The comprehensive road map for its modernisation seeks to transform the mechanised infantry into a more lethal, agile and integrated force capable of delivering a swift and effective response in battle, said one of the officials cited above, asking not to be named.

The army’s mechanised infantry units, equipped with the hardy Soviet-era BMP-II amphibious combat vehicles, have played a crucial role in strengthening the Indian Army’s combat posture against the Chinese People’s Liberation Army during the ongoing, tense standoff along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh.

The versatile combat arm brings to battle a protected infantry component directly supported by the firepower of its integral combat vehicles.

Forming the core of the overarching capability enhancement plan — dovetailed with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) strategy — is the replacement of the BMP-IIs with 480 locally developed futuristic infantry combat vehicles (FICVs) for which government approval will be sought shortly, said a second official, who also asked not to be identified.

“The army will seek the defence acquisition council’s acceptance of necessity (AoN) for the FICVs at the earliest. We are simultaneously pursuing modernisation plans for tracked and wheeled vehicles. A few approvals have already come,” the second official added.

The defence acquisition council (DAC), chaired by the defence minister, is India’s apex weapons procurement body, and under the country’s defence procurement rules, its AoN is the first step towards buying or developing military hardware.

The army has already secured approvals for the Nag missile system (NAMIS) for reconnaissance and support battalions (13 Nag missile carriers and 293 missiles), 177 infantry combat vehicles (command), and 105 wheeled armoured fighting vehicles to replace Soviet-origin BRDM reconnaissance vehicles and 1080 anti-tank guided missiles, said a third official on the condition of anonymity.

Also on the mechanised infantry’s wish list are wheeled infantry combat vehicles for standard battalions and light armoured multi-purpose vehicles with enhanced mobility and protection for reconnaissance platoons that currently use the Maruti Gypsy.

The modernisation drive will enhance the mechanised infantry’s mobility and effectiveness, and also boost India’s capabilities along the northern borders with China, said former Western Army commander Lieutenant General RP Singh (retd).

“Injecting contemporary technologies at a swift pace will help exploit the capabilities of this man-machine combination… otherwise the arm is just a battle taxi. Even Pakistan is upgrading its mechanised forces. We can’t be left behind,” Singh added.

“A threat cum capability-based modernisation approach is being pursued with the acquisition of contemporary, adaptable and niche technology, which is interoperable with other combat arms. The modernisation drive is completely in sync with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative,” the third official said.

Capability enhancement of existing military hardware with upgrades for night fighting, lethality and ISR systems forms an important element of the modernisation effort.

“Enhanced night fighting capability is a top priority. The focus is on a comprehensive solution for the gunner main sight, commander panoramic sight, fire control system, automatic target tracker and laser range finder. The new gear will enhance the night vision capability of the driver and commander too,” said a fourth official.

Enhancing fire power of mechanised infantry units is covered under the plan, and is a work in progress.

This is being done through third generation fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missiles, canister-launched loiter munition systems integrated on the BMP-II chassis, anti-drone capability, and integrated surveillance and targeting systems, the officials said.

“ISR capability is being strengthened with mini-unmanned aerial vehicles, see through armour for better situational awareness, autonomous combat vehicles and artificial intelligence-based integrated surveillance, detection and engagement systems,” said the first official.

India’s mechanised forces — the mechanised infantry and armoured corps — are also inducting swarm drone systems capable of carrying out offensive missions in enemy territory with scores of drones working in formations to identify, encircle and strike targets.

The post Army begins upgrade of mechanised infantry appeared first on IMR.

These tanks will be used to counter Chinese deployment of a large number of similar armoured columns along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Sources in the defence and security establishment told ThePrint that the Army has finalised the general staff quality requirements and will approach the defence ministry in September for the Acceptance of Necessity (AON) — the first step that will set the project rolling.

The Army is looking at a light tank with a maximum weight of 25 tons — with a margin of 10 per cent— with the same firepower as its regular tanks, but also armed with Artificial Intelligence (AI), integration of tactical surveillance drones to provide a high degree of situational awareness and loitering munition, along with an active protection system.

An active protection system is designed to protect vehicles from anti-tank guided missiles and projectiles away from combat vehicles.  

The Army also wants the light tank to be amphibious, so it can be deployed across riverine regions and even the Pangong Tso lake in Eastern Ladakh.

The project has been named ‘Zorawar’ after Zorawar Singh Kahluria — a military general who served under Jammu’s Raja Gulab Singh —known as the ‘conquerer of Ladakh’.  

“We will approach the defence ministry for AON as early as next month. This would be an indigenous project which will be designed and manufactured in India. We hope to have the production of a prototype and beginning of trials in three years from the sanction of the project,” a source said. 

Sources further said that the proposed conversion of the Vajra-tracked self-propelled artillery into a light tank has been shelved because it won’t be able to meet the weight criteria that the Army is looking for. 

They added that the 25-ton weight is the maximum that can allow for the tanks to be airlifted in high-altitude zones.

China’s light tank deployment gave them an advantage

Sources said that the Ladakh stand-off with China has shown that armoured columns are one of the most prominent factors in defining the operational capability of the land forces. 

Army sources admitted that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) had inducted a large number of technologically modern, “state of art” tanks, which were being employed operationally as a mix of medium and light tanks with high power-to-weight ratios. 

The increased threat on the northern borders is likely to remain a threat in the foreseeable future, sources further said, adding that while the Army had also deployed its T-90 and T-72 tanks — surprising the Chinese — lighter tanks would mean faster deployment and increased mobility in mountainous terrain.

The Army currently operates three different types of tanks with the latest being the Arjun Mk 1A, which weighs a massive 68.5 tons. The T-90 weighs about 46 tons and the T-72 about 45 tons.

“Tanks were primarily designed for operations in plains and desert terrain and have their own limitations when employed in High-Altitude Areas (HAAs). They face a similar handicap when employed in the marginal terrain of the Rann of Kutch,” another source told ThePrint.

“It is, therefore, an operational necessity to procure light tanks to overcome the limitations faced by medium battle tanks and equip the Indian Army for all contingencies in HAA, marginal terrain and island territories, besides its utilisation in the plains, semi-deserts, and deserts,” the source added.

Sources explained that the setbackthat the world supply chain has experienced in defence-related component supplies because of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war has impacted both manufacturing and sustenance of the foreign fleet of tanks that India is currently holding. 

It’s therefore essential to design and develop the light tank indigenously for the Indian Army, they added.

The sources made it clear that India will not be going in for the Russian Sprut light tanks, but added that they are looking for something with similar capabilities. 

The Modi government had in March this year given in-principle approval for the indigenous design and development of light tanks for mountain warfare. 

This move sealed the prospect of possible induction of the Sprut tanks that the Russians had offered to India during Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s Russia visit in 2020. 

Past history of Indian light tank deployment 

The Army has in the past successfully employed light tanks as force multipliers in multiple battle engagements in the past. 

This includes the deployment of Stuart tanks of the 254 Indian Tank Brigade in the Battle of Kohima in World War II, at Naushera, Jhangar, Rajauri, and most successfully, at Zojila in the Indo-Pak War 1947-48.

The AMX-13 tanks were deployed at Chushul and Bomdila in 1962 and in Chammb in 1965.

The amphibious PT-76 light tanks were deployed successfully in 1971, with the tanks leading the race to Dacca. 

The AMX-13 and PT-76 tanks were phased out in the 1980s after the focus of the Army shifted primarily to the western borders, resulting in the conversion of PT-76 units to the T-72 profile. 

The requirement of a light tank capability, which had proved in the past to be a battle-winning factor for the Indian Army in mountainous and riverine terrain, had been voiced on numerous occasions since 1982, sources said.

“Current threat scenario and the contours of the likely future wars have thrown up new challenges for which the Indian Army has to be prepared. The equipment profile of tanks in the Indian Army must have the versatility and flexibility of medium and light platforms,” a third source said.

Sources said that a lightweight agile platform with a high power-to-weight ratio with substantial firepower, protection, surveillance, and communication capabilities is essential to provide the Army the versatility to execute operations in varying terrain against diverse threats and equipment profiles of adversaries. 

“Armoured Fighting Vehicle-Indian Light Tank (AFV-ILT) offering capability for multiple employment options along with niche technologies is, therefore, an operational imperative,” one of the sources cited above said.  

(Edited by Uttara Ramaswamy)

The post Eye on China threat, Army launches Project Zorawar to deploy light tanks for mountain warfare appeared first on IMR.