SP's Land Forces 01-2008

LandForcesSP’s A S P G U I D E P U B L I C A T I O N

LT GENERAL (RETD) PRAN PAHWAEDITOR

1/2008 SP’S LAND FORCES 1

I n T h i s I s s u e T h e O N LY j o u r n a l i n A s i a d e d i c a t e d t o L a n d F o r c e s

PerspectiveEditor ial

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I s s u e 1 • 2 0 0 8 V o l 5 N o 1

LandForcesSP’s A S P G U I D E P U B L I C A T I O N

I n T h i s I s s u e T h e O N LY j o u r n a l i n A s i a d e d i c a t e d t o L a n d F o r c e s

Project Repor t

Finance Minister P. Chidambaram’s assurance that needs of the Indian armed forces would be provided for has come under a cloud as defence allocation for 2008-09 dipped below 2 per cent of the GDP.

LT GENERAL (RETD) V.K. KAPOOR

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Potentially destabilising developments in India’s immediate neighbourhood demand a close scrutiny. Assassination on December 27, 2007 of prime minis-terial candidate Benazir Bhutto, who had promised

to neutralise extremist elements in Pakistan, followed by large scale violence and postpone-ment of elections to February 18 convulsed the nation. Inconclusive election results, thereafter, have failed to win public confidence as it threw up a coalition of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) with former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s party PML-N. The only ostensible reason for the unlikely camaraderie between the duo would be to oust President Pervez Musharraf. They might even restore the judiciary, thereby reinstating the functions of the Supreme Court. Among the priorities of the new government would be the onerous tasks of improving upon the economy, restora-tion of media’s freedom and negotiating peace with tribal leaders to restore a semblance of a stable democracy in a feudal nation.

It would be pertinent to keep in mind that Islamabad has in the past encouraged growth of the radical variety of Islam and the terrorist groups holed up in the western provinces bor-dering Afghanistan and in the east in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. Evidently, the strategy of a calibrated proxy war against Afghanistan and India through sponsored non-state actors will not work any longer as the State stands exposed internationally.

India’s larger neighbour in the Northeast is faced with an ironical situation over the violent uprising in Tibet Autonomous Region. Latest reports indicate the fighting has now spilled over from Tibet into neighbouring provinces, with the Dalai Lama issuing a warning that the region is facing a cultural genocide and appeal-ing to the world for help. The satire shines through when viewed in the light of Beijing’s oft repeated claims on the neighbouring Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. For China, the tim-ing couldn’t have been worse. Violence erupt-ed even as the nation has been gearing up for the start of Olympic celebrations due in two weeks with the commencement of the torch relay which is to pass through Tibet. China’s communist government has been harbouring hopes of boosting its popularity at home and abroad by hosting the Olympics from August 8 to 24. The turmoil in Tibet, however, has put a cloud on its aspirations.

Lt General (Retd) V.K. Kapoor

Left-wing extremism, alternatively termed as Maoist insurgency or Naxalite violence, has emerged as a grave threat to India’s internal security, undermining the process of nation building.

AMIT KUMAR SINGH74

Procuring Ultra Light Howitzer heralds the beginning of artillery modernisation plans for the Indian Army. But efforts at indigenous manufacture remain shrouded in doubt.

LT GENERAL (RETD) RANJIT NAGRA

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The Indian Army’s (IA) ambitious main battle tank (MBT) programme is in a state of flux. Military planners believe this present state-of-affairs

to be impinging adversely on the country’s operational preparedness. All components of the MBT programme—be it the overall MBT acquisition, development and modernisation to equip 59 armoured regiments—continues to be riven by indecision, insensitivity, bureaucratic delays and inefficiencies. All it reveals is inferior strategic planning, poor coordination between the Army, Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Director General Ordnance Factories (DGOF), apart from inef-ficient resource management.

Flawed PoliciesNot surprisingly retired senior army officers

are questioning the army’s flawed equipment policies, which they claim are not only uneco-nomical and inefficient, but largely neglected as well.

“Given the army’s emphasis on low intensity conflict, its long term armour induction policy and related modernisation programmes have been neglected at the highest levels and have slipped badly” says Brigadier Arun Sahgal, a former armoured corps officer who is pres-ently Deputy Director, Research, in the United Service Institutions Centre for Strategic Studies in Delhi. India, he declared, had the ‘rare dis-tinction’ of concurrently running three sepa-rate MBT production lines but that an honest assessment of their efficacy augured ill for the fighting capability of the army’s armoured units.

Fact is, our army at present lacks the night fighting capability and so it’s a matter of great

urgency that our armoured regiments, some of which still operate retrofitted T 55’s and the older vintage T-72s are promptly replaced with T90S’s and upgraded T72M1’s. Besides, they must also be equipped with full and partial solution fire control systems (FCS’) that would give them the night fighting capability they sorely need.

Currently, the army operates two types of Russian-origin MBTs-the ‘Ajeya T72M1 built locally under licence by the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) at Avadi near Chennai and the ‘Bhishma’ T90S series of which 310 were imported in 2001 for around $700 million (Rs 2,830 crore). Of these, 124 T 90S MBTs-of which the Indian army was the first overseas customer-were acquired in completed form and the remaining 186 were assembled by the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) at Avadi, Chennai.

Main Battle Tank

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Lack of coordination and understanding between the Army, the DRDO and other agencies concerned continues to beset the Indian Army leading to inefficient resource management

T-90s out in full force at the Republic Day parade

Editor ial

2 SP’S LAND FORCES 1/2008

Additional induction of T-90sLast year, the Army gave contract for 347 addi-tional T 90S to Rosonboronexport for around $1.2 billion (Rs 4,853 crore). The delivery of this contract is to be in completed and in kit form. This has been done to especially ensure that the contract suffers from none of the tech-nical problems that initially plagued the efforts made by Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) to build 1000 of these tanks locally at Avadi. Our inability to manufacture locally has been due to the lack of the transfer of technology which was a part of the initial deal. In fact, Russia has refused to transfer technology related to metallurgy for T 90S gun barrels and armour plates to the HVF. This had led the Army Chief, General Deepak Kapoor to declare, “Transfer of technology is a complex process due to differ-ent perceptions on either side on what exactly this involves. There have been delays but, in the long run, the transfer will take place and indig-enous production of the tank will commence”. He justified the acquisition of the additional T 90S but declined to provide a schedule for their local manufacture.

Indigenous manufacture Despite the obvious constraints and problems, the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) claims that it would soon be able to achieve its target of annually building 100 T-90S tanks. According to the Director general (ordnance factories) and chairman of the OFB Sudipta Ghosh: “In 2008, the HVF would hand over five indigenously pro-duced T-90S tanks to the army, followed by 50 next year and probably rising to 100 annually by 2010 onward.”

Meanwhile, Thales of France has received a repeat order for around 320 Catherine thermal imagers (TI) that is at the heart of the fire control system (FCS) of the Indian army’s T 90S’. Francois Dupont, Corporate Country Director of Thales India declared on the sidelines of Defexpo-2008 that “With this requisition for 320 TIs, the number of TI devices provided by Thales for fitment onto the country’s T 90S’s will go up to 1000.” Thales’ agreement with the state-owned Opto Electronics Factory (OLF) at Dehra Dun run by the OFB stipulates that it will provide the FCS’ for 320 of 1000 T 90S’s that will be con-structed locally by the HVF. Thales officials present at the recently concluded Defexpo were of the opinion that the remaining 680 MBT’s would also be equipped with similar FCS’s, leading to an add-on order later.

The FCS-an amalgam of the Catherine TI camera that incorporates a long-wave infrared detector with the IG 46 gunners sight from Belarus’s Beltech International-is already installed in 310 T 90S’s and has a range of 3-4 km. Thales anticipates the FCS order multiply-ing if the Indian army decides to install it onto the T 72M1 and to the infantry combat vehi-cles (BMP-2s) as part of a proposed upgrade of both platforms.

Thales is competing with El-Op of Israel to supply the army full and partial solution FCS’s for the long delayed upgrade of its T 72

M1 MBT fleet- that forms the backbone of the army’s armoured might. The army’s require-ment is for 950 full solution thermal imag-ing FCS-250 of them as replacements for the Drawa-T FCS from PCO-Cenzin of Poland, the contract for which was cancelled three years ago-and 750-800 third generation partial solution thermal imaging stand alone systems (TISAS). In line to be TISAS-equipped are sev-eral hundred BMP-2 as well.

Faulty Catherine thermal imaging camerasThales officials have denied allegations made by the Indian army that around 80-90 Catherine thermal imaging cameras of the 310 T 90S’s, whose regimental induction began in late 2003, had been rendered inoperable due to recurring technical problems caused by exces-sive summer heat in the Rajasthan desert. Temperatures in this region, where the MBTs frequently exercise and would eventually be deployed against nuclear rival Pakistan, exceed 50 degrees Celsius during summer while rising to 70 degrees Celsius inside the tanks. It is obvi-ous that the original Indian decision not to buy the air conditioners fitted inside was a mistake. Air conditioners are needed for balancing the working temperature of the sighting and fire control system and for the crew to avoid battle fatigue. This short sightedness has proved costly to the nation.

“Only around 40 FCS (of 310) units were non-functional but the rest were working well” a Thales official admitted, attributing the failure to routine equipment attrition. Military sources alleged that the TI system had neither been adequately ‘tropicalized’ nor sufficiently ‘ruggedised’ to bear India’s excessive desert heat, a claim Thales refutes. Each camera was priced at around $444,000 (Rs 1.8 crore) or around 20 per cent of each MBT’s overall cost of Rs 11.75 crore.

