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New toys on show at war games
- army showcases latest weapon systems http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040302/asp/nation/story_2956860.asp New toys on show at war games
- Army showcases latest weapon systems
DALIP SINGH
Two BMP II amphibian infantry combat vehicles during the Divya Astra exercise on Monday. (PTI)
Suratgarh, March 1: The army today put its recently acquired firepower on display in a local demonstration of “shock and awe” about 100 km from the border with Pakistan.
But the exercise was just that, a war game — called Divya Astra — to keep the armed forces in battle-ready condition.
Army chief General .C. Vij said it was not meant to send any signal across the border. “Theoretically, there is scope for a war. But we are moving forward towards peace.”
The exercise showcased some of the latest equipment and weapons systems the army has acquired from Russia and Israel as part of its modernisation.
Automatic grenade launchers, under-barrel grenade launchers, multi-grenade launchers, the Carl Gustav rocket launcher, the Grad BM 21 multi-barrel rocket launcher and the Dragonuv sniper rifle were on display.
Over 100 jawans and officers also used long-range recce and observation system (Lorros), integrated observation equipment and ELM radars.
The war game of the armoured, artillery and infantry corps, launched to assess the integrated fire power, allowed air-force fighters such as MiG 21, MiG 23 and MI-35 choppers to chip in.
The Russian-built T-90 tanks, inducted in 2002, were for the first time pressed into action in an exercise. Armed with a 125-mm gun, guided missiles and biological and chemical warfare systems, the tanks demonstrated their destructiveness by hitting pinpointed targets.
These were supported by BMP II infantry combat vehicle, Sarat, which was imported from Russia and is now being manufactured here.
The corps of engineers, mechanised infantry and armoury demonstrated PMS makeshift bridges that can be floated on a river for tanks and vehicles to cross the barrier.
General Vij said the army was looking for a self-propelled artillery gun that can negotiate and engage targets. The laser-guided Krasnapol shells, fired from 155-mm guns, have shown good results in the plains, but are yet to be tested in higher altitudes, he said.
The army, the General added, was putting in place a mechanism to meet the increasing demands of journalists, especially from the electronic media, for information.
He explained the logic behind the army going for an improved public relations exercise. The media, General Vij said, is fast-paced these days and often wants quick answers, the demand for which cannot be matched by the force. So it is time to set up a new mechanism, he said.
He may have been referring to complaints by reporters on the defence-ministry beat that the army has not been forthcoming on information sought.
Army flexes its firepower
Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040302/main3.htm Army flexes its firepower
Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service
Mahajan (Rajasthan), March 1
The Army today showcased an array of new weaponry and skills at conducting joint operations with the Air Force during Exercise Divya Astra at its field firing ranges here today.
Depicting a mock battle scenario, the Army and the Air Force joined hands to neutralise and capture an enemy stronghold through a mechanised assault supported by heavy weapons and ground attack aircraft.
The use of heavy weapons such as the GRAD multi-barrel rocket launchers which have devastating effect, 155 mm Bofors howitzers, newly acquired T-90 battle tanks, BMP armoured personnel carriers along with infantry weapons such as the recently acquired anti-material rifles, automatic grenade launchers and sniper rifles was displayed. The IAF used its MiG-21 and MiG-23 aircraft as well as the Mi-35 helicopter gunship.
Among those who witnessed the display were the Army chief, Gen N.C. Vij, GOC-in-C, Western Command, Lieut-Gen J.J. Singh, and a host of senior Army and Air Force officers.
After a combat team made contact with the enemy, the commander called in fire support to neutralise enemy defence, artillery guns and rocket launchers The tanks opened up, saturating the enemy area with devastating fire.
Finding enemy defences strong, the commander called up air support in which a formation of four MiG-21 pounded the target with rockets. This was followed by a wave of four MiG-23s sweeping over the target, dropping conventional “iron” bombs. The final air assault came from the low flying Mi-35 gunships who unleashed their rocket power. All this while T-90s and BMPs continued to engage the enemy with their guns and missiles.
With the enemy defences was put out of action, a mechanised column of tanks and infantry combat vehicles, with their guns blazing on the move, launched the final assault to capture and physically occupy enemy territory.
The army also displayed its latest surveillance and combat equipment. Among them was the long range recce and observation system for day and night observation. Consisting of a night camera, video surveillance system and a laser ranger, it can track targets up to 18 km. The ELM 2140 Battlefield Surveillance rardar, with a range of up to 40 km and the portable hand held thermal Imager which can detect targets up to 6 km were also shown. All these devises are of Israeli origin. Other recently acquired equipment, including automatic grenade launchers, sniper rifles, anti material rifles, were also displayed.
Sappers also demonstrated their ability to secure bridgeheads and construct bridges to spearhead assaults. A 60-meter wide canal was spanned within half an hour using truck mounted pontoon bridges capable of carrying tanks.
Big increase in infantry firepower: General Vij
Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service
Mahajan (Rajasthan), March 1
While declining to comment on the prospect of a war with neighbouring countries, the Chief of the Army Staff, Gen N.C. Vij, today said the ongoing modernisation programmes had resulted in a phenomenal increase in the firepower and observation of the Indian infantry.
“I do not want to comment on this issue amidst the ongoing peace talks, though theoretically, there is always a space for war between any two countries,” he said while interacting with media persons during Exercise Divya Astra, a firepower demonstration organised at the field firing ranges here.
