Indian Army News & Discussions - 11 June 2014

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Ankit Desai
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by Ankit Desai »

Shaun wrote:Enjoy !!
......
Thanks Shaun. Appreciate it.

-Ankit
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by Surya »

the good Sandeep unnithan :wink: returns with a too brief article for our jingo types

a look at the changing social face of the army

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/inde ... 76965.html
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by member_23364 »

Any update on the HAL Light Observation (LUH) helicopter and when it will fly? Way back in 2012, it was widely reported that the jigs are in place and there might be a first flight in 2013. No news on wiki/blogs either. I know no news is good news but with HAL, you never know...
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by SagarAg »

Image
What the.. :?: :eek:
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by Sanjay »

what does that mean ?
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by Karan M »

PVC winner Yogendra Yadav accused of creating a disturbance. DM said review. Report in 4 days.
IMHO, big ado over nothing.
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by Singha »

hawks like Surya and KaranM will find this interesting...

http://ibnlive.in.com/blogs/sauravjha/2 ... rends.html

Indian Army C4ISR trends


IBNLive
The Indian Army (IA) believes that state of the art intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) systems can serve to give it an advantage over even collaborating adversaries on either flank.

As such investment by IA into contemporary ISR systems has been steadily rising with a view to making the kill chain shorter, garnering tactical intelligence and even achieving non-kinetic neutralization capability.

The electronic order of battle (EOB) however requires continuous upgradation as well as the development of a doctrine dovetailed to the absorption of new technology. Since ISR systems are a closely guarded arena and may involve non-negotiable operational security (OPSEC) considerations indigenous development is an imperative.

Fortunately, the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has been working closely with Indian industry to deliver on this front. However in a world where one sometimes has to run fast enough just to stay where they are, the focus should be on scaleable and upgradeable networks that can also act as enablers of jointness with the Indian Air force (IAF) and Indian Navy(IN).

IA's spend on ISR systems is expected to exceed 5-6 billion dollars by 2020. Large investments have already been made in the area of signals intelligence (SIGINT) leading to the development of highly capable products such as the Samyukta electronic warfare (EW) system. Samyukta, developed by DRDO's Defence Electronics & Research Laboratory (DLRL) along with IA's Signal Corps is a 145 vehicle based integrated EW system consisting of electronic intelligence (ELINT), communications intelligence (COMINT) combined with electronic countermeasures (ECM) and electronic support measures (ESM) blocks covering both radar and communication frequency bands ranging from 1.5 MHz - 40 GHz i.e all the way from High Frequency (HF) to Millimetre Wave (MMW).

Samyukta which is capable of intercepting, detecting and classifying pulsed, CW, PRF agile, frequency agile and chirp radars is very much in keeping with the move towards wideband digitally flexible SIGINT systems in the ISR domain to deal with an increasingly congested and complex threat spectrum. The key enabler of wideband jamming capability in the case of Samyukta is a multiple beam jammer array antenna with Rotman lens that can handle numerous threats simultaneously in X - Ku bands.

Technology for antennas which provides the necessary interface between the transmitter/receiver system and free space today is evolving towards smart, shared aperture, and fractal systems that are increasingly embracing millimeter, sub-millimeter and quasi-optical radiators. These new approaches are expected to yield high performance, low-cost, compact size, lightweight, conformal mounting for low radar cross section (RCS) array integration leading to higher deployability and stealth.

Micro-electro mechanical systems (MEMS) will be used to produce reconfigurable electromagnetic structures that can perform multiple functions instead of being dovetailed to a single use.

The development of 'smart antennas' and new advances in core technologies such as microelectronics are miniaturizing systems in weight and volume covering a wide frequency range. Smart film materials are being pursued to package together these wind ranging goals which are likely to find expression in the follow on to the Samyukta known as Sauhard being developed by DLRL.

Realizing that though effective, the Samyukta system is meant for large scale forward deployment in the plains, IA and DLRL are now birthing an IEWS for mountainous terrain or IEWS-MT. For effective deployment in high altitude areas, IEWS-MT will obviously have to sport lighter weight electronic systems and will exhibit some of the new technology features outlined above. Tata Power SED has been selected as system integrator for this 186 million US dollar program. TPSED will develop and supply two IEWS-MT systems that include ECM, ESM packages for electromagnetic spectrum scanning, location-fixing of enemy transmitters, jamming, interception of enemy communications, both cellular and radar.