The FCS components were ‘mated’ at the T90S Nizhny Tagil factory in the Russian Urals and deliveries of the 124 completed MBT’s to India commenced in December 2002 and con-cluded within 12-14 months. Thereafter, HVF handed over the first locally assembled T90S’s to the army in January 2004 with the remain-ing numbers completed in early 2007. Initially, after the MBT’s TI camera’s malfunctioned, they were replaced as the tanks were still under warranty till March 2004. But when the FCS shortcomings persisted, senior army officers including former army Chief, General Nirmal Vij grudgingly conceded that ‘various solu-tions’ like air conditioning the MBTs, to resolve persisting problems were under consideration. Thales officials, however, said attempts to air-condition the T 90S’ had no bearing on the TI’s functioning; it was merely to make tolerable the unbearably high temperatures inside the tank during summer.

Setbacks in T-90sInitially, the T90S’s fired Russian-made AMK-338 and AMK-339 rounds. But these had more or less been exhausted in training and

the MBTs 125 mm smoothbore guns have yet to be configured to fire locally manufactured AMK 340 rounds, in effect leaving them virtu-ally ammunition-less. Production of 9M119 Refleks (NATO designation AT-11 ‘Sniper’) mis-siles by the state-owned Bharat Dynamics at Hyderabad scheduled to begin in early 2006 is also behind schedule as several test firings have been unsuccessful. Russian technicians are being consulted to resolve the problem.

Armoured corps officers also noted that the initial batch of T90S’s need major overhauling as they had been ‘over exposed’ in exercises. Each tank has a maximum life of 650 revs on the onboard rev-counter (static running equal’s one rev per hour whilst traversing a distance of 17.5 km is one rev). However, in less than four years after the tanks entered regi-mental service most had completed 600 revs and would be requiring major overhauls soon. Tank gun barrels-capable of firing 220 effective full charge (EFC) rounds-were also imperiled. The T-90 can undergo a maximum of three gun changes.

Paucity of training simulators A paucity of training simulators, of which there were only four–two driving and two for gunnery instruction-contributed to the MBT’s overuse. To compound matters, these simula-tors were divided between Babina, Patiala, Jhansi and Ahmednagar forcing tank crews to waste time racing to each location. The situa-tion was further complicated by the simulator maintenance wing being headquartered at Jhansi, resulting in delays if problems occurred at any of the other three locations.

T-72 M1 ‘Ajeya’ upgradationUnseemly setbacks in upgrading 1800-2000 ‘Ajeya’ T72M1 tank and Arjun’s poor perfor-mance resulting in the army’s reluctance to induct it into service despite over three decades of development and trials, have also dealt a body blow to the army’s overall armour profile. The T72M1’s form the backbone of India’s armoured strength and around 1108 of them had till March 2005, been built by HVF. But the long-delayed ‘Project Rhino’, which envisaged the upgrading of the T72M1 fleet in varying degrees by providing it with explosive reactive armour, fibre-optic gyro-based navigation and laser warning systems, frequency hopping radio sets, thermal imaging night sights with full solution fire control systems, and advanced nuclear biological and chemical equipment had failed to materialize fully. These additional systems, together with the stabilization of the tanks gun control system by attaching a new thermal shroud on the MBT’s 125mm 2A46 smooth bore gun to ensure greater accuracy and equip the tank with new integrated fire detection and suppression system, would have completed the staggered retrofit package to keep the T72M1’s in service till 2015-20 and even beyond. So far, the army has bought merely 300 partial solution TISAS from Israel’s ElOp for the T 72M1’s for around $120,000 each (Rs 49 lakh), almost all of which have

been fitted. But army sources maintain that even these equipment were reportedly malfunc-tioning because of overheating in the desert.

Efforts at replacing the T72M1’s 780hp V 12 air cooled multi-fuel injection engine with the T90S’s 1000hp V92S2 four-stroke V 12 diesel power pack fitted with a turbo-super-charger have not succeeded thereby contribut-ing to the upgrade setbacks.

Faulty AMK 340 T-72 ammunitionThe T 72M1 fleet also faces a depletion of 125 mm AMK 340 shells produced by the govern-ment-run Ordnance Factory Board with not enough rounds for the army to even carry out mandatory, bi-annual basic firing exercises over the past three years. Army sources said some 150,000-200,000 AMK 340 rounds worth around Rs 700 crore had since 2003 been destroyed due to a combination of defec-tive manufacturing and negligence in storing. Faulty ammunition had also “demoralized” T72M1 tank crews after a series of AMK 340 rounds burst inside tank barrels. In one such accident, two soldiers are believed to have died some years ago at Babina. Armoured corps offi-cers said nervous tank crews had even refused to fire the AMK 340 ordnance and when forced to do so, resorted to elaborate stratagems to detonate the shells from outside the tank.

Neglected T-72 overhaul The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in its report on combat vehicles presented to parliament in May 2006 observed that in keep-ing with the army’s policy, imported T-72 tanks are due for their first overhaul after 12 years or 10,000 km while the second is carried out after 22 years or 18,000 km. For indigenously produced T-72s, the first overhaul is after 10 years or 5,000 km and the second after 20 years or 9,000 km. “The backlog of 1572 tanks to be overhauled as of 2005 had arisen primarily due to insufficient overhaul capacity created, failure of the factory to make available the quality spares in time and inadequate sup-ply of tanks due for overhaul by the Army,” the CAG report said. Consequently by 2015, the CAG warned, there would be a further accu-mulation of another 1983 tanks for their first and second overhaul, a situation that would ‘adversely effect’ operational readiness of the Indian Army.

‘Arjun’ related woesMeanwhile, the saga of the DRDO-developed Arjun MBT, sanctioned in 1974, shows no sign of coming to an end. The army recently reiterated its refusal to receive it in its present state and privately declared it an ‘operational liability’. The HVF is presently constructing 124 Arjun’s under a contract awarded in the late 1990’s. The Army Chief, General Kapoor, however delivered a body blow to the Arjun programme by declaring last November that the Army was seeking a new generation MBT. “What we have today (Arjun) is mid-level tech-nology. What we need is a tank of international

Army personnel conducting a drill with T-90s in the Rajasthan desert


quality” the Army Chief stated at an interna-tional seminar on Armoured Fighting Vehicles. He added, “I have no doubt that the DRDO will be able to develop indigenous capabili-ties for coming up with a better answer and a more versatile armoured fighting vehicle (than Arjun) in the future.” Indirectly referring to DRDO’s inefficient functioning, General Kapoor also called for greater synergy between defence scientists, users and producers to ensure the delivery of a ‘cutting-edge-technology’ MBT.

At a review meeting with the DRDO earlier this year, Defence Minister A.K. Antony had asked it to rectify Arjun’s defects failing which the government would be forced to review the entire programme under which the HVF is building 124 units. The all-party parliamen-tary defence committee in two of its recent reports had also severely castigated the delayed Arjun programme for which the army drew up its qualitative requirements in 1972 with a view to designing a largely indigenous MBT. Its cost is also estimated at around $3.5 mil-lion (Rs 14 crore) per piece, far in excess of the T90S MBT’s.

The DRDO has conceded that nearly 60 per cent of Arjun’s components like its German MTU 838, Ka-510 1,400 hp diesel engine con-nected to a German-built RENK semi-automat-ic transmission system, FCS and gun-control system and numerous other components and sub-assemblies were imported. This is an irony considering that the project was launched in 1974 as part of India’s drive for self-sufficiency in defence equipment.

Arjun’s excessive width and weight also compromised its operational efficiency as it would require special tank transporters and rail wagons to transport it while the majority of bridges in the northern Punjab plains, where the MBT could be deployed would also need reinforcing, all at a great cost. A CAG report declared that a Arjun regiment of 45 tanks configured around the MBT’s present design would require 16 additional three-ton vehicles and 45 extra personnel to sustain operational mobility. Consequently, there is consensus amongst military planners that because of its inadequacies, Arjun would in all likelihood, be used in a “purely defensive role”. “This (Arjun) was a classic case of bad project management. There was no synergy with the army in the for-mative stages of the Arjun project,” said former army Chief General Shankar Roychowdhury.

“Not only were Army-DRDO interactions poor, the latter also overruled the service with its ‘clout’”, the former armoured corps officer added.

Tank X: Who ordered it? Surprisingly DRDO has gone ahead and pro-duced a hybrid 48-ton ‘Tank X’ that is an amalgam of Arjun’s turret with a locally built T72M1 chassis. This was first displayed

at Defexpo 2002 in New Delhi and again at the same venue in all three subsequent Expo’s including the most recent that ended on February 19. Tank X also featured in the Republic Day Parade even though DRDO offi-cials admit that the Army has shown ‘no inter-est’ in the product. However, at Defexpo 2008, these officials claimed that ‘small countries’ had expressed interest in Tank X, but declined to elaborate. What is surprising is that the DRDO

went ahead with a rash and ill-judged scheme of making a new hybrid tank without even tak-ing the user (the Indian Army) into confidence but had no qualms in offering it to them. One wonders which country will buy this tank when it finds out that the Indian Army has dismissed its development as a non-event. SP

The writer is a specialist in military matters and the Indian correspondent of

Jane’s Defence Weekly

Ironing out the WrinklesIndia’s main battle tank programme is beset by difficulties which have emerged from chronic ailments afflicting the users (the Indian Army), the developers (DRDO), the manufacturers (HVF of DGOF) and the Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA).

One of the most pressing problems is the lack of proper leadership in the DRDO. The scientists, despite their scientific acumen, can-not provide the managerial and leadership skills required to handle projects and to improve the work culture and ensure accountability in the establishments tasked to develop new equip-ment. Induction of senior service officers could effectively improve the current stalemate as done in the US and other western nations.

The lack of cooperation and coordination between the users, developers and manufac-tures can also be radically improved by posi-tioning user representatives with the DRDO and the HVF so that regular and systematic monitoring of equipment under development is done. Each major project could be placed under a suitably composed empowered com-mittee to oversee its implementation and to hold individuals or establishments responsible for delays and failures.The ordnance factories by and large have a very poor work culture. This needs radical and drastic improvement through effective leadership and amendment of labour laws. The lack of quality control of sub-components needs to be addressed to ensure reliability of equipment.

All upgradation and modernisation of equipment could be done in complete packag-es such as the automotive package, the arma-ment package, battle management system and so on. The vendors should be made responsible to install these packages. SP

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Acquisit ion

It was on January 14, 2008 that the Indian Artillery got a New Year gift from their ‘gunner chief ’ General Deepak Kapoor. This was in the shape of his

announcement that the invitation for Ultra Light Howitzer has been sent out. This dis-closure, ‘that the invitation for Ultra Light Howitzer has been sent out’, came from the General during the course of a press con-ference he was holding a day ahead of the Army Day. Behind this pronouncement is a significance not to be missed: it heralds the beginning of artillery modernization plan estimated to cost approximately $2.5 billion (Rs 1,099 crore).

Ironically, no new guns have been induct-ed since the procurement of 410 Bofors guns in 1987. Though a global tender for the acquisition of 155mm/52 calibre guns was floated in 2001, the acquisition could not take place as none of the guns met the GSQR parameters. At that time, the Indian Artillery was contemplating introduction of 15-tonne 155mm/52 calibre fortress type guns, while the US Army and Marine Corps were keen on the development of Ultra Light Howitzers.

It was in 1986 that the first outline of requirement for a light-weight howitzer emerged. Three different competitors partici-pated in various phases of the tests. The tests involved the capability for showing 3200 km of movement over different types of terrain and the firing of about 8000 artillery shells. Apart from having to fulfill these conditions, the Gun was also tested by soldiers of the US Army and Marine Corps. After 7 months of tests, the contract for development of the Gun was finally awarded on March 17, 1996 to Textron Marine and Land Systems of US and RO Systems (originally Vickers Ship Building and Engineering Limited) of UK. Finally, after various amalgamations and mergers, the Gun called XM-777 is now being offered to the Indian Army by BAE Systems of UK.

Heralded as a gun of the 21st Century, the XM-777 Gun was conceptualised in 1986 in US. It was anticipated that the Gun would help replace M198 Towed Howitzer of the US Army as well as serve the replacement for all existing cannon systems of the Marine Corps. The programme was primarily driven by some developed nations’ preference for gaining stra-

tegic mobility wherein ultra-light guns can be transported to a battlefield much faster than the conventional heavy artillery guns. Light weight guns also provide greater battlefield survivability through much faster emplace-ment and displacement timings.

The XM-777 Gun weighs approximately 4000 kg and can be transported by CH 47D Chinook type of helicopter, besides C130 aircraft, Landing Ship Tank (LST), Fast Craft Utility (FCU), and Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC). It has state-of-the-art digital fire con-trol system, can receive fire missions directly from the observer thereby enhancing system

effectiveness, has inertial navigation with GPS update and has onboard system charg-ing facility. It can achieve a firing range of 40 km with Raytheon and Bofors manufactured M982 Excalibur projectile with 10 meter accuracy. Weight reduction has been achieved by extensive use of titanium alloy. Some gun parts have been made using aluminium while steel has been used only where necessary. The norm on meeting the requisite firing stability has been achieved through a design that features a reduced trunnion height, a geometric ‘out-of-balance’ configuration and

a high-efficiency recoil system. The ordnance is mounted on what is essentially a firing table resting on four stabilised legs, two of them pointing forward. The M284 ordnance used in the gun is the same as that used in the 39-caliber M198 towed howitzer.

In comparison with M198, this gun has better survivability due to it being one fourth the size of M198; its other advantages include having a five fold better counter bat-tery capability; it can achieve 25% more kills and being light weight, it can traverse 20 per cent more terrain, thus providing increased tactical and strategic mobility.

Following a protracted selection process that lasted over a decade, it is understood that the US is acquiring a total of 686 guns. The British Army has a requirement for 70 units, which will probably be similar to the M777 and act as their future Light Mobile Artillery Weapon System (LIMAWS). Besides the Indian requirement for 140 guns, the Italian Army is also keen to acquire these guns. The demand is likely to go up due to the successful performance of these guns in Afghanistan and Iraq as reported in the press.

It appears that there is only one com-

petitor to this gun in the world market and that is ‘Pegasus Lightweight Howitzer’ from Singapore Technologies Kinetics. The gun has almost similar features to the XM777, except for the following:-• Heavier weight: After certain modifications in the gun, the weight achieved is approxi-mately 5500 kg compared to approximately 4200 kg weight of XM777. • Lacks barrel depression capability: This is not a serious shortcoming in view of the transparent battlefield where survivability is ensured by ‘shoot and scoot’ and not by firing smoke canisters as done during the Second World War where guns were required to fire smoke ammunition at depressed elevation. • ‘Pegasus’ has auxiliary power unit (APU) providing the gun with limited self-propul-sion after helicopter landing or landing by other means; it’s a capability not available with XM777.

The emergence of ‘Ultra Light Howitzer’ is likely to revolutionise gun technology in the world. The credit for providing this gun to the Indian Army must be given to our two Chiefs—General J.J. Singh and General Deepak Kapoor. The only regret one may have is that the procurement of the Gun should have been arranged under the ‘Buy and Make’ category and not only under ‘Buy’ alone. That way, we could have learnt how to manufacture this gun which has the technology used in developing futuristic gun systems. Technology for gun systems is undergoing revolutionary changes with every passing decade. As it is, the XM777 has been developed to replace 39 calibre M198/

M114 towed guns. Perhaps, one day we may also like to have these guns as towed guns with the same maximum firing range capabil-ity as that of the 15 to 16-tonne 155mm/ 52 calibre guns. Even though one welcomes the fact that these guns are likely to be under pro-curement soon as announced by the Chief of Army Staff, one question to arise in the con-text is: should we not restrict our import of 52 calibre guns to only 400 and develop the remaining 1200 odd guns indigenously based on state-of-the-art technology as obtainable in guns like XM777 or Pegasus. SPThe writer is a former DG Artillery.

Ready to Boom

The XM-777 is now being offered to the Indian Army by BAE Systems of UK

The XM-777 Gun weighs approximately 4,000 kg and can be transported by CH 47D Chinook

The wait for Ultra Light Howitzer is over. But while the Indian Army may soon start procuring it, the question regarding its indigenous manufacture has still not been addressed.

LT GENERAL (RETD) RANJIT NAGRA

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Technology

There is growing understanding among military planners that conventional warfare is entering the stage of infor-mation warfare following the indus-

trial age mechanised warfare. The essence of this shift is powered by information technology revolution in warfare. Weapons and equip-ment have become more intelligence oriented, wherein precision guided long distance attacks are increasingly playing a critical role in operations and are becoming the main form of attack. For example, the use of precision muni-tions has been following an upward trajectory since Operation Desert Storm. The percentage of Precision Guided Munitions (PGM) used in Gulf War I was 9, thereafter its percentage increased to 35 in Kosovo and Afghanistan.

It can also be said that there has been continuous effort to improve the accuracy of weapon systems and ammunition. Since World War II there have been dramatic strides in this area. For example, in World War II the Circular Error of Probability (CEP) for an air-delivered bomb was 1000 meters; in the Korean War this was improved to 300 meters and by the Vietnam War it had progressed to slightly over 100 meters. In Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), the CEP was only a few meters or as claimed by the US forces it was around one ‘bomb length’. Further, in OIF the use of PGMs rose to 68 per cent versus 32 per cent of dumb bombs.

Precision weapons substitute mass for effects. And the advent of sensors that pro-

vide accurate target intelligence coupled with Precision Guided Munitions (PGMs) has led to “Effects Based Operations” gaining pre-dominance in speedy conflict resolution with minimum collateral damage. The use of PGMs also satisfies one of the fundamental principles of war that is “Economy of Effort”. Further, it enables concentration of effects from geo-graphically widely dispersed forces. Since a lower number of ordnance or weapon plat-forms is required to achieve the same effect on the target end, they enable reduced signature of own forces for enemy sensors to detect.

As less number of ordnance and muni-tions are required PGMs contribute to reduced logistics tail thereby increasing the agility of a force. And since logistics have a great

impact on planning, it stands to reason that the PGMs would also have an important bear-ing on planning at strategic, operational and tactical levels. They can be quickly brought to the battlefield for generating force levels equal to or more than a force equipped with dumb bombs. Thus they would be key components of force projection capabilities which, of late, the Indian Armed Forces have been focusing on.

PGMs are essential tools in an RMA enabled force. Without adequate numbers of PGMs in a nation’s inventory, it can not be said to have moved up the RMA scale. Furthermore as they enable reduction in ordnance or number of platforms required, PGMs also contribute to reduction in manpower without losing the combat edge, which is one of the key benefits

PGMs: Crucial to RMA-Enabled ForcePGMs are essential tools in an RMA-enabled force. Without adequate numbers of PGMs in a nation’s inventory, it can not be said to have moved up the RMA scale.

