As the growing threats of China, and Terrorists inside and outside our territories, it is the prime time for the Indian Armed Forces to get some new equipment on our hands to increase our effectiveness beyond our borders. The defense ministry had lit a green signal to procure new tanks, helicopters, and DRDO testing new missiles. There are a lot more to come.
The Aakash Prime:
On 27th September 2021, DRDO successfully tested the latest Aakash Prime missile at the Integrated Test Range or ITR at Chandipur, Odisha. At on14:30 Hours IST, the missile hit precisely an unmanned aerial vehicle or UAV as a target. The range of this missile is 30Km, and the flight ceiling is whooping 20Km, and it can fly on 18Km above ground with high endurance to low temperature while carrying a 60Kg warhead.
The Akash missile system comprises of a launcher, set of missiles (usually 3), a control center, a built-in mission guidance system, and C4I centers (stands for command, control communication, and intelligence) and supporting ground equipment along with a radar named Rajendra specifically built for Aakash systems accompanied each of the missile batteries.
The latest Aakash Prime has a more advanced Radio Frequency (RF) tracking ability, which was indigenously built technology by the DRDO gives the missile more accuracy during its mission. As the Chinese PLA had put drones into the Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh borders to carry heavier bombs, it is better to keep an Aakash battery ready for action.
You can check the video from the test right here:
The L70 Autocannon Upgrade:
The L70 Autocannon made by Bofors has been here since 1934 and has its fare-share of warfare that includes World War II. But now, they are being re-purposed as drone hunters. Recently Indian Army’s Air Defense College successfully tasted at Gopalpur, Odisha. The test involved 40mm air-burst rounds to ensure destroying UAVs. The Indian Army Air Defense Corps are planning to use it against the PLA, especially in the Ladakh region.
On similar news, the Indian Airforce recently ordered INR 120 Cr. to the Hyderabad-based Zen Technologies for similar equipment for anti-drone operations. The Zen’s Zen-Anti Drone Air Defense Systems or ZADS may be associated with the L70 Autocannon to use against the drones flying between 10m to 10,000m on air.
On the other hand, the Army is also planning to use made-in-Russia ZSU-23 self-propelled, radar-guided anti-aircraft weapon systems along with the Jammu and Kashmir border and the Punjab border. Since 2019 the ISI has been sending weapons, ammunition, and drugs using drones. The BSF equipped with small arms like rifles and sniper rifles is not enough to stop the fast-moving drones.
Some More Flying using PPP Model:
Indian armed forces are planning to retire all their aging planes, and Avro-748 is the primary transport plane that is on target. The INR 20,000 Cr. Tata Advanced Systems Limited and Airbus Defense and Space have been finalized. TASL will soon produce the 40 Aircraft under the Make in India campaign. TASL will produce the C-295M transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force. Within the next 48 months, India to get 16 planes on Flyaway conditions. Among the 16 planes, 10 will be for the IAF, and 6 will be used by the Coast Guards.
The C-295 can carry 71 troops, 48 fully equipped paratroops, 27 stretchers, five 2.24 × 2.74 m packages, or 3 lightly armored vehicles.
This deal is a very big step for the IAF as India is the only place in the world where the Avro-748 or HS 748 is still in use. Other former operators had either scrapped them or preserved them in museums.
Now Some News From The Latest Rotorcrafts:
At the end of the month, the DAC chaired by the Honorable Minister of Defense Shri Rajnath Singh has cleared new defense procurement worth INR 13,165, among which INR 3850 will be spent on 25 LAH Mark III Helicopters. This is an indigenously developed helicopter, and all of them will be manufactured by HAL.
Apart from that, INR 4962 will be spent on Rockets and Ammunitions.
118 New T-72 Tanks:
The Indian Army is going to procure 118 new Arjun T-72 Mk 1A by spending INR 7523 Cr. The newly manufactured tanks will be fortified with 72 upgrades over the existing variant of the same tank, including 14 major improvements. The first 5 of these new tanks will be delivered within 30 months, then 30 per year. With new and improved armor and chassis, this tank will be capable of holding its ground against the harsh terrains of the Himalayas against both China and Pakistan.
Arjun T-72 Mk 1A will have a 120mm Smoothbore Gun, 1 12.7mm NSV Remote Control Heavy Machine Gun, and 1 7.62mm Machine Gun.
Some Added Notes:
Previously this year, India, South Korea, and now the United Kingdom have decided to produce defense equipment in India and possible technology transfer for new aircraft. This news didn’t get too much heat as expected. But for that, you visit www.indiaatwar.in the right?
The India-UK deal took place in May 2021. This is India’s top bet to improve the Tejas MK2. With further technology transfer, the Indian Navy will also benefit from the improvisation of the Tejas’s Naval Variant. Both nations agreed on intelligence sharing to prevent terrorist attacks on the Indian Ocean region. Prime Minister Modi and Johnson agreed to enhance the India-UK security deals and walk a 10-year long roadmap.
On the other hand, South Korea will invest in the two defense corridors currently under development at Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nādu. What kind of military equipment will be produced by South Korea in India is still unclear, but some reports said these are for cyber security, land, and naval forces. This deal took place on March 2021.