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The Tactical UAV was first unveiled at Aero India 2021. BEML is better known for its earthmovers and Metro coach assemblies.

BEML has taken a two-pronged approach in its foray into the versatile drone space: One, a partnership with the Czech innovation company Primoco UAV to jointly produce the Model One 150 with a 200 km range and payload capacity of 1-30 kg.

India’s immediate requirement is for over 4,000 UAVs in the micro to weaponised categories, and BEML’s entry is expected to add to the variety. This dictated the company’s partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, for joint indigenous development of a Pilotless Target Aircraft (PTA) and a tactical UAV. The tactical UAV will have an endurance of eight hours, the longest in its class.

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Trials will also be held in deserts in Rajasthan before the Army selects a final product and goes for large scale acquisition.

One of the vehicles under consideration has been developed by the Kalyani Group that runs on both batteries and motors. The vehicle was one of the 75 products that were on display at the defence ministry’s first AI symposium in Delhi Monday.

The vehicle can operate on battery for about six hours and on motor for 14 hours. It has an operational range of three kilometres and can carry a load of up to 500 kg. Additionally, day and night cameras, having a range of two kilometres, are mounted on the vehicle. This means one can see up to five kilometers from a command centre.

Sources in the defence and security establishment said the vehicle has already undergone two trials with the infantry and the armoured units. The infantry used the vehicle to carry logistics such as weapons and ammunition, while the armoured units used it as a reconnaissance vehicle to track enemy positions.

The wheeled variants, both 4×4 and 6×6, are fully designed and developed indigenously while a tracked version is being built along with a European company.

The vehicle has multiple sensors for mapping, path planning and obstacle detection, and can operate in temperatures ranging from -20 degree to +50 Degrees. It was also part of the Indo-Japan military exercise held in February this year.

The unmanned vehicle will also be deployed for explosive detection and neutralisation of improvised explosive devices (IED). Sources said this vehicle will go for high altitude trials in Ladakh next month and take part in desert trials later.

The sources also said there were more such vehicles under consideration, including one built by Torus Robotics. It has a payload capacity of 750 kg and has been developed with state-run BEML Limited.

Sources explained that the Army is looking at incorporating AI and unmanned systems extensively. Trishul, an AI-enabled and remotely-operated weapon station that can detect human movement, direct weapons and fire automatically, is also under consideration. It is capable of engaging targets at 300 metres with 100 per cent probability of first round hits.

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Out of 1,512 Mine plough, BEML will supply 100 Nos within 12 months, 250 Nos in subsequent years and order will be completed within 7 years. The Indian Army currently has around 1,640 T-90 tanks in its service fleet.

These mine ploughs will be fitted on T-90 tanks which will facilitate individual mobility to Tanks while negotiating mine fields. Mobility of the Tank Fleet will enhance manifold, which in turn would extend the reach of armoured formations deep into enemy territory without becoming mine causality.

This de-mining equipment is time tested for different soil conditions in Indian desert and customized for Indian operations. In terms of its in-depth specification, these ploughs are composed of self-contained units that will be connected to the vehicle mounting arrangement and the electrical power system of the tank.

As a previous supplier, Pearson Engineering has experience in integrating counter-mine capabilities with the T-72, T-90, Arjun Mk1 Main Battle Tank and BMP-2 Armoured Vehicles.

These TWMPs are the most effective and lethal in terms of their technical structure and strength. It has been guaranteed that after induction of these TWMPs, they would be tested under various soil conditions to prove their customization and suitability in times of real operations.

Currently, dedicated TWMPs are integrated with the Arjun Mk-1A MBTs of the Indian Army. The TWMPs in Arjun are designed as a matter of the compact stows with maximized approach angles that would help in impeding the operations of the gun turrets when it will be depressing. It gives the Arjun Tank the capability to drive through a rapid surface passage containing mined obstacles by creating a track for the other tanks to follow. These ploughs would help in clearing all IED and minefields, thereby leading to their detonation reducing their tractive efforts. It will also help in terms of maintaining the depth control by skids in the ground in undulating terrains by helping it to operate at wide soil conditions and ranges. The TWMPs of the Arjun tanks are also fully integrated with MSD systems that are available to counter magnetically fused mines in times of being replaceable with a low maintenance cost.

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A new joint venture protective carbine (JVPC) has successfully passed the final phase of user trials, meeting all criteria of the General Service Qualitative Requirement (GSQR), the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) has announced.

The compact gas-operated weapon has an effective range of more than 100 metres and weighs less than three kilos. During the tests, the ammunition penetrated 3.5 mm thick mild steel plate and 23 layers of soft armour at 100 metres, the OFB said in a statement.

The weapon can be fired with one hand. It has a rate of fire of 800 rounds per minute. The JVPC, which feeds through the pistol grip unlike any other indigenously developed weapon in 5.56 x30 mm calibre, is being issued to Central paramilitary forces and state police organisations, Gagan Chaturvedi, deputy director general, OFB, said in a statement.

The weapon features a 30-round steel magazine, semi bull-pup design, retractable butt, low recoil and multiple rails for mounting lights, laser pointers and optical sights.