BRIGADIER (RETD) VINOD ANAND

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A flurry of visits by influential US Congressmen to India coupled with some not altogether unre-lated diplomatic developments has

put the focus back on the Indo-US nuclear deal. First came the visits by three influen-tial US Senators—Kerry, Joseph Biden and Chuck Hagel—followed swiftly by US Defence Secretary, Robert Gates. Amid all the flutter, Indian Ambassador to the US Ronen Sen and India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Nirupam Sen—both key players in crafting of the Indo-US nuclear deal—were given one year extension on their jobs. Though the progress of the nuclear deal is stymied by political opposi-tion in India, these developments, whether fortuitous or brought about by design and pur-pose, certainly auger well for the future of the Indo-US nuclear deal.

A little flashback to the days leading to the nuclear deal would not be out of order. In a sign of the growing strategic relationship between India and the US, the two countries had signed in June 2005, the ‘New Framework for the US–India Defence Relationship’. This was followed by the ‘Joint Statement’ on full

civil nuclear energy cooperation in July 2005. The Indo-US nuclear deal calls upon Delhi

for separation of nuclear facilities into civil and military. It also enjoins India to bring its civil facilities under international safeguards in exchange for nuclear energy cooperation. It allows India to carry out civil nuclear com-merce with members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group while allowing it to retain its nuclear weapons programme. But the benefits accruing to India from the nuclear deal outweighed its impositions and corresponding obligations. The deal would help nudge India into the interna-tional nonproliferation mainstream and open new doors for a cleaner and more secure global energy future. The pact has the power to trans-form what has been one of the most divisive issues in Indo-US relations for the past 30 years into a new opportunity for cooperation. Quite naturally, the deal has found eager supporters and votaries. IAEA, Director General, and the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize winner Mohamed El-Baradei have welcomed this agreement, as have France, UK, Russia and other countries.

How much significance the US attaches to the deal can be had from the testimony

given by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to the Senate Foreign relations Committee, in which she noted: “What this initiative does is to elevate this relationship to a new strategic height”. The US Congress approved the deal in December 2006, by passing the Hyde Act, and in July2007, both India and the US agreed on the text of the bilateral pact—the 123 Agreement. The deal found sharp critics as well. Critics blasted the US government for granting fuel assurances and reprocessing right to India in violation of its non-proliferation obligations and the Hyde Act.

All along the tortuous negotiations leading to the deal, India consistently defended its right to reprocess nuclear fuel. While the US admin-istration ultimately accepted Indian demands, it made a distinction between the right and an entitlement to US assistance with regard to reprocessing activities. Action on reprocessing will depend on the conclusion of a subsequent agreement, as required by Section 131 of the US Atomic Energy Act of 1954. India has com-mitted to set up a dedicated reprocessing facil-ity to ensure that American origin fuel is not diverted for weapons programme. In turn, the

US will help India develop a strategic reserve of nuclear fuel for the entire lifetime of the reac-tors. The US has also agreed to create condi-tions for giving India an assured and full access to the international fuel market.

Indian Union Minister for Science and Technology and one of the prominent spokes-men of the UPA Government Kapil Sibal has said the American constitution clearly states that agreement between the US and any other country is above domestic American law. By this reckoning, the 123 agreement is not lim-ited by the Hyde act. Recently, Prime Minister’s special envoy Shyam Saran drew attention to the technology denial regimes India has faced since 1974. The key point Saran made was that whatever reservations we may have with respect to our relations with the US, no other country in the world, including Russia and France, would end existing nuclear sanctions against India unless the US took the lead.

In his statement to the Parliament on March 3, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee stressed on three aspects of the deal. One, talks on an India-specific safeguards agreement with the IAEA are about to be concluded and a happy conclusion would enable the Nuclear Suppliers Group to amend its guidelines and facilitate nuclear trade among member coun-tries and New Delhi. Two, Indo-US civil nuclear commerce will be guided by the bilateral agreement, not by the Hyde Act. Three, the government will try to achieve a broad political consensus on the issue.

Opponents of the deal fail to understand that under no circumstances will India get a better deal from any other American regime, as has been hinted at from time to time by prominent US personalities across the political and intellectual spectrum. SP

visualized by militaries all over the world of ongoing RMA. It is a different matter that our military has been unable to reduce manpower because of involvement in Low Intensity Conflict (LIC) operations/ counter insurgency operations. However, General JJ Singh, the previous Chief of Army Staff had stated in September 2007, “My focus has also been in making full use of Precision Guided Munitions and firepower rather than manpower”.

In air-land operations or tri-service opera-tions, the benefits of PGMs can be jointly exploited to reinforce and complement the unique characteristics of each Service. Increased inventory of precision weapons in air and surface forces would enhance the force multiplier effect of the existing weapons platforms. This would be very relevant in the short duration conflicts where speed, shock action and accurate long range fire become essential to achieve worthwhile objectives in a reasonable time frame.

In the backdrop of possible international intervention, when force has to be utilised selectively, it is imperative that it be wielded in a manner so as to achieve political aims through short, swift and precise military operations. This is the general premise of

the political, strategic and international environment which is likely to prevail in the subcontinent in the near future. In the Indian context, a larger inventory of PGMs, along with associated infrastructure becomes more relevant for the execution of our ‘Cold Start’ Doctrine and Joint Doctrine.

According to a Rand Corporation study, the PGM-enabled calculus has changed and air power’s ability to contribute to the joint battle has increased. Not only can modern air power arrive quickly where needed, it has become far more lethal in conventional oper-ations. Equipped with advanced munitions either in service or about to become opera-tional and directed by modern C3I systems, air power has the potential to destroy enemy ground forces on the move or in defensive positions at a high rate while concurrently destroying vital elements of the enemy’s war fighting infrastructure. In short, the mobility, lethality and survivability of air power makes it well suited to the needs of rapidly develop-ing regional conflicts.

In case of the IAF, a larger inventory of PGMs would enhance its strategic agil-ity, reduce the size of aircraft packages and decrease the logistics requirements. This in

return would release additional air effort which would become available to be exploited for other strategic, operational and tacti-cal tasks. For instance, in Operation Iraqi Freedom, the F-16, F-18, B-1, B-2 and B-52 aircraft were armed with multiple Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) which enabled these aircraft to strike multiple targets in a single sortie. This economy of effort provided the joint forces an opportunity to engage a wider spectrum of target systems and increased the capability to fight close, rear and battle in depth simultaneously.

It would also be possible to engage mul-tiple targets with new variety of PGMs from stand-off distances. Precision attacks from stand-off distances would enable the air sup-port to be provided in the proximity of land forces. Therefore, the Close Air Support mis-sions, which were hitherto not preferred by the IAF, can now find greater acceptability among the IAF planners. With a suitable percentage of PGMs in the IAF inventory, it may be possible to commence counter air and counter surface campaigns almost simultane-ously thus accommodating the needs of land forces in the likely battlefield scenarios of the Indian sub-continent.

Similarly increased inventory with land forces of integrated battle groups would add additional punch to their arsenal and may reduce requirement of air support. Armed helicopters with fourth generation missiles, cannon launched guided projectiles and mis-siles of various types including air defence missiles and even multi-barrel rocket launch-ers with PGMs would enhance the joint and integrated effort required for attaining goals in short and intense conflict.

In the Second Gulf War, by adding inexpen-sive cheap strap on kits for GPS guidance, the US armed forces’ weapons and weapon plat-forms achieved precision capabilities. The US Air Force used a wide variety of PGMs - over 6000 JDAM, 1000 Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser including Sensor Fused Munitions and a variety of laser guided bombs. The Army used Sense and Destroy Armour (SADARM) along with long range acquisition system and Hellfire missiles while the Navy

used Cruise Missiles besides many other PGMs. In our own case, some of the smart munitions like laser guided bombs were used by the IAF in the Kargil conflict with telling effect. The use of PGMs, by their very nature, may involve joint planning and joint targeting in most cases and especially so in tactical battle area. There would also be a need for formulation of joint procedures for enabling cross-services sensors and target designators to effectively utilise the precision platforms and weapon sys-tems of the three services.

Employment of precision weapons also leads us to look for precise information. Therefore one of the main requirements for application of precise force is developing an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance network dovetailed with shooters and decision makers’ grid with real time response capabili-ties. Intelligence, sensor development and tar-geting, which have always been key issues in warfare, are becoming increasingly important.

The continued introduction of advanced weapon platforms and the integration of criti-cal force multipliers will augment our forces’ capabilities against China. Coupled with timely intelligence and adequate precision-guided munitions, capabilities would enable our forces in enhancing India’s combat edge over Pakistan as never before. It must be noted that China has achieved capabilities in producing numerous types of PGMs. Some of the PGMs like precision guided mortar bombs have so far not even been produced by the U.S. Pakistan is in the process of acquiring the most effective JDAMs and other assorted munitions from the U.S. as part of F-16 package. Currently, the Indian military lacks timely targeting intelli-gence, adequate precision-guided munitions as well as emphasis on joint operations.

Further, it is generally believed that PGMS are very expensive but a cost benefit analysis may prove that they are more cost effective as they result in reducing the large infrastructure associated with dumb bombs and an industrial age force. Yet PGMs cannot be the panacea for all the problems associated with prosecution of war and conflict. SPThe writer is a Research Fellow at the USI of India.

Air-delivered JDAM

Diplomacy

Breaking the 123 LogjamA spate of political and diplomatic developments has put the spotlight back on the Indo-US nuclear deal but its outcome remains anybody’s guessLT GENERAL (RETD) V.K. KAPOOR

USA

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Anti -Ter ror Operation

Recent incidents like the Nayagarh armory loot and the Dantewada jail break bring out the gravity of the threat India faces from left wing

extremism, alternatively termed as Maoist insurgency or Naxalite violence. The geo-graphical spread and growing militarisation of Maoist cadres are the chief concerns with reports suggesting these groups are active in 170 districts in 14 states across the country.