DLRL is also venturing into developing more compact and modular ELINT systems such as the 'Sujav' which it says is meant for high accuracy DF and jamming of communication transceivers. It covers HF, VHF & UHF ranges and is available in cluster configuration for army use or in suite configuration for naval usage. It has also developed the 'Safari' IED suppression system for IA and paramilitary forces. DRDO's various jammers naturally employ digital radio frequency memory (DRFM) techniques for digital flexibility.

A very big aspect of staying at the cutting edge of EW is the availability of dedicated testing and training ranges for the same. In this context the development of Chitradurga (Karnataka) and Tandur(Andhra Pradesh) as EA ranges is a very welcome development indeed. These ranges will in all probability see the use of DARE's Range On Wheels (ROW) concept. ROW has been developed for evaluation of installed specifications of airborne EW Systems and for fine tuning EA techniques. This mobile range consists of representative threat radar, a reference radar, a slaved system (DASA), a data acquisition station, a mission control station and a generator vehicle. It can also be used for avionics, and weapon evaluation since it is capable of studying aerodynamic data in real time for aircrafts, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Indeed for truly persistent 'ISR', IA has to move towards airborne intelligence systems which will increasingly be based on medium altitude long endurance (MALE) UAVs in the years ahead that enable an operator to look 400-500 kilometres deep into enemy territory. Putting together credible SIGINT packages on UAVs requires not just superior antenna technology but may end up seeing a generational shift in electronics as such. Some developers believe that the need to package more capable ISR payloads combined with management of limited on-board power on UAVs will lead to Gallium Nitride(GaN) based semi-conductor technology totally replacing the current Gallium Arsenide(GaAs) in power transistor devices at the higher end of the frequency spectrum as SIGINT packages increasingly operate in that part of the spectrum. GaN is preferred over GaAs in the course of this evolution since it offers exceptional power density and can operate at higher power levels over higher frequencies with greater efficiency. In this context India may need to create GaN foundry capability on an urgent basis.

Even as we watch out for the progress of intelligence packages on UAVs, a prototype Ku-band synthetic aperture radar(SAR) developed by the Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), DRDO's key radar lab based in Bangalore, is set to be flight tested on the Nabharatna Do-228 flying testbed supplied by HAL earlier this year. This indigenous SAR, which will eventually be carried by the Rustom-2 MALE UAV is expected to boost medium range battlefield mapping capabilities by conferring IA with the ability to cover ground the size of an army corps commander's area of interest from a safe stand-off distance. The observational element, which will be combined with effective ground moving target indication (GMTI) will prove rather useful for the various classes of loitering attack systems that are currently on DRDO's drawing board.

Systems based on unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) however seem to be moving faster. DRDO's Combat Vehicles and Research Development Establishment (CVRDE) has created a family of BMP-II based UGVs called Mission Unmanned Tracked (MUNTRA). The system consists of a manned BMP-II unit called MUNTRA-B serving as a base station for three tele-operated BMP-II based UGVs tailored to specific roles. One UGV variant dubbed MUNTRA-M uses a VHF band ground penetrating radar (GPR) developed under DRDO's 'Divya Chakshu' program to detect buried IEDs. A CBRNE variant called MUNTRA-N has also been developed.

IA already deploys several battlefield surveillance radars (BFSRs). The longest ranged BFSR in the IA inventory is the X-band PIT 530 BFSR-MR, which can detect a group of moving people at 18 km, low flying helicopters at 25 km, moving vehicles at 40 km and a 155 mm artillery blast at 15 km. BFSR-MRs are currently deployed with IA's mechanized infantry units (MIUs). These radars originally designed by ELTA are currently being produced by BEL under license.

BEL's PJT-531 Battlefield surveillance radar-Short range (BFSR-SR ) however is an indigenous product developed by LRDE in a period of just 24 months in response to a specific qualitative requirement from IA. BFSR-SR is a man portable, battery powered J-band surveillance and acquisition radar capable of detecting crawling men at 500 m, moving groups of people at 5 km and a group of vehicles at 10 kms. It can track 50 targets in track-while-scan (TWS) mode and displays target information on a high resolution portable colour PC display. Interestingly, the BFSR-SR has made it to the MUNTRA program with a MUNTRA-S UGV carrying it in both tele-operated and autonomous modes. Summer trials of MUNTRA-S were concluded recently.

IA certainly has been steadily adding to its radio frequency measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT) capabilities as epitomized by the acquisition of weapon locating radars (WLR). After buying some eight AN/TPQ-37 WLRs off the shelf from Hughes, IA today has placed significant orders for the LRDE developed and BEL built Swathi WLR which is a coherent, electronically scanned C-band pulse doppler radar. The radar automatically locates hostile artillery, mortars and rocket launchers and tracks friendly fire to locate the impact point of friendly artillery fire to issue necessary corrections and is capable of dealing with counter-battery fire from up to 30 kms away. Swathi WLR has been specifically designed for high mobility, quick deployment operations in an ECM environment.

IA of course also has to guard against incoming aircraft and not just ballistic projectiles. Army Air Defence (AAD) is currently receiving deliveries of the Bharani Low level Light Weight L-Band 2D Radar which is a battery powered compact sensor tailored for employment in mountainous terrain against hostile aerial targets like UAVs, helicopters and fixed wing aircraft flying at low and medium altitudes. Bharani can be transported by vehicles, animal transport or a group of men or as a heli-slung load. It can be dismantled into packages to facilitate quick installation and re-location in mountainous terrain.

IA is also inducting LRDE's 3D Tactical Control Radar (TCR) in a Tatra VVL mounted configuration for mobile stand-alone medium range, all weather 3D surveillance. Pertinent data can be collected by a Target Data Receiver (TDR) located 20 Kms away from the Radar. The radar operates in the S-band and is capable of TWS of fighter sized targets from up to 90kms away and for UAV sized ones from up to 65 kms away. The TCR's antenna is mechanically rotated in azimuth to provide 360 deg and 50 deg elevation coverage up to an altitude of 10 kms.

Clearly radar systems have emerged as a key indigenous strength in the ISR space. But in the battlefield of today long range electro-optical sensors complement BFSRs to vastly improve tactical reconnaissance capability. Till recently, IA was heavily dependent on foreign sources, especially Israel in this space. Several units of Elbit's Long-Range Reconnaissance and Observation System(LORROS) are currently operational with IA. LORROS consists of forward looking infrared (FLIR) and colour charge-coupled-device (CCD) image sensors, with the option of also integrating an eye-safe laser rangefinder (LRF), built-in compass and an inclinometer, which provides UTM location mapping. It can be operated remotely with a control unit that can be stationed up to several kilometres away using a fiber -optic channel. This year however BEL began deliveries of the 'Kshitij' to IA which is an upgraded version of LORROS that extends its FLIR range beyond 13 km and was developed keeping in mind the Line of Actual Control with China. It is expected that the cheaper Kshitij will allow IA to field it in every battalion.

To make squad level ISR even more commonplace, IA placed orders worth Rs 700 crores for the Integrated Multi-Function Sight (IMFS) developed by DRDO's Instruments Research and Development Establishment (IRDE) which packages a thermal imager (TI), a LRF, a CCD camera, a global positioning system GPS and a digital magnetic compass into a single device weighing just 3.5 kg. However even as indigenous hand held TIs proliferate, India has to run faster to catch up with the West in the area of image intensifier tube technology for night vision devices (NVD). IA is currently on the lookout for mass introduction of third generation NVDs and the FDI route could actually be pursued for this.

IRDE's IMFS represents a generic trend in ISR technology where multi-functional payloads are finding their way onto a common platform small or big. This trend has of course given rise to wide area persistent surveillance (WAPS) systems that have been born out of American urban warfare requirements during the Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns. WAPS allows both wide area coverage as well as narrow view high resolution ISR simultaneously. Context is maintained even as specific targets (such as individuals and vehicles) are examined both spatially and over time. Obviously WAPS systems are essentially designed to be deployed on aerial platforms such as tethered balloons, aerostats, UAVs or manned aircraft. The US Gorgon Stare system which is deployed aboard the reaper UAV and uses five electro-optical and four infrared cameras to generate imagery from 12 different angles is considered the current gold standard, though more extensive systems can be carried on much larger aerial vehicles such as Aerostats. However such systems are data intensive. For instance a single Gorgon Stare pod can generate around two terabytes of data every day.

Heading into the future, hyperspectral imaging, full-motion video, foliage penetration, and mapping and tracking of individuals on foot will all find their way into solitary aerial platforms as the ability to geo-locate and geo-register targets will become increasingly important in sub-conventional scenarios. Indeed the fusion of SAR systems combined with Electro-optical/Infrared (EO/IR) payloads is already happening to increase decision making capability. Naturally this is also increasing on-board computing requirements for UAVs leading to the development of increased core count, lower power consuming CPUs, along with associated FPGAs or GPGPUs. This is creating a network architecture where intelligence collected can be shared, processed and distributed in a more decentralized rather than in a point to point relay station manner.

Working towards such a capability is critical in an era where networks fight networks and these networks are increasingly looking to become mobile adhoc networks (MANET) to literally keep pace with an ever changing tactical battle area and rear. Making the sensor to shooter chain shorter requires ad-hoc networking that optimizes spectrum utilization when coupled with contemporary waveforms which in turn enables the real time delivery of video, image transfer, voice and data. The dependence on space to provide wider coverage continues to grow which is then sought to be linked with MANETs on the ground and in the air.

Much work however needs to be done for attaining this kind of network centricity in IA's EOB. And the reason for that is a little mysterious because the IA's plans in this direction go way back. In fact the current flagship IA program, the tactical communication system (TCS) was actually labelled TCS-2000 initially given that it was supposed to be rolled out by that year i.e 2000. After a decade long delay the programme was re-badged TCS-2010 and we are now in 2014. Clearly this program needs to be taken up on a priority basis.

Be that as it may, TCS which is sought to be developed under the 'make' category of the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) has two competing development agencies- Bharat Electronics (BEL) and a consortium of L&T, Tata Power and HCL Infosys Ltd. TCS as currently envisioned is essentially a mix of a mobile vehicular ad-hoc network (VANET) and the more static wireless service network (WSN) technology at the corps level. It is designed to give IA the means to 'communicate on the move' even as it penetrates into enemy territory making TCS a very big enabler of the 'cold start' type doctrines.

Based on light weight high mobility vehicles which represent communication nodes, TCS will have the bandwidth to handle very high data rates and provide encrypted voice, video and data transmission though frequency hopping radio networks with multiple redundancies. Naturally this network will also have the mobile terminals necessary for satellite based connectivity as well and the firewalls necessary to prevent cyber intrusion given that cyber and electronic warfare techniques are increasingly melding with each other.

The project worth around 3 billion dollars will see each of the two competitors build a prototype TCS with the one being selected going on to build seven sets of TCS for seven corps of the IA. The TCS is however a harbinger of a truer MANET called the battlefield management system (BMS) which will facilitate high bandwidth real time communications from the battalion headquarters forward to the companies and platoons. Being fielded in all varieties of terrain the BMS contract value will probably be worth ten times more than the current TCS contract and a game changer in Asia. The IA actually has vast network centricity plans and envisages a tactical command, control, communications and information (TacC3I) system core which will encompass the command information decision support system, the Shakti artillery combat command and control system, the battlefield surveillance system including BFSRs and WLRs, an air defence control and reporting system augmented by newer generation 2D and 3D radars, and of course the BMS.

Meanwhile DLRL has been developing a tri-system radar finger printing system which will prove crucial to achieving 'jointness' in the electronic realm. This system has the capability of providing 'Unique Identification of emitters among a class of emitters' based on intra-pulse analysis of radar waveforms. The system measures the frequency, phase and amplitude variations within the radar pulse. Intra pulse analysis extracts as many parameters (features) of radar pulses as possible with fine grain accuracy.

The three services together are moving towards an overarching defence communication network (DCN) which once fully operationalized would give real meaning to the concept of 'jointness' championed by the three services. In the words of a former Defence Minister himself, 'DCN envisages a network of optical fibre cables, satellite earth stations and transportable and portable satellite terminals with high security features that enable conduct of simultaneous real time networked operations from multiple sites to cater for contingencies and failures, as well as hardware redundancies for fail-safe operations. Such a network will be the backbone of the proposed joint commands for cyberwarfare, special operations and space operations.
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by krishnan »

“@dawn_com: Pakistan suggests urgent DGMOs meeting to India after ceasefire violation | http://www.dawn.com/news/1127237/ pic.twitter.com/aHQCTECjsd” Good!
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by arun »

The Indian Army is investigating allegations that a Brigadier sodomised a Sahayak.

If the allegations turn out to be true, trust detterent will be handed down:
In a major embarrassment to the army, a brigadier deployed along the Line of Control in the Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir is facing the prospect of disciplinary for allegedly sodomising his assistant (sahayak).
PTI via Hindustan Times:

Brigadier faces charges after allegedly sodomy

Indian Express reveals more details about the Brigadier under investigation. The Brigadier is attached to 7/8 Gorkha Rifles, was a winner of Vishisht Seva Medal and till recently was posted as a Colonel at the Army Headquarters:

Brigadier posted at LoC faces inquiry for ‘sodomy’
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by wig »

some further details on the sorry affair
Army Headquarters today sent Poonch Brigade Commander Brigadier Arminder Joshi on leave on the charges of misbehaviour with the Army jawans.
Official sources said Brig Joshi was sent on leave after a complaint against him for misbehaving with the jawans was verified and found true.
The army Headquarters has also ordered a Court of Inquiry (CoI) against the Brigadier
http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/poonch-br ... ent-leave/
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by Rien »

Singha wrote:hawks like Surya and KaranM will find this interesