The Army has launched a hunt for image intensifier (II) and thermal imaging (TI)-based night sights for a total of 56,000 7.62X51 mm assault rifles, according to the RFIs. II-based night sights amplify ambient light for detecting targets, while TI sights spot targets by their body heat. The Army wants 40,000 II-based night sights and 16,000 TI-based night sights.

This is part of the Army’s effort to make up huge deficiencies in night fighting capabilities

Requirements of NVDs and EO Devices

An essential requirement is for the soldier to use his weapon sight for surveillance. The power source for the II sights should preferably provide for continuous surveillance, whereas, for the TI-based sights power would be required for confirmatory and not continuous role. Detachment of soldiers should also be able to estimate range, wind speed and altitude.

Recent Developments

•             SIG 716 assault rifles are under delivery. They require reflex, telescopic, II and TI sights.

•             Reflex, telescopic, II and TI scopes are required for 5.56x45mm carbines and 7.62x51mm light machine guns (LMG), whose procurement process through fast track procedure (FTP) is under progress.

•             Telescopic sights and night scopes are required for balance quantity of LMGs for which Request for Proposals (RfP) has been issued.

•             Night scopes are required for .338 sniper rifles, whose procurement process is under progress.

•             Acceptance of necessity (AoN) for telescopic sights for assault rifles and thermal sights for medium machine guns has been granted by the Defence Acquisition Council.

•             A case for night sights (TI) for ASG 30 automatic grenade launcher is at the pore-AoN stage.

•             A case for TI sights for 84mm rocket launcher (RL) is at the pre-AoN stage.

Requirements for Small Arms

In the case of close quarter battle (CQB) weapons, ie, for ranges under 300 metres, the Infantry is looking for reflex sights with magnifier (3x) for employment during day and II-based ‘clip on’ sights for night fighting (with Figure of Merit (FOM) > 1700).

For longer range weapons, ie 300-800 metres, the Infantry is looking for telescopic sights (4x or 5x) for daylight employment and TI sights 9’clip on’ or standalone) for night fighting. Specifications should be FPA format minimum 640×480 pixels and pitch 17/12 microns.

For support weapons like LMGs, MMGs, etc, the Infantry is looking for Integrated Day complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) & Night (TI) sights, ballistic computers, GPS, Laser range finder and digital magnetic compass (DMC), requiring minimum or no modification to the weapon to bring it into use.

Night Fighting Enablement Road Map

Passive night sights (PNS) for small arms (SA) which are in service have a FOM of 950. Their maximum range is 200 metres with moonlight conditions. For supporting weapons weapon sights available are bulky. For surveillance, the PNVGs and PNVBs which are in service have poor ergonomics and performance. The hand-held thermal imagers (HHTI) in use are bulky and noisy.

In the short term, the Infantry wants to increase the scales of TI and II devices by 10 times; go for increase in the FOM of short-range II devices to 1700 and of long range TI devices to 12 microns. For support weapons  too, it would like to go scale the TI devices and opt for ‘clip on’ and indigenous fire control system (FCS). In the case of surveillance devices, it wants substantial increase in their scaling, besides silent and light HHTI (uncooled), integrated LRF, GPS and DMC.

In the long term, the as far as night sights go, Infantry plans to review the QRs (min FOM 2200), explore SMART sights and increase the level of indigenisation through R&D. For support weapons, Infantry wants customised solutions through R&D, aiming for development of network integration and use of artificial intelligence (AI). For surveillance devices, Infantry wants industry to provide data transmission and networking options as well as AI enhanced devices.

Future Upgrades

For the infantry, exotic devices like Panoramic Goggles, Head-up Display and data connectivity of individual devices is part of their future plans. So also in the case of surveillance devices, devices with fusion technology, HHTI with LRF and GPS, devices based on short wave infra red (SWIR), data storage and connectivity are part of projected planning and not immediate needs.

R&D for NVDs

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is currently developing night vision equipment for the Indian Army tank crew. It has supplied 300 TI-NVDs for T-72 tanks and around 2000+ are on the way to production. The range of these devices is around 3 km and DRDO is currently working on NVDs for commanders of T-90 tanks.16 The NVDs for T-90 tanks could have a vision of 4 km and will help in better battle surveillance, acquisition and firing on targets. These NVDs are being jointly produced by Bharat Electronics Limited, Machilipatnam and OFB Dehradun.