Arguably, it is the single largest armed group in the country with some 18,000 cad-res who wield influence in regions that have become their bastions to those that are being targeted. The unification of the People’s War Group and the Moist Communist Centre in 2004 has further strengthened the insur-gents many of whom are in possession of modern weapons.

In India, these extremists have fraternal ties among themselves, which often extends to other groups across the world. Through a range of informal understandings, various such groups have divided the turf among themselves. Nexus with the Northeast insur-gents and international affiliations and fraternal ties with the Nepalese Maoists and supposedly with even the LTTE further fuels the threat they pose to India. There is also a growing apprehension that the ISI might incorporate these groups in its ‘grand strat-egy’ of destabilising India.

Failure of governanceOne oft stated factor for the Maoist threat growing to these dangerous proportions is the failure of successive governments in addressing the aspirations of the common man in the most deprived areas of the coun-try. The socio-cultural, political and eco-nomic factors which gave rise to Naxalism in the late 1960s and early 1970s are prevalent even to this day.

In fact, the ground situation has become more pathetic as the brunt of the impact of globalisation and the disparity arising from economic growth is borne by impoverished masses. Invariably, the areas where Maoists are most active are the most underdeveloped and neglected. This to a great extent explains the success with which the Maoists recruit foot soldiers despite intense factionalisation and splits in their ranks.

IdeologyThe Maoist ideology propagated by Left-wing groups provides an alternative system that appears to accommodate diverse socio-cul-tural, political, economic and political aspira-tions. On the other hand, the present state system is perceived to have gone against the way of life of most of the people residing in inaccessible and underdeveloped regions.

According to the Maoist doctrine, peace-ful methods of resistance cannot bring about necessary changes because vested inter-ests control the levers of power. An armed struggle is the only way out. Mobilisation of cadres along ideological lines is a symbol of the strength, commitment and deep-rooted-ness of the Maoist movement. It is because of its ideological underpinnings that Maoist movements have been receiving support and sustenance from various political parties and civilian organisations.

Objectives and approachExtremist groups function in a very system-atic and orderly manner. They feed upon the grievances—real or perceived—that people have against the state. Under the pretext of addressing such grievances, Maoist groups enter into an area and gradually entrench themselves. Their task is made all the more easy because of the lack of administrative structures and the absence of civil gover-nance in remote areas of the country. On gaining a toehold, they eject whatever rudi-mentary structures of civil governance exists in these areas and subsequently rouse the peasantry in these “liberated” areas to wage a guerilla war, unfold agrarian revolution, build a rural base, use the countryside to encircle cities and finally capture the cities.

Seizing state power is the ultimate goal of these extremists who refer to it contemptu-ously as bourgeoisie democracy as opposed to ‘Revolutionary Democracy’ that they claim is much more participatory and empowering. Armed revolution remains central to their strategy. To realize their aim, they indulge in attacks on police personnel and wreck infra-structure, break open jails and armoury, blow up railway tracks, trigger blasts in public places, carry out selective individual assas-sinations and abductions and take to bank robberies, lootings and so forth. They indulge in wanton killings—of security force person-nel, political leaders and civilians, who they brand as police informers. They undertake abductions for ransom or for securing free-dom for their jailed colleagues.

Further, they love to hold kangaroo courts, dispensing instant justice and threat-ening corrupt government officials and rich landlords as well as political leaders, who are perceived to act against the interests of the people. Not the least, they are quick to orga-nize peasants and tribals against the traders and the government.

Financing their activityAdhering to an organised method of financ-ing their activities, Left wing extremist groups ‘accept contributions’ and also extort vast amounts from businesses, politi-

cal leaders, corrupt government officials, rich landlords and professionals, and from anyone who they presume to have ill-gotten wealth. In areas under their control or target, all development work is a target for extor-tion. One key source of finance is the trade in tendu leaves. Besides collecting extortion money from contractors, the extremists also organise labourers employed in the collection of tendu and wage fights for the amelioration of labourers’ wages in return for contribu-tions from them in the name of party funds. A miniscule proportion, roughly an estimated 5 per cent, of the annual earnings goes into financing development activities in their pockets of influence.

Development activities pertaining to health, education or infrastructure develop-ment that normally come under the purview of the government are also taken up at times by these Naxalite groups, especially in areas under their control where the state adminis-tration’s efforts are met with stiff resistance.

Government responseThe government has treated it as a law and order problem and there has been undue

emphasis on the use of force. Intrusive and insensitive security forces action in the Naxal affected regions poses a threat to the socio-political and economic structures of those regions.

The Naxal problem is essentially a socio-economic problem. Therefore, the Government needs to focus on the under-lying causes of unrest which are poverty, unemployment, malnutrition and under-development as these provide sustenance to the movement. The government needs to seriously undertake land reforms and ensure that the deprived sections of the society are brought into the mainstream of development. These have to be complemented by a sus-tained, patient and committed effort aimed at ensuring better governance and dignity and adequate means of livelihood. Though a multi-pronged approach is being followed, the military solution to the problem still remains the dominant approach. SP

A Research Fellow with Centre for Land Warfare Studies, the writer is conduct-

ing research on “Maoist Terrorism: Implications for Indian security” at CLAWS.

SP’s Land Forces will publish a series of articles on the above subject starting

from the current issue.

In India, Maoist extremists have fraternal ties among themselves that often extends to other groups in other parts of the worldAMIT KUMAR SINGH

Arms used by the Maoists recovered from Nandigram

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SP’s: What do you expect will be the key changes and cornerstones of the future mar-ket?Enzo Benigni (EB): Elettronica has gained its rightful position without resting on its achievements, both in terms of product range and market acquisition. Looking ahead is an intrinsic feature of our company’s DNA and, as a consequence of this attitude Elettronica is ever more alert to any sign of change. The market is beginning to seek, at an increasing pace, products that find applications not just for military purposes but also in homeland security, primarily exploiting dual-technol-ogy developments. Our attention is essentially focused on developing industrial collaborations in the target countries of the defence market, without which business opportunities would drastically dwindle.

SP’s: Which are the market segments that attract your interest and which ones do you expect will be forthcoming? EB: The most valuable markets are those rep-resented by the Middle and Far East countries in which Elettronica is making a major effort to ensure continuous presence. However, one should not overlook two of the largest

potential markets: Russia (a major platform manufacturer) and India (a leading democratic country playing an important role in the East Asian defence strategy). In both these coun-tries, the European defence industry, especially the Electronic Warfare (EW) segment, has up to now, and for various reasons, bestowed little attention. Adopting different strategies, Elettronica’s objective is to pursue successful business relations with both these countries.

SP’s: Participation in international exhibi-tions enables companies to establish direct contact and confrontation with the market. What prompted you to take part in Defexpo 2008?EB: Elettronica has always been convinced that participating in international exhibitions yields benefits both in terms of company prestige and contact opportunities due to the presence of potential customers and other concerns.

This issue has, in recent years, received foremost attention and a special department—the Corporate Image and Communication unit— has been setup to, among other duties manage Elettronica’s participation in inter-national fairs and exhibitions. India belongs to the new entries in which our company is

promoting its military procurement policy. Elettronica is already active in this country and Defexpo 2008 will certainly represent a unique opportunity to promulgate the company’s trademark.

SP’s: Your interest in India matches your teaming-up strategy at the international level. Within this framework, do you believe this could lead to future partnerships in the Asiatic region? EB: As already mentioned, the Asiatic market is one of the most interesting areas from our point of view. Elettronica has already estab-lished JVs with several Indian companies and is negotiating with some local leading concerns to implement industrial cooperation models that have already been proven elsewhere. We are ready to transfer technologies for the pro-duction of highly advanced EW systems.

SP’s: Elettronica is engaged in commercial relations all over the world with a sales record of 2,500 items. What are the products you will be focusing on for the Asiatic market to extend your market hold?EB: Elettronica’s winning products both for military end users and industrial partner-

ships are basically contained in the radar EW sector, in which the company has witnessed a renewed interest, gaining the fourth world position. However, following the increase in the volume of business in the sector and the need for product diversification, Elettronica has in recent years reviewed its interest in the Electro-Optical and Communication EW sectors, also prompted by the successful outcome of several industrial collaborations. As a consequence, Elettronica can now propose unique state-of-the-art solutions.

SP’s: Considering your long standing experi-ence in the production of defence technolo-gies, there are certain to be key components of which you are particularly proud of. Which is the most important one? EB: Undoubtedly, the fully solid-state jammer, based on a Linear and Planar Phased Array Antenna, featuring a retrodirective reciprocal architecture and latest generation DRFM driver to ensure a coherent response. Developed by Elettronica, this type of architecture also allows the implementation of very special and highly effective jamming programmes, such as Wave Front Distortion and Cross-Polarization. SP

President of Elettronica S.p.A. Enzo Benigni in a conversation with SP’s outlines his company’s ambitious plans for the Indian defence market

‘Elettronica ready to transfer tech of high-end EW systems’

One To One

India’s defence budget for the fiscal year 2008-09 has risen to $26.4 billion (Rs 1,05,600 crore), a 10 per cent rise over the previous year. But fact is, the defence

allocation has dropped to below 2 per cent of the GDP. This marks the lowest percentage drop for defence allocation in any budget so far in the past 45 years. The last time our defence spending hovered below this year’s GDP level was in 1962, the year of the conflict with China, when our defence budget figured only 1.59 per cent of the GDP. Needless to say, it was one reason why India had to suffer that setback at the hands of the PLA.

Despite the miniscule share of defence spending in relation to the GDP, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram did not forget to make the customary assurance that “any fur-ther amount needed for the defence forces ... would be provided for” in his budget presenta-tion to the Parliament on February 29.