The carbine has been jointly developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the OFB which has its headquarters in Kolkata. It is manufactured at the Small Arms Factory, Kanpur, while the ammunition is produced by Ammunition Factory Khadki in Pune.

The weapons earlier cleared the trials of the Directorate General of Quality Assurance, Chaturvedi said.

Indigenous Artillery Gun Trials to Resume

Winter and summer trials of the indigenous Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) jointly with private industry are scheduled to be resumed and completed by mid 2021.

Trials which began in September 2020 were paused after the gun suffered a barrel burst and an investigation was under way to determine the cause.

The ATAGS is a 155mm, 52 calibre artillery gun jointly developed by the DRDO in partnership with Bharat Forge of the Kalyani Group and the Tata Power SED.

In August, 2018 the Defence Acquisition Council had accorded approval for the purchase of 150 of these guns at an approximate ?3,365 crore which would be split between the two companies. The deal will be split in 60:40 ratio between thee lowest bidder (L1) and L2.

Once the user trials are over, the Army has to give the Request For Proposal (RFP) and the initial lot can be supplied immediately, the official said. The Army requires 1,580 guns in this category and Israeli firm Elbit Systems was shortlisted for a tender floated to procure them.

In September, the ATAGS had suffered a barrel burst during trials which have since been stopped. A committee was set up consisting of DRDO scientists, Army representatives and the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) officials to determine the cause and submit an evaluation report.

The price has not yet been determined and for now it is only for the initial limited order. Price for the bigger order of 1,580 guns has to be negotiated.

First Batch of Negev LMGs Received

Indian Army has received the first batch of Negev Light Machine Guns (LMG) from Israel as it seeks to boost the firepower of frontline troops.

In 2020, the defence ministry signed a Rs8.8bn ($120.57m) capital acquisition contract with Israel Weapons Industries to procure 16,479 LMGs under the Fast Track Procedure.

In the first batch, 6,000 guns were delivered, while the remaining units are expected to be supplied by March.

The weapons are currently undergoing inspections, according to local media sources.

The Negev 7.62X51mm LMG is a combat-proven weapon system and is used by several countries. The LMG has a higher range, as well as greater lethality compared to the currently used weapons system by the Indian Armed Forces.

The LMG was needed to meet urgent operational requirements. Notably, India has been engaged in a border standoff with Chinese forces in the Ladakh region since May. Recently, the two sides held the ninth round of talks to resolve the impasse.

The military face-off has accelerated defence acquisitions and development in India.

High Mobility Vehicles Ordered

Public sector defence equipment manufacturer BEML Limited has received orders from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for supply of High Mobility vehicles, which play a key role in the logistics management of the Indian Army leveraging on its exceptional cross country capabilities.

The high mobility vehicles (HMV) will help in the transportation of armoured fighting vehicles, troops, ammunition and stores to far-flung, difficult terrains in operational areas.

At an approximate value of Rs 758 crore, the equipment will be supplied to Indian Army in a span of one year after manufacturing them at BEML’s Palakkad Plant in Kerala.

Patrol Boats for Pangong Lake

The Indian Army has finalised procurement of 12 high-performance patrol boats to enhance its surveillance of large water bodies, including the Pangong Lake in eastern Ladakh where India and China are locked in a bitter border standoff as well as for other water bodies.

The Army said it inked a contract with Goa Shipyard Ltd, a state-run public sector undertaking, for 12 fast patrol boats for surveillance and patrolling of large water bodies, including those in high altitude areas. Delivery would commence from May 2021.

In a statement, Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) said it signed a contract with the Indian Army for supply of the ‘high performance specialised patrol crafts’ on Thursday and that they will be fitted with specialised equipment to meet the requirement of the force.

Nearly 50,000 Indian Army troops are deployed in a high state of combat readiness in various mountainous locations in eastern Ladakh in sub-zero temperatures as multiple rounds of talks between the two sides have not yielded concrete outcome to resolve the standoff.

Indian troops occupied a number of strategic heights in the Mukhpari, Rechin La and Magar hill areas around the southern bank of the Pangong lake after the Chinese military attempted to intimidate them in the area on the intervening night of August 29 and 30, 2020.

The Pangong lake and areas around it are considered very important. India has stepped up surveillance of the lake after the standoff began in early May 2020.

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In a regulatory filing, the company said that high mobility vehicles will support logistics management and will enable transporting armoured fighting vehicles, troops, ammunition and stores through rough and difficult terrain to remote operating regions.

BEML will manufacture the equipment at its Palakkad Plant in Kerala and will supply the vehicles to the Indian Army within a period of one year.

Notably, the order comes as the armed forces of India and China have been engaged in a military standoff in the Ladakh region since May. The face-off flared up in June with both sides incurring casualties.

The two military forces have conducted several rounds of meetings to disengage from the disputed border.

However, India had ramped up defence spending following the standoff to procure and upgrade military equipment.

Recently, it was reported that the Indian Army has initiated the process to procure 118 Arjun Mk-1A Main Battle Tanks (MBT) for nearly Rs89.57bn ($1.22bn). The Arjun Mk-1A features several major upgrades over the earlier Mk1 variant.

In December 2020, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also handed over an all-weather electronic surveillance system called Border Surveillance System (BOSS) to the Indian Army.

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