•             The carbines were costlier than the US-made SiG 716 assault rifles also imported under the FTP last year for over Rs 700 crore; and.

•             The defence ministry officials noted that no part of the weapon was being manufactured indigenously.

Last September, Caracal had offered to manufacture all the rifles in-country as part of the government’s Make in India initiative. The UAE government-owned arms maker said it would also oversee technology transfer.

Top army officials had also explored options for purchasing a smaller quantity of around 25,000 carbines from the UAE manufacturer, but this idea seems to have been abandoned in favour of a fresh contract.

M4 Armoured Vehicles

On 23 February 2021, an emergency order was placed by the Indian Army for the procurement of M4 armoured vehicles. These vehicles have undergone intensive tests in Ladakh during the standoff with China in 2020. These vehicles are going to be purchased from Pune-based private sector company Bharat Forge of the Kalyani group.

A company statement said, on 23 February, that “an order worth Rs 177.95 crore has been received from the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) for the supply of Kalyani M4 vehicles”.

Such wheeled armoured vehicles are required for transporting troops and have the capability of being operated in high altitudes.

These armoured vehicles which have undergone intensive trials in high altitudes along with other competitors come with certain extra features as compared to the regular vehicles.

It is a multi-role platform, and has the capability of quick mobility in rough terrain and those areas which are affected by IED and mine threats.

According to the company, this vehicle has ballistic and blast protection from up to 50 kg TNT side blast, or IED or roadside bombs, all because of the design. It is built on a flat-floor monocoque hull and has a thrust speed of 140 km per hour. With a payload of 2.3 tonnes, it can operate in a range of about 800 km.

The original product is from South African Paramount Group, whose M4 has been modified as per the Indian conditions and requirements of the end user by Bharat Forge.

Futuristic Communication System

With the increasing dominance of the electronic spectrum, cyber warfare and artificial intelligence, the Army has laid the groundwork to introduce a futuristic communication system for providing secure and seamless inter-connectivity between its war-fighting elements and also enhance situational awareness.

“The Indian Army is planning a long-term evolution (LTE)-based communication grid with Internet of Military Things (IoMT) sensor network for providing failsafe, robust and secure communication to its formations and units along the northern and eastern borders,” a RFI states.

This will require designing and developing, with industry support, a communication grid with its radio access network, core network and IoMT compatible network along with sensors and interfaces to provide surveillance, situational awareness, sensor network and compatible interfaces for legacy surveillance devices currently in the Army’s inventory.

LTE is a standard for wireless broadband communication for mobile devices that increases the capacity and speed of data transfer and provides several add-on facilities. IoMT is a type of Internet of Things designed for combat operations and warfare based upon smart technology and artificial intelligence.

The network would facilitate a state of the art mobile communication and sensor network for troops operating in a counter-insurgency environment, rugged mountains and jungles overlooking the Line of Control and international borders through the use of handheld communication devices and e-tabs.

The project envisions high grade and reliable mobile communication with a layer of security for voice, data and video communication to make the traffic secure and make the network free from the possibility of intrusion and interception, prevent unauthorized access.

The proposed LTE-based communication grid with IoMT sensor network will also be capable of interoperability with existing mobile communication network and would be integrated into the armed forces’ current and futuristic communication infrastructure and networks.

It will also have an IoMT sensor network, seismic, pressure and ultrasonic ground sensors autonomous UAVs and drones, information nodes, helmet-mounted cameras and interfaces for current surveillance equipment as well as an ecosystem for controlling and monitoring the sensor data from all IoMT devices.

Only Indian vendors and those who tie-ups with foreign original equipment manufacturers having their registered offices along with operations, maintenance and repair infrastructure in India would be allowed to participate in the project.

Army Has Alternative to WhatsApp

From April 1, the Indian Army is likely to start using SAI (Secure Application for Internet), a messaging platform, for internal communications, Army chief General M.M. Naravane said on 24 February.

He said the application, developed by Colonel Sai Shankar, was undergoing the process of getting cyber and security clearance and data testing.

The application supports end-to-end secure voice, text and video-calling services for Android platforms over the internet – equivalent of WhatsApp.

The application supports end-to-end secure voice, text and video-calling services for Android platforms over the internet.

The model is similar to commercially available messaging applications such as WhatsApp, Telegram, SAMVAD and GIMS, and utilises the end-to-end encryption messaging protocol. SAI scores over these platforms in terms of security features with local in-house servers and coding, which can be tweaked as per requirements.

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