Whether an equipment will work during hot weather conditions in India or not should be the first parameter to be tested when acquiring foreign systems. DRDO has tried to keep its pace with new emerging technologies. DRDO understood the potential of IR (infrared) based instruments and was able to successfully develop active and passive IR systems, thermal imaging and low light television systems.

Many types of devices have been successfully developed for use by the artillery, infantry and armoured corps. Passive NVDs like Passive Night Sight for Anti-tank weapon, Passive Night Observation Device for Arty OP, Passive Night Vision Binocular and Driver’s Passive Night Periscope have been successfully developed by IRDE, Dehradun and are under production at different production centres in the public/private sector.

Indian military has decided to increase engagement of NVDs with AI (Artificial Intelligence). An AI-based NVD mounted on a helmet could capture target movements in an area, alert a user through vibrations, and provide information through an attached wrist band. AI-enabled products and AI-based tools for sensor data analysis, predictive maintenance, and situational awareness have been developed by (Defence Public Sector Undertakings) DPSUs like Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL). An Rs 73.9 crore project has been sanctioned under Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR) to build AI-based solutions to improve intelligence collation and analysis capabilities of Indian defence.

There are a few laboratories and research organizations in India that are involved in the development work of NVDs. Some of these are as follows.

1) Opto Electro Factory, Raipur (OFB) is one of the production units of Ordnance Board under the Ministry of Defence, India located in Dehradun Valley. It offers a wide range of electrooptics instruments and laser based sighting systems for meeting the requirements of military, para-military and special armed forces. Its key products include Passive Night Vision Goggles 102A, Driver’s Passive Night Periscope for T-55 Tank, Bino Night Vision Passive Cased 101A, Passive Night Sight for AK-47.

2) Instruments Research & Development Establishment (IRDE), a research laboratory of DRDO, designs, develops and conducts research in optical and electro-optical instruments for the defence services. Its key products are Gap Measuring Device Mk III, Electro-optical Fire Control System for Naval Ships, Helmet Mounted Thermal Imaging Camera (HMTIC), and Light Weight Portable Laser Target Designator for Air Force.

Comments

Every soldier wants to “own the night.” To provide this capability, the Ministry of Defence has listed its requirements in the TPCR, which amounts to $2.3 bn. A number of Requests for Information have been floated. But our processes are abysmally slow and warped. There are shortcomings in our R&D, manufacturing processes are shoddy, newer technologies are either beyond reach – all this results in time and cost overruns and when the troops get the equipment, there are complaints about quality.

That said, there is plenty of talent and capability available in the country to deliver state-of-the-art night vision devices. Many companies in India, even start-ups, have supplied such equipment to the United States Army and others around the world. There must be something fundamentally wrong with our procurement process, if the same companies are not found fit to supply to the Indian armed forces. Blame it on L1 mentality!

It is also inexplicable that only one item of night vision devices is listed by the Defence of Defence Production for feasibility study – on Night Fighting Control System for AGS-30 – as a Make II project.

Ground warfare waging capabilities depend upon whether you have low-, modest- or high-quality night vision devices. Pairing night vision sights with platforms like missiles and fighting vehicles drives up the threat level, which is true for both sides.

The air force, with advanced attack aircraft, sophisticated navigation and targeting sensors and highly capable ground surveillance radars, gets all its night fighting capability as part or original equipment. In combined and all-arms synchronised and joint warfare it is important for the night fighting capabilities of all components to be compatible and equal. Mismatched forces cannot launch deep attacks based on near-realtime intelligence data, nor operate at night and in adverse weather, and strike throughout the entire depth of the battlespace simultaneously. Unfortunately, the Army, even for low end purchases like night sights for assault rifles, light machine guns, and rocket launchers, orders add-ons separately – either indigenously developed or retrofitted – which leads to problems later. An example was the go-ahead given by the Defence Acquisition Council for thermal night sights for assault rifles on 28 November 2019.

Night vision skill and training go hand-in-hand. It is not enough to just provide IR and thermal night vision devices to the soldiers. Using them to fight at night and defeat the enemy requires changes in field craft, tactics and, more importantly, light discipline, greater awareness, similar to daylight manoeuvring. The enemy too, even with older generation night vision equipment see you in the dark, denying the advantage you have. Just a few devices in the enemy’s hands can change the calculus.

Equipping soldiers selectively, on as required basis, will not instil the discipline and the expertise to use the devices. Transforming a force into a night-capable effective and lethal unit requires changes in training – where soldiers walk and how they walk, choosing to take cover and concealment, operating with more general tactical discipline and so on. The change must be wholesale and comprehensive. Hence, the importance of getting and equipping the force in adequate numbers so as to make it a second habit.

The bottom line is that all soldiers who have to fight at night and their personal weapons must have night fighting capability, all platforms used for night manoeuvres must have the capability and all equipment used in joint warfare or combined arms concept must be night capable. The sooner, the better.

Generation of NVDs

With several technology advancements, NVDs have evolved from Generation 1 to Generation 3+. They are discussed as under:

 Generation 1: Generation 1 is the most common technology sold. It is the most popular owing its low cost in comparison to Gen 2 and Gen 3 . Generation 1 NVDs generally allow a person to see out 75 to 100 yards depending on conditions. It relies on an ambient light sources rather than an infrared light sources. Some common Gen 1 NVDs are AN/PVS-1 Starlight scope, AN/PVS-2 Starlight scope, PNV-57E tanker goggles, PAS 6 Varo Metascope.

 Generation 2: Contrary to logic, Generation 2 NVD are not half way between Gen 1 and Gen 3 in terms of ability. Gen 2 equipment are much closer to Gen 3 than Gen 1 technology. In fact, Gen 2 is often considered optimum, owing their exceptionally good performance and reasonable price compared to Gen 3 and Gen 3+ devices. Generation 2 uses an improved image-intensifier tube resulting in a much brighter image quality.15 Examples include, AN/ PVS-3 Miniaturized, AN/PVS-4, AN/PVS-5, SUPERGEN, PNV-10T.

 Generation 3: Gen 3 NVDs are currently the gold standard in night optics technology. With this technology one can expect exceptional performance and 10,000 hours plus image tube life. This technology allows a unit to operate effectively in areas that have too much light for a standard or non-autogated device to function like urban areas with street lights and house lights. Third-generation night-vision systems have the same micro plate as Gen 2. In addition, they also use cathode to improve image quality. Examples include, AN/PVS-7, AN/NVS-7, AN/PVS-10, AN/PVS-14, AN/PNVS-14, CNVS-4949, PN-21K.

 Generation 3+: Gen 3+ or 4 is the latest generation available and they use film-less image tubes to improve performance. This autogated technology allows a user to achieve high performance in light polluted areas and do not shut down in bright surroundings. it is an improvement over the Generation 3 in terms of less image noise and the ability to operate with a luminous sensitivity of around 700. Examples include, AN/PVS-22, NVS-22.

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Sights and EO Devices Required

The infantry’s requirements, based on scaling of devices is huge. The following table shows the enormity of the requirements and the numbers for which procurement action has been initiated:

Type      Required             Procurement

                                                Initiated

Carbine (II)         130,000 40,000

Rifle (TI)               90,000   19,000

Rifle (II)                180,000 40,000

LMG (TI)              27,000   5,000

LMG (II)               12,000   2,300

RL (TI)   15,000   3,500

MMG (TI)            5,000     1,500

EO Devices

PNVG (II)             100,000 17,000

PNVB (II)             30,000   20,000

HHTI (Cooled)    8,000     7,500

HHTI (Uncooled)              12,000   0

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The Adani Group has entered the small arms business with the acquisition of Punj Lloyd’s stake in Punj Lloyd Raksha Systems Private Limited (PLR), a joint venture company between Punj Lloyd Industries Limited (PLIL) and Israel Weapon Industries (IWI)  in Gwalior that will produce machine guns, carbines and other weapons for the local and export markets.

The acquisition – through a joint venture in which Israeli manufacturer IWI holds a 49% stake – will help the group acquire capabilities ranging from UAVs to helicopter systems to major aero structures.

The transfer of ownership of PLR was done in late 2019 after Punj Llyod sold its share to a third company that was then picked up by the Adani Group.

The entity is poised to pick up major orders from the defence ministry, with final discussions underway for 16,400 light machine guns for which IWI is the lead contender. A larger competition for 41,000 guns is also underway. Besides, paramilitary forces and state police, too, have requirements for these small arms.

The Gwalior facility was inaugurated in March 2017 and was the first Indian private sector company that started manufacturing small arms and ammunition.

The facility is designed to manufacture a range of weapons including the Tavor Assault Rifle (already in use by special forces), the X 95 Assault rifle, Galil sniper rifles, Negev LMGs and Uzi sub machine guns. The first set of Indian manufacture X 95 rifles were rolled out by the facility in October 2018.