Pointing out that the theory consequently leaves scope for ongoing modernisation, he said the induction of new equipment had led to a 50-fold increase in the Army’s surveillance and neutralisation capability over the past two years.
The modernisation as projected today, he said was related to conventional warfare which required the use of maximum possible force, rather than counter insurgency. Counter-insurgency operations, on the other hand, required the use of minimum possible force, though force multipliers such as electronic equipment and air mobility assets yield good results in such operations, he added.
The chief said the Army was also in the process of procuring self propelled artillery guns which would be able to keep pace with advancing armoured columns during an offensive and enhance the capability to neutralise enemy defences.
He said recent exercises had revealed that the Army now possessed very good observation capabilities as well as the ability to neutralise an adversary in as little time as possible through the conduct of ground offensive in conjugation with air power.
On the induction of the laser-guided Krasnopol artillery shell, which had generated controversy in certain circles, he said its accuracy at high altitude was being established, though it had been done for low and medium altitudes. He also ruled out any problems with the night fighting equipment of the newly inducted T-90 battle tanks.
On the ongoing works to fence the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, General Vij said out of a total stretch of 590 km, about 320 km had been fenced so far. By summer the fence would pose a very “big problem” for those on the other side, he remarked,
The use of night vision devices for surveillance along the border, he added, was having remarkable effect.
Desert storm: Army banks on divine weapon http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_594434,0008.htm Desert storm: Army banks on divine weapon
Vishal Thapar
Bikaner, 2 March
With all guns blazing, the Indian Army on Monday publicly signalled a doctrinal shift in the use of firepower - from containment of an enemy to his complete annihilation.
A firepower demonstration, codenamed Exercise Divya Astra (Divine Weapon), was organised under the media spotlight in Rajasthan on Monday.
The exercise at the Mahajan field firing range was held to showcase the edge the Army's massive modernisation drive has given to its destructive potential.
Aided by ground attack aircraft of the Indian Air Force, the Army gave a glimpse into the entire spectrum of its firepower capability and its intention to relentlessly pulverise the enemy in a conventional war scenario.
Army Chief General N.C. Vij, who witnessed the demonstration, emphasised that the demonstration was not intended to send a message to anyone but acknowledged that it represented preparations for conventional war.
"Hypothetically, there's always space for conventional war. That's why armies exist. I don't want to talk of war at the time of peace talks (with Pakistan). But preparedness diminishes chances of war. This exercise is part of our training. It is not to convey a message to anyone," General Vij said, stopping short of terming it the Indian version of 'Shock and Awe'.
A tactical battlefield scenario was simulated to demonstrate the Army's prowess and the confidence its modernisation has given it. A T-90 main battle tank-led team pinned down an advancing enemy formation and then launched an assault with a formidable artillery back-up, including multi-barrel rocket launchers and 155-mm howitzers, taking the battle to the enemy's depth areas.
Simulated forward company positions of the enemy were pulverised from the air, while also being engaged by the infantry firebase. The exercise was able to effectively convey the terror of the modern-day battlefield.
Army’s divya astra rumbles in desert http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=42161 Army’s divya astra rumbles in desert
JYOTI KAMAL
MAHAJAN FIRING RANGES (RAJASTHAN), MARCH 1: The Indian Army and Air Force today put up a massive firepower demonstration of the new long-distance multiple weapon firing ranges here. Amid deafening explosions and clouds of dust kicked up by tank columns and infantry combat vehicles, MI-35 attack helicopters, MiG-21 and MiG-23 jets swooped in to unleash a deadly salvo of precision-guided ammunition.
‘Divya Astra’ showcased the latest equipment and weapon systems in the Indian Army, an exercise only in training and not a signal to any quarters, said Chief of Army Staff General N.C. Vij. He did not want to talk of war in times of peace. ‘‘Insurgency operations are in an all together different spectrum. Here what we have shown is the maximum use of firepower. In insurgency it is the reverse and there is minimum use of firepower as we want to minimise collateral damage,’’ said the Army Chief.
On the Krasnopol precision-guided ammunition fired from the 155-mm Bofors guns, the Army chief said it has to be verified at high altitude. Krasnopol is guided onto the target by a laser designator operated by an observer close to the target.
Capping the firepower display were the GRAD BM 21 multi-barrel rocket launchers. On command from the fire control officer, the six trucks with back mounted GRAD launchers, each consisting of 40 tubes with 122-mm rockets, lined up to unleash a hailstorm of steel and explosives. Waves of rockets went streaking out and crashed into their targets several kilometres away.
Among the weapons and equipment on display were the infantry weapons including automatic grenade launchers (AGLs), under barrel grenade launchers (UBLs), the Dragunov sniper rifle and the Carl Gustav 84-mm rocket launcher. Growling 1,000 horsepower T-90 tanks and BMP-II infantry combat vehicles formed the armoured and mechanised component.
The Army also demonstrated long range reconnaissance and observation system, integrated observation equipment and radars. The Israeli-made Searcher UAV also demonstrated its capabilities by taking high-resolution pictures of ‘‘enemy activity’’ from very high altitude.
The Air Force provided close support to the Army by bringing in MiG-21 fighters which let loose S-24 bunker buster rockets.
Later during the exercise, Army engineer regiments laid out a high strength bridge across the 65-metre wide Indira Gandhi canal within minutes. Three T-90 tanks at a time rolled across the bridge, testing its strength.
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