But the Finance Minister knows fully well that his statement is meaningless because the convoluted bureaucratic decision making pro-cess that afflicts defence deals in our country renders all such noble wishes and intentions ineffectual. The truth is that in a country where the political leadership finds its expedi-ent to pass off populist budgets for obvious

electoral benefits, understanding the need to keep the country prepared militarily for future conflicts is seldom a political priority.

Historically, defence allocations had aver-aged 1.80 per cent of the GDP in the first five years after Independence. This has often been cited as one of the main reasons for the debacle in the Sino-Indian war. The war not only emphasized the need for defence preparedness but it also led to the operationalisation of a vast theatre in which the army and the air force had to be expanded and modernised. These com-pulsions saw defence expenditure rising to 3 per cent of the GDP for the next 25 years after 1962. Thanks to our access to Russian defence supplies and military hardware for long years, India was able to acquire a fairly high degree of military capability at affordable costs. Unfortunately, our current circumstances preclude such a capability building exercise as had been possible in the past. Present exigen-cies require the Government to go for a long term defence budget allocation so as to cater to a long term integrated plan for our military. Incidentally, India spends much less on defence as a proportion of GDP than its neighbours Pakistan and China, who spent 4.5 and 4.3 percent of their GDPs respectively last year.

In the defence allocation for 2008-2009,

the capital outlay has been pegged at Rs 48,007 crore, while the revenue component (day-to-day costs and salaries) is Rs 57,593 crore. A major chunk of the capital outlay will, of course, go into making installment pay-ments for the big-ticket deals signed in recent years. These include the Rs 3,940 crore deal for six C-130J ‘Super Hercules’ aircraft from US and the Rs 4,900 crore contract for an additional 347 T-90S main-battle tanks from Russia. The payments for these deals are also likely to be made in installments.

One should also not forget that the Indian armed forces are living in an era of military transformation. In a world where military affairs are undergoing a technological revolu-tion, our armed forces need to emulate the advanced militaries of the world. With the kind of budget allotted by Chidambaram, it would perhaps just be possible for our mili-tary to be able to maintain and sustain the capability it already possesses. The fact that the services lack the “jointness” to fight like an integrated force is another wrinkle in our military capability. This deficiency also reflects the government’s weakness for not nominating a Chief of Defence Staff and for not bringing out a Parliamentary legislation to compel the three services to come together operationally through integrated regional commands as opposed to the existing arrangement of having single service commands. Think of the finan-cial alleviation that could come about under integrated commands! At present, having inte-grated commands could reduce the current 18 regional (geographic) commands of the three Services (seven each of the army and the air force and four of the navy) to half that num-ber. As it is, there are at present only two inte-grated commands, namely the Strategic Forces Command and the Andaman and Nicobar Command. Having integrated commands could lead to not just far greater operational efficiency but to greater economy as well. But most importantly, it will also ensure ‘jointness’ and integration that are so essential for win-ning future conflicts.

How and where does one foresee the defence share of the Budget flowing to? India’s planned military purchases include multi-role combat aircraft; strategic lift transport aircraft, 155 mm guns and howitzers; tanks, surveillance, attack and transport helicopters; modern frigates, submarines and two aircraft carriers, and above all a battle management system for combat in a digitized battlefield. To provide for all this, the budget projection is more than $40 billion (Rs 1,50,000 crore) by 2012, which later on climbs on to around $80 billion (Rs 3,00,000 crore) by 2022. However, what is hampering the modernisation efforts is the inability to spend the full budget allocation. Our past experience in managing the defence allocation bears out a sorry tale of our inepti-tude and dilatoriness. For FY 2007-08, the MoD returned more than $1 billion (Rs 4,217 crore) unspent to the federal fund. Similarly, a total of $4.6 billion (Rs 18,300 crore) was returned unspent between FY 2002-07.

To the dismay of our defence services, the proposal to once again opt for a ‘roll over’ defence fund, which could run into the next year has been outrightly dismissed by the UPA Government, despite this unique scheme having been once introduced by the NDA. Increased budgetary support each year makes little or marginal difference to military capacity building, as procurement procedures continue to remain complex, riddled with bureaucratic red tape and official vacillation. Last year, our defence allocation was 2.17 per cent of the GDP. In a worrying trend, over the last four fiscal since 2004-05, defence expenditure as a percentage of GDP has been continuously declining. At the same time, this year, Defence expenditure as a percentage of total Central Government expenditure has come down to 11 per cent from 14.11 per cent in the previous year. In fact, over the last four years, there has been more than two percentage point decline on this front. The decline is in contrast to the commitment made by the Prime Minister to push the defence budget towards 3 per cent GDP, given the strong economic growth. SP

There has been a steady erosion in the value of our defence budget even as military needs for modernisation and upgrades continue to mount

LT GENERAL (RETD) V.K. KAPOOR

Defence Budget

Shrinking Pie

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Special Repor t

Raising Dust in the Desert

1. Defence Minister A.K. Antony arrives at for a demonstration of the battle.

2. Antony astride a tank for a better view.3. An alert defender

4. Preparing for the impending battle.5. Geared for offensive.6. 106 mm RCL ready to fire enfilade.7. Artillery fire shaping the battlefield.

8. Tanks and infantry assaulting the objective.9. Awaiting orders.10. Coloured smoke to indicate targets.11. Executing the anti-tank plan.

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Vignettes of a demonstration conducted by the Indian Army in an undisclosed location near Jaisalmer to commemorate the Battle of Longewala in 1971

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Show Repor t

Clearly, the two traffic policemen in trademark grubby white were puzzled. “What is going on inside, sir? Is it a meeting of police officers?” they

enquired of the retired Air Marshal making his way through the throng of visitors, delegates and participants both Indian and foreign troop-ing through Gate No. 7 of Pragati Maidan. “Not police, it is a military exhibition,” replied the gentleman, bemused. While the two law enforcers may have been wide off the mark in their conjecture, their curiosity echoed the buzz Defexpo inevitably generates every year.

Spread across the expansive, sunlight lit venue, over 30 countries showcased the best in land and naval systems at Defexpo India 2008. The participant countries were Australia, Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Norway, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, The Netherlands, UAE, UK, Ukraine and the US. Also present were as many as 47 official delega-tions, including six ministerial delegations from Afghanistan, Belarus, Ghana, Mozambique, Namibia and Nigeria.

At the inauguration ceremony on February 16, Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony said, “Defexpo offers a single-window platform for bringing together diverse players in the defence sector to showcase products and technology, to build partnerships and collaboration, to boost exports and promote the reach and growth of R&D, besides helping to forge closer interaction among the scientific community and other stakeholders.” Also present on the occasion was Minister of State for Defence M.M. Pallam Raju.

This year, too, saw national and internation-al manufacturers flaunting weapons and equip-ment even as the spotlight veered to emerging and rapidly advancing areas of defence technol-ogy. In all, 475 exhibitors, including 273 from abroad, participated in Defexpo 2008 which for the first time displayed products and services from the telecom and IT companies. Signifying India’s growing importance as a market for defence, a large number of leading global arma-ment companies led by the US, France, Russia and Israel hogged the limelight with impressive exhibits and gigantic displays. Largest was the delegation from the US with 46 companies led by former Defence Secretary William Cohen. Close at their heels were the French, who par-ticipated with 43 companies, the Russians with 24 and the Israelis and Germans with 19 each. Indicative of Washington’s growing warmth towards Delhi, US giants like Boeing, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Sikorsky besides the US defence department were out in full force.

In the French pavilion, the focus was eas-ily on defence and electronics major Thales. “No, we are not here with a specific issue or a programme or something like that,” Jean-Marie Carnet, Director General of GICAN, an umbrel-la grouping of 129 French companies engaged in the fabrication of naval ships and arma-ments, said in an interview. “There is a big list of programmes India wants to develop and we are here to show that France is an interesting

partner for Indian companies.” Thales signed a joint venture pact worth over $75 million (Rs 300 crore) for mine burial with BEML, one of India’s key defence public sector undertakings. BEML also signed another joint venture with Bumar of Poland in the area of wheeled and tracked guns. This joint venture would bid for India’s wheeled and artillery projects tender.

Indo-Israeli strategic partnership was evident in the large Israeli presence at the Defexpo. From miniature UAVs, sophisticated radars, sniper rifles and command and control systems to a bewildering array of missiles and anti-missile defence systems—the entire range was on offer to the Indian armed forces. Major General (Retd) Yosi Ben-Haman, Director of SIBAT, the Israeli government’s defence export and cooperation agency said: “India and Israel have decided to focus on more and more joint R&D projects, ranging from ship-launched rotary UAVs and electronic warfare systems to advanced radars, anti-missile defence systems and third-generation night-vision equipment.” The Indian armed forces are also keen to acquire new as well as augment quantities of already-contracted missile systems. These range from Python and Derby air-to-air missiles and Crystal Maze PGMs to Delilah-II air-launched cruise missiles and Gabriel-III sea-skimming anti-ship missiles.

Russia showcased many of its air defence

and radar intelligence systems. Visitors thronged to the S-300PMU2 long-range air defence missile system. Russian stands at the show also provided expert insight into the technical characteristics of military helicopters, including the Mi-35 Hind, Mi-35P and Mi-35M attack transport helicopters, the Mi-17-1B Hip attack transport helicopter, the Mi-28NE Night Hunter attack helicopter, the Ka-29 Helix-B deck-based helicopter, and the Ka-31 radar picket naval helicopter fitted with the E-801M Oko (Eye) airborne electronic warfare radar.