The Adani group has strong plans for its defence business, starting with the acquisition of Bangalore-based Alpha Design Technologies and setting up of a new manufacturing facility in Hyderabad to make Hermes 900 drones in collaboration with Israel’s Elbit Systems.

The company has already been shortlisted as a potential strategic partner for the Naval Utility Helicopter (NUH) contract and is also making a bid for the multi-billion dollar project to build next generation conventional submarines in India under the P 75 (I) project.

OFB Will Manufacture Smart Bombs, Futuristic Combat Vehicle

Director General Ordnance Factories and Chairman Ordnance Factories Board (OFB), Hari Mohan, said at the first-ever conference of employees of 41 ordnance factories at the National Academy for Defence Production at Ambajhari, that ordnance factories were planning to manufacture `smart bombs’ or guided artillery ammunition rounds of 81 mm, 51 mm, 120 mm and 130mm calibre. OFB would also soon roll out a “Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicle” made for the Indian Army.

“OFB started manufacturing Armoured Personal Carriers for the army from 1983-84. But now the OFB has developed its own Futuristic Infantry Combat (FIC) Vehicle for the army,” he said.

“It is almost 85 percent ready. In coming months the FIC will be fully ready and exhibited in the next Defence exhibition,” Mohan added.

Sea Ceptor Supersonic Missile Defence System Offered

L&T MBDA Missile Systems Ltd has submitted its first bid to the Indian Armed Forces – offering the latest generation Sea Ceptor naval air defence system, in its RFP response for the Indian Navy’s Short-Range Surface to Air Missile (SRSAM) requirement.

The Sea Ceptor, that made its debut at DefExpo-2018, will be built in India. It provides complete protection against multiple air targets simultaneously. Sea Ceptor utilises the Common Anti-air Modular Missile (CAMM) that features a fully active RF-seeker, two-way datalink and soft-vertical launch system.

A new functional simulator for ATGM5 anti-tank guided missile will make its debut at DefExpo-2020, the joint venture between Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and European MBDA said in a statement.

In addition, the company has offered Exocet MM40 Block 3 short-range anti-ship cruise missiles in response to India’s RFI for the Medium Range Anti-Ship Missile.

Presently, MBDA is delivering MICA air-to-air missile systems, and METEOR ramjet powered and network-enabled beyond visual range air-to- air missiles, and SCALP missiles for Indian Air Force (IAF) Rafale fighters.

The IAF is also taking the delivery of ASRAAM fire-and-forget missiles for India’s fleet of upgraded Jaguar jets, bought under New Generation Close Combat Missile program.

India’s indigenously-built Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv and Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) have been armed with MBDA Mistral ATAM air-to-air missile launchers.

Maruti Gypsy Production Begins Again

Early last year, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL), the largest-selling car maker in the country, announced the discontinuation of its aged but highly capable Gypsy mini SUV in the local car market. The much-revered off-roader was discontinued from 1 April 2019 due to the SUV’s inability to meet the updated safety regulations.

The Indian Army, which has been the largest buyer of the Maruti Gypsy, had decided to switch to the Tata Safari Storme. However, it has now come to light that the car maker will soon resume the production of its ‘mountain goat’ as it has received a fresh order from the Army.

However, this time around, the iconic off-roader won’t be available to the private car buyers. While the Maruti Gypsy not only fails to conform with the updated safety regulations, but its G13 1.3-litre four-cylinder engine will even fail to achieve compliance with the BSVI emission norms. However, the Army is exempt from complying with both updated safety and emission regulations.

Korean Defence Firms To Pitch Weapons Systems At Defexpo

Ten South Korean companies including Hanwha Defence, Korea Aerospace Industries and LIG Nex1 have confirmed their participation in DefExpo 2020.

Hanwha Defence’s self-propelled anti-aircraft defence system named Biho, which means flying tiger, is waiting the final nod for supplies to India from the local defence ministry.

According to a report by the Defence Agency for Technology and Quality last year, India spent the world’s fourth largest $66 billion for defence in 2018, with purchase of weapons reaching the second largest of $13.9 billion in the world.

HAL Needs New Orders To Keep Production Going

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is betting on the Indian Air Force (IAF) to place a multi-billion dollar order for an advanced version of the indigenously produced Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Tejas, before the financial year ends to prevent a complete halt of production at its facilities.

The IAF plans to buy 83 LCA Mk-1A jets, taking the total number of Tejas variants ordered to 123. As part of its existing orders, HAL has to supply 24 LCA jets and a few Sukhoi-30s to the IAF.

HAL’s order books are empty beyond 2021-22 and new orders from the armed forces are critical for continuity in production, the government has told Parliament’s standing committee on defence.

Another order that HAL is eyeing is the supply of 70 locally produced basic trainers to the IAF. If it gets the order for the Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40), HAL could begin production of the trainers by early 2021.

HAL’s production over last several years has been growing with highest turnover of Rs 19,705 crore recorded in the financial year 2018-19. However, the major part of existing orders for supply of aircraft and helicopters will be liquidated shortly with the major manufacturing order of Su-30MKI being completed in 2019-20,” the defence ministry told the standing committee on defence in December 2019.

The ministry stressed that production would be hit for want of new orders. “Considering production/procurement lead time of 18 to 24 months involved in the manufacture of aircraft/helicopters, the existing facilities at HAL face the threat of idling and production will show a declining trend for want of confirmed orders.”

51st K-9 Vajra Flagged Off At L&T Gun Making Facility

Defence minister Rajnath Singh, on 16 January, flagged off the 51st K-9 Vajra-T gun at the Larsen and Toubro Armoured Systems Complex at Hazira, Surat.

The gun weighs 50 tons and can fire 47 kg bombs at 43-kilometre distant targets. It can also turn around at zero radius.

L&T had in 2017 won the Rs 4,500-crore contract from the Ministry of defence to supply 100 units of K9 Vajra-T 155 mm/52 calibre tracked self-propelled gun systems to the Indian Army under the Centre’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.

The K9 Vajra contract involves delivery of 100 such systems in 42 months, which is the largest contract awarded to a private company by the Ministry of defence.

Army to Sign Mou For AK-203 Assault Rifles

The Army is likely to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in FebruaRY 2020 for the procurement of over 7.5 lakh AK-203 assault rifles, which are to be manufactured locally by an India-Russia joint venture (JV), Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited at Korwa in Uttar Pradesh.

About 1 lakh rifles will come directly from Russia and the remaining will be manufactured by the JV in India.

The facility is being set up between the Ordnance Factories Board (OFB) from the Indian side, and Rosoboron Exports and Kalashnikov on the Russian side. The OFB owns 50.5% equity and Russian side holds the remaining 49.5%. The JV was formed following the Inter-governmental Agreement between India and Russia in February 2019.

The JV has obtained all the requisite licences for production and export. The Ministry of Defence has already floated a Request For Proposal (RFP) to the JV for the supply of 6.71 lakh rifles.

In addition to the AK-203, the Army recently began inducting the first batch of 10,000 SIG-716 assault rifles. Troops engaged in counter insurgency operations in the Army’s Northern Command have started receiving these rifles, sources said. The rifles are being procured under a contract signed in February 2019 with Sig Sauer of the U.S. for 72,400 SIG-716 assault rifles worth over ?700 crore.

The initial idea was to equip the entire Army with the SIG-716. Given the huge cost, it was decided that the rifles would be provided to frontline troops, while the remaining forces can be equipped with AK-203 rifles.

The Army has been looking to replace the indigenous INSAS (Indian National Small Arms System) rifles in use with a modern rifle. The MoD had approved the procurement in January 2018 through the Fast Track Procurement route. Of the 72,400 rifles, 66,400 are for the Army, 2,000 for the Navy and 4,000 for the Air Force. The entire quantity is expected to be delivered within 12 months from the date of signing the contract.

CONTROP Wins DRDO Tender for iSky-50HD Systems

CONTROP Precision Technologies Ltd has won a tender by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the supply of its iSky-50HD systems, for use on unmanned air platforms.

The iSky-50HD is a member of CONTROP’s iSky family of lightweight, compact EO/IR observation systems, which have been specifically designed for use in challenging airborne environments. The iSky-50HD features highly-sensitive multi-spectral sensors, which are gyro-stabilized and have advanced image processing algorithms, thereby providing maximum sensor ranges and performance, for a variety of airborne defence applications. In daily operation around the world since the 1990s, the iSky systems are integrated into a wide variety of UAV, helicopter, fixed-wing aircraft and aerostat platforms.

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The delivery of all 72,000 7.62x51mm calibre rifles will be completed by early-2020. The Army will get 66,400 of these SiG-716 rifles, while 4,000 are for the Indian Air Force and 2,000 for the Navy.

These guns are compact, with an effective range of 500-metre, use modern technology and are easy to maintain in field conditions.

It has been almost 15 years since the Army first demanded them. These US-origin rifles have a longer kill range and are meant only for frontline soldiers, while Russian AK 203 asault rifles are manufactured by Ordnance Factory Korwa, under a joint venture. The factory in Uttar Pradesh will progressively manufacture 7,45,000 Kalashnikov AK-203 rifles worth over Rs 12,000 crore with even meet the demands of the police forces. The 7.62x39mm caliber AK-203 rifle, a derivative of the iconic AK-47 and has an effective range of 300-metres.

While Army will get a little over 7 lakh of these Kalashnikov rifles, the Indian Air Force will get 29,000 and the Navy 13,600.

The Army had first asked for new assault rifles back in 2005, along with close-quarter battle carbines, for its 382 infantry battalions to replace the existing 5.56mm INSAS (Indian small arms system) rifles, but unrealistic technical parameters as well as corruption allegations repeatedly derailed the procurement projects.

Apart from the new assault rifles, the Army has also gone in for emergency induction of 210 Israeli “Spike” anti-tank guided missiles and 12 launchers, which have a strike range of up to 4-km, for the western front with Pakistan, as was earlier reported by TOI.

Similarly, the Army has acquired over 30 new sniper rifles, Beretta’s .338 Lapua Magnum Scorpio TGT and Barrett’s .50-caliber M95 guns, which have an effective kill range from 1,500 to 1,800-metre, for use along the 778-km long line of control.

The Army also requires 4.58 lakh close-quarter battle carbines and replacements for the INSAS machine gun. The defence ministry says the huge shortfalls in basic infantry weapons will eventually be met with Indian companies as well as Ordnance Factory Board tying up with foreign ones to manufacture them under the “Make in India” initiative.

Night Vision Devices for LMGs

A request for information (RFI) on advanced night-vision device (ANVD) was floated by the army in December 2019. The LMG is a light support weapon that features a longer and heavier barrel along with a bipod. The LMG also has a longer range of 700 m as compared to 400 m for the rifle. While the LMG has a 30-round box magazine, it can also use the rifle’s 20-round magazine.

At present, the night firing capability of soldiers with an INSAS LMG without an ANVD is highly inaccurate. ANVD is an opto-electronic device that allows high resolution images of the area in the user’s field of view to be produced in conditions of very low light or total darkness.

The incorporation of ANVD will enable a soldier to acquire targets during night for all types of operations and thereby improving his combat efficiency. Also the ANVD will enable to identify and detect a target in adverse weather conditions, which is a limitation in absence of ANVD.

The Army’s requirement is that the device should be able to detect a human at a distance of at least 500 m and a vehicle at 1,200 m and should enable the user to identify them at a distance of 350 m. It should also have the feature to record and store images as well as videos.

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Army to Order Six Apaches

Even as the IAF inducts 22 Apache Guardian attack helicopters armed with deadly missiles and rockets, the Army too is getting ready to order six of these heavy-duty choppers or “tanks in the air” from US.

The Rs 4,168 crore contract for the six Boeing-manufactured Apaches and associated equipment will be inked soon after being cleared by the cabinet committee on security (CCS_.

The AH-64E Apache multi-role combat helicopters are being bought under the US foreign military sales programme, Washington’s government-to-government method for selling US-built platforms. The deliveries of the helicopters will begin in 2022.

Armed with fire-and-forget Hellfire missiles, an Apache can track up to 128 targets a minute and prioritise threats. The missiles equip the gunships with heavy anti-armour capabilities.

Just six helicopters constitute a flight and would have limited operational value. The maintenance facilities of these six choppers should hopefully be dovetailed with the 22 Apaches that the IAF is acquiring – that is two full helicopter squadrons.

The IAF had begun to induct its 22 Apaches earlier this year under the Rs 13,952 crore deal inked with the US in September 2015. The Indian Air Force has begun inducting these helicopters. The six army Apaches are being bought as a follow-on option to the 2015 contract.

The army will deploy attack helicopters for the first time. Attack helicopters have been on the army’s wish list for several years, but IAF objected to the plan. The army says it requires more attack helicopters as it had moved a case to buy 39 Apaches a few years ago.

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The Brand has now introduced a new range of Warrior-Envy Safety Shoes developed with Popcorn Technology.

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