Army Modernization Drive: Nocturnal Combat Capability To Be Enhanced

Army Modernization Drive: Nocturnal Combat Capability To Be Enhanced

To augment its night fighting capabilities, Army is planning to buy more night vision equipment for the forces and also embarking on induction of ultra fast quick reaction missiles to provide cover for troops from low flying threats.As part of its modernisation and upgrading weaponry, Army has decided to buy more night fighting equipment for infantry as well as armour and firmed up new deals to upgrade its Air Defence artillery as part of the ongoing modernisation drive, army officials said.The purchase of more night fighting equipment, to give the forces capability to be operational after dark were discussed an agreed upon at the Army Commanders conference presently on in the capital.At present army has equipped all its strike formations and detachments deployed on the International border with Pakistan and China and along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir with night visions."Under new agreement signed with Russia, Army is also going in for provision of night vision in its front line T-90 and T-72 tanks," senior officials said.The new Air Artillery upgrading plans okayed by the commanders meeting here for their bi-annual meeting include upgrading the ZU-24 air defence guns included its tank chassis mounted version Schilkas, officials said.Army along with IAF and Navy is on the verge of finalising a deal to induct a 12 kms vertically launched, low level quick reaction missiles to provide cover for troops from low flying threats.The missile would be made by Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) in collaboration with the European missile giant MBDA and would be called Rohini. Army also deploys shoulder firing Russian IGLA Missile, for which Russian have developed an upgraded version.The commanders reviewing the modernisation drive in the force also took up plans to augment the Army Aviation. Army is planning to induct 197 light helicopters to replace its ageing fleet of Chetak and Cheetahs.Two firms Eurocopter and US aviation giant Textron's bell helicopters have been shortlisted and the awarding of the 700 Million US dollar deal has been sent up to Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).Under the deal, army would purchase 67 helicopters off the shelf and make the rest 137 under technology transfer at HAL.The commanders also discussed and finalised plans to augment military-to-military interaction with friendly nations and in the coming months clearance was given for participating in more bilateral and even multilateral ground forces exercises.