Grabbing eyeballs was a wide range of highly efficient small arms and ammuni-tion displayed at the Russian pavilion which included the improved 5.56 mm AK-10 and AK-102, the 7.62 mm AK-103 and AK-104 Kalashnikov assault rifles, the 5.45 mm AN-94 Abakan assault rifle, the 9 mm Bizon-2-01 sub-machine gun, the 12.7 mm OSV-96 sniper rifle, night and day optical sights for small arms, the 30 mm AGS-30 automated grenade launcher, RPG-7V2 handheld anti-tank grenade launch-er with an optical sight and UP-7V sighting device, as well as rounds, grenades, mines and cartridges of different purpose and lethality. “India is the only country in the world that has a programme of military-technical cooperation with Russia until 2010, encompassing virtually all spheres of interaction between the countries’ defence industries,” a spokesman for the Federal

Service for Military-Technical Cooperation said. Over 20 companies from the UK participat-

ed. In addition, a British Army Demonstration Area displayed a range of equipments covering peacekeeping, border security and explosive ordinance disposal. Tony Pawson, heading the UK delegation, said: “I am extremely pleased that UK companies have such a strong pres-ence. British companies are at the forefront of technological innovation, offering highly capable equipment at competitive prices.”

A series of seminars was a befitting build-up to the Defexpo 2008. During the exhibi-tion itself 16 technology and product specific presentations were made to target audiences from Indian defence establishments, R&D insti-tutions, visiting official delegations, defence PSUs, ordnance factories and indian industry. Chairing one such technology seminar on Surveillance Systems and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal P.V. Naik said, “UAVs are more cost effective as their imaging and photographing are at a much cheaper cost.” Classifying UAVs as tactical as well as strategic weapons, Group Captain E D’Couto, Commandant, Institute of Flight Safety, said, “The UAV should lend itself to be configured for surveillance and reconnais-sance, target acquisition, attack role, support assistance, and sampling air in nuclear and electronic warfare.”

Among the larger Indian companies, the Tata Group inked MoUs with Israeli firms to manufacture missiles, UAVs, radars and elec-tronic warfare systems. Talking to the media, Chairman Ratan Tata said his group was extremely enthusiastic about expanding its defence business. “The coming together of the Tata Group and Israeli Aerospace Industries will positively impact the growth of Indian defence industry and complement the efforts of our defence labs, Ordnance Factory Board and defence public sector undertakings.”

Mahindra Defense Systems (MDS), the coun-try’s leading provider of high mobility and light bullet-proof vehicles to the armed forces, para-military and police forces and a division of the $6-billion (Rs 24,254 crore) Mahindra Group, announced it is in an advanced stage of discus-sions for a strategic alliance with Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei (WASS), the maritime underwater systems subsidiary of the $20-bil-lion (Rs 80,880 crore) Finmeccanica Group of Italy. MDS showcased its armoured military vehicles at the Defexpo 2008.

In his valedictory address, Minister of State for Defence Production Rao Inderjit Singh said Defexpo 2008 was bigger and better and “helped India to evaluate its position vis-à-vis other countries in the field of technology”. He added that the exhibition had also helped to convince exhibitors that India was ready to absorb the quantum of offsets ensuing from defence deals.

Confirming footfall of over 40,000 business visitors during the four days of the Defexpo, Additional Secretary (Defence Production) Ajoy Acharya said, “There were as many as 20 prominent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed during the Defexpo and as many as 3,490 business queries were generated.” SP

Defexpo ’08 A Lavish SpreadSpread across the expansive, sunlight lit venue, over 30 countries showcased the best in land and naval systems at Defexpo India 2008 which for the first time displayed products and services from the telecom and IT companiesBY SP’S TEAM

Agreements & MOUsIn the first three days of Defexpo 2008, as many as 20 major deals were estab-lished, confirmed Additional Secretary (Defence Production) Ajoy Acharya. Some of these are:• The Tata Group signed an MoU with the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for developing and manufacturing a wide range of defence products, including missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, radars, electronic warfare and security systems.• European military systems integrator Thales had earlier bagged an order to fit fire control sys-tems and night vision devices on T-90 tanks. It is now hopeful of winning the contract for upgrad-ing the T-72 tanks and armoured personnel carriers. Thales took assistance from a Byelorussian company to fit about 600 T-90 tanks. It was recently asked to work on over 300 more tanks.• Thales plans to set up an Indian company to look after maintenance and servicing issues for thermal imagers. It had been facing problems in executing its offset obligations and expects the initiative to ease bottlenecks.• European Naval Defence Systems organisation DCNS also announced its Indian chapter. DCNS India would be based in Mumbai and become operational in mid-2008. Talking to the media, senior DCNS official Xavier Marchal said the subsidiary would be oriented towards design, service to naval shipyards and sourcing of components and materials in Indian industry. The company would cater to current projects such as Scorpene submarines as well as for future programmes. Actively looking for partners in India for developing major equipments and subsystems, DCNS recently signed agreements with Kirloskar Oil Engines and Walchandnagar Industries. • UK-based global defence and aerospace major BAE Systems and Mahindra Defence are mull-ing joining forces to build an Indian mine-protected vehicle. BAE Systems said in a statement on February 12 that the new vehicle would be modeled on the “highly successful RG-31 mine pro-tected vehicle. BAE Systems has already supplied 165 mine protected vehicles known as Casspir to the Indian Army since 1999”.• With India emerging as a top buyer of military equipment, BAE Systems is finalising several joint ventures with Indian manufacturers to get a bigger share of the lucrative defence market. The company is also eyeing a deal to grab an additional contract to supply 40 more Hawk advanced jet trainers for the Indian Air Force in addition to 66 already contracted under a Rs 8,000-crore deal signed in March 2004. • BAE Systems Managing Director Mike Mendoza said the company has recently signed an agree-ment with software major Wipro to develop software for a range of avionics programmes.• Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) signed four MoUs with three Israeli defence companies. The first was with Rafael Advanced Defence Systems Limited for missile technologies and guidance elec-tronics. Two MoUs were signed with Israeli Aerospace Limited, Malat for UAV Systems. The fourth MoU was with Elisra for electronic warfare programmes.• A joint venture between M&M’s defence subsidiary Mahindra Defense Systems with Italy’s Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei, a subsidiary of the Finmeccanica Group, to develop under-water weapon systems was in its final stage of deliberations. SP

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India’s expansive military modernisa-tion programme and the proposed civil-ian nuclear deal with the US hogged the limelight during US Defence Secretary

Robert M. Gates’ maiden two-day visit to India in February. Issuing a reminder to India to accelerate efforts to seal the pro-posed 123 agreement, Gates pointed out that “the clock is ticking in terms of how much time is available to get all the different aspects of this agreement implemented”.

Emphasising that the agreement serves the best interests of both countries and that it “has positive global consequences, as well”, Gates said, “The real key is pro-viding time for our Senate to ratify the final arrangements. And with this being an election year, there is an open question about how long the senate will be in session beyond this summer.”

The secretary expressed appreciation with India’s move to purchase six C-130J Hercules aircraft from Lockheed Martin. “One of the virtues of the C-130 sale is that it gives us an opportunity to demonstrate

not only the quality of our equipment, but the quality of the service and maintenance and follow-on activities that go with these sales. So we’re very encouraged, (but) we’re at the beginning of this process,” Gates said. The US, he stressed, is eager to bid for con-tract for 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft for the country’s air force. The deal, estimated at about $10 billion (Rs 40,000 crore), is being touted as the world’s largest single external defence procurement in his-tory. “I indicated that we obviously are inter-ested and believe we are very competitive in the selection of the new fighter.” India has several billion-dollar deals in the works, and Gates said he would like to see defence trade expand between the two countries. “We’re not looking for quick results or big leaps for-ward, but rather a steady expansion of this relationship that leaves everybody comfort-able.”

Questioned about Washington’s plans for Asia at a time when China is also strength-ening its ties in the region, the secretary said that the US relationship with India is

not influenced by India’s neighbour on the eastern border. “I don’t see our improv-ing military relationships in the region in the context of any other country, includ-ing China,” Gates said. “These expanding relationships don’t necessarily have to be directed to anybody. They are a set of bilater-al relationships that are aimed at improving our coordination and the closeness of our relationships for a variety of reasons, includ-ing those that I’ve just indicated.”

While the secretary did not discuss any new joint exercises between the two country’s militaries, he did discuss details of a logistics agreement that would allow expansion of military-to-military relation-ship. The agreement is largely administrative in nature, detailing how the countries reim-burse each other for expenses, such as fuel, during training.

Complimenting the government’s efforts in Afghanistan, Gates said India spends around $800 million (Rs 3,230 crore) in economic and civic reconstruction efforts there. He, however, clarified that the subject

of increasing India’s contribution there did not come up in the meetings. Referring to missile defence, Gates said talks on the sub-ject are in “very early stage” and that they focused on conducting a joint analysis of what India’s missile defence needs are and how the US could cooperate.

During the visit, the secretary met with Defence Minister A.K. Antony and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and mem-bers of Parliament. Later, Gates said the discussions were positive and like-minded. “I encountered only enthusiasm in all of the leaders here I talked to,” he said. “I think they see it as we do—a long-term enterprise by two sovereign states. We are mindful of India’s long tradition of non-alignment and are respectful of that, but I think there are a lot of opportunities to expand on this relationship, and I think that was the feeling on the part of the Indian leaders that I met with, as well.” SP

Courtesy: US Department of Defence

Hope & CautionGoodwill punctuated by optimism towards removing hurdles to consolidate long-term relations marked US Defence Secretary Robert M. Gates’ maiden two-day visit to India in February

Diplomacy

Defining Moment

Even as a number of indigenously developed engineering equipment is currently in service with the Corps of Engineers of the Indian Army, new

combat engineering equipment developed by the DRDO are on the verge of entering ser-vice, which would further reduce dependence of the Army on cost-prohibitive imported equipment.

Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (VRDE) Ahmednagar, one of DRDO’s premier laboratories, has developed a range of combat engineering equipment which includes the Armoured Engineering Reconnaissance Vehicle (AERV), Armoured Amphibious Dozer (AAD) and the NBC Reconnaissance Vehicle. The AERV and AAD are designed to provide engineering support in offensive and defensive operations in the plains as well as desert and riverine terrain. The AERV is designed to carry out terrestrial and riverbed survey to facilitate construction of assault bridges across water obstacles. The AAD is capable of providing integral engi-neering support to battle groups in offensive operations for construction of assault bridges and tracks thereby improving the mobility of advancing armoured columns.

The NBC Reconnaissance vehicle is

designed to diagnose the existence of life endangering nuclear, biological and chemi-cal contaminants in the atmosphere during NBC warfare and cordon off such areas. All these are based on tracked BMP 2 amphibi-ous Infantry Combat Vehicle, which allows it to operate on land as well as on water. The onboard equipment in each of these vehicles can be operated by the crew in hatch down condition from within the armour protected vehicle.

The Ordnance Factory at Medak has been assigned the responsibility of produc-tion of such vehicles in collaboration with Bharat Electronics Limited, Pune. The AERVs are already under limited series production and have entered service with the Corps of Engineers recently. New first off production vehicles in the category of AAD and NBC Recce Vehicle have been realized. On March 03, 2008, a demonstration of the capabilities of these vehicles to the users was organised at VRDE, Ahmednagar in the presence of visiting Engineer-in-Chief, Lt General R.R. Goswami. Flagging off the new AERV to be handed over to the army was also planned on this occasion. SP

Source: India Defence Research & Development Organisation

DRDO’s engineering equipment for armyVehicles Research and Development Establishment in Ahmednagar, one of DRDO’s premier laboratories, has developed a range of combat engineering equipment

Acquisit ion Indo-Lankan Mil itar y T ies

Sri Lankan Army Chief Lieutenant General G.S.C. Fonseka visited Jammu and Kashmir on March 3 for a briefing on the Indian Army’s anti-militancy operations. Even as his troops locked in a decisive battle with Tamil Tiger militants, Fonseka (seen here with Indian Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor) arrived in Delhi on a six-day visit. He toured areas close to the Line of Control in north Kashmir, called on Defence Minister A.K. Antony, held discussions with Defence Secretary Vijay Singh and meet National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan. The visit comes in the wake of the island nation increasingly looking at China and Pakistan for weapons supply in the face of India`s reluctance to provide it sophisticated arms as Delhi does not want go get sucked into the ethnic crisis in that country.

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SP GUIDE PUBLICATIONS

Publisher and Editor-in-ChiefJayant Baranwal

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Assistant Editor Arundhati Das

Senior Technical Group Editor Lt General (Retd) Naresh Chand

Contributing EditorAir Marshal (Retd) V.K. Bhatia

Sub-Editor Bipasha Roy ContributorsIndia General (Retd) V.P. MalikLt General (Retd) Vijay OberoiLt General (Retd) R.S. NagraLt General (Retd) S.R.R. AiyengarAir Marshal (Retd) Vinod PatneyMajor General (Retd) Ashok MehtaMajor General (Retd) G.K. NischolBrigadier (Retd) Gurmeet KanwalBrigadier (Retd) S. MishraRohit Sharma

Europe Andrew Brookes (UK)

USA & Canada Lon Nordeen (USA)Anil R. Pustam (West Indies)

South Africa Helmoed R. Heitman

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DesignAssociate Art Director: Ratan SonalDTP Operators: Pradeep Kumar, Rajkumar Sharma

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News in BriefIndian Army’s modernisation efforts progressing full swingThe army is focusing on areas like improved night-fighting capability, better command and control and precision-guidance systems for modernisation of the force, the results of which will be visible in the next two years. “Improving missile capability and all-weather battlefield surveillance are other thrust areas we are looking at. In the next two years, we may see the fructification of our efforts in modernisation,” Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Planning and Systems) Lt z Z.U. Shah said at an army-industry interac-tion organised by the FICCI in New Delhi. Stressing on the importance of increased self-reliance in defence production, he assured the private sector of ensuring a “level-playing field”. The army is planning to acquire artillery guns, air defence missiles and T-90 tanks, request for proposals (RFP) for which should be issued this year, he told reporters. “We are also looking for light heli-copters, may be in the range of 200. We may need to import some and HAL also may step in at a later stage. The RFP may come in two months,” Shah said.

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94 foreign observers to witness joint manoeuvre Military observers from 94 countries, includ-ing China, will witnessed a joint war game conducted by the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force in the deserts of Rajasthan next week. Pakistan, however, was not been invited. Exercise Brazen Chariots will be conducted at the Pokhran field firing range on March 19. Brazen Chariots has been conceptualised for exercising combat groups consisting of tanks, infantry combat vehicles and infantry in high mobility vehicles, ably supported by air power, a military spokesman said. The exercise will be conducted by an Indian Army desert formation that together with the IAF will put to test an array of their latest weapon systems like the state-of-the-art missile firing T-90 tanks, all-weather air defence missile systems and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), as also other electronic sen-sors and surveillance equipment.

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Missile programme is not being abandoned, says AntonyDefence Minister A.K. Antony, in a written

reply to S.S. Ahluwalia in Rajya Sabha, has assured that the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) launched in 1983 is not being abandoned. The follow-ing missiles and technology demonstration systems have been developed under it: • Agni, a technology demonstration project for re-entry technology;• Prithvi, surface-to-air missile with 150, 250 and 350 km range for army, air force and navy;• Akash, surface-to-air missile with a range of 25 km and multi-target handling system;• Nag, third generation “fire & forget” and “top attack” anti-tank missile;• Development of Trishul missile system has been completed as technology demonstration.

Expenditure status up to January 16 for development of the above systems (in Rs):

Prithvi 298.95 cr

Trishul 282.68 cr

Akash 516.86 cr

Nag 212.27 cr

Agni 74.34 cr (demonstrator only)

There have been some offers for joint collaboration/cooperation in the field of development of missile system from various countries. One joint development project already exist for Long Range–Surface-to-Air Missile with Israeli Aerospace Industry.

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Northrop Grumman completes laser project’s second milestoneNorthrop Grumman Corporation has dem-onstrated exemplary performance capabil-ity of a laser chain, the first major building block of a solid state demonstrator laser designed to reach a power level of 100kW. The JHPSSL Phase 3 programme exceeded all target requirements of its second major demonstration milestone, including excellent beam quality. The JHPSSL system is designed to accelerate solid-state laser technology for military uses.

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New laser devices beingtested at White SandsA new series of laser aiming and illumina-tion devices are now being tested at White Sands Missile Range. The compact light-weight devices are designed to be carried on a soldier’s weapon and provide multipurpose functionality. The new sight systems could be used to illuminate areas either to highlight them for tactical purposes, or to just enhance the capabilities of night-vision devices.

Excalibur round debuts in AfghanistanUS gunners fired the first 155 mm GPS-guid-ed Excalibur artillery round in Afghanistan in February this year. The GPS-guided Excalibur round was given the correct grid coordinate to seek out and destroy a target using the Enhanced Portable Inductive Artillery Fuse Setter by placing the system on the tip of the round and sending a digital message contain-ing the coordinate for the round to find. The Excalibur was fired using the M-777A2 155 mm howitzer. The M-777 is designed to be a digitally programmed weapon and is about 9,800 pounds lighter than the more com-monly used M-198 Howitzer and is report-edly more accurate.

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Lockheed Martin bags US science and technology contract Lockheed Martin has received a Science and Technology contract from the US Army Research and Development Command Missiles and Aviation Research and Development Center to demonstrate a C-RAM interceptor system. Work on the con-tract will be completed by November 2008. Lockheed Martin’s concept features a com-pact, vertically launched missile that offers the Warfighter significant operational and tactical advantages against RAM threats. The system encompasses the interceptor, fire control sensor, launcher and battle manager, and will ultimately interface with the latest battlefield surveillance systems

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Bae Systems awarded contract for M88A2 HerculesBAE Systems has been awarded a contract modification from the US Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command to manufac-ture 90 Army-configured M88A2 Hercules recovery vehicles, four Marine Corps-config-ured M88A2 Hercules recovery vehicles and authorised spares list parts. Hercules provides capability for recovering 70-tonne combat vehicles.

• Lt General V.K. Singh took over as the GOC-in-C of Army’s Eastern Command at Kolkata on March 1.

• Lt General P.C. Bhardwaj took over as the GOC-in-C of Army’s Northern Command at Udhampur on March 1.

• Lt General S.P.S. Dhillon took over as the new Deputy Chief of Army Staff (IS&T) on February 1.

Appointments

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Rheinmetall buys Stork PWV

The Rheinmetall Group of Düsseldorf has taken over Stork PWV B.V. from its parent company Stork N.V. of The Netherlands. The takeover strengthens Rheinmetall’s position as Europe’s leading supplier of systems and equipment for ground forces. It also reinforc-es Rheinmetall’s role in the Boxer programme, one of the largest armoured vehicle projects in Europe. The parties have agreed not to dis-close the purchase price. The acquisition still requires approval from the relevant competi-tion authorities. Rheinmetall currently holds a 14 per cent stake as a joint venture partner in Artec GmbH of Munich, the company that developed the Boxer armoured vehicle for the German and Dutch armed forces. The takeover, which includes PWV’s share in Artec, increases Rheinmetall’s interest in the com-pany to 64 per cent. SP

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SP's Land Forces 01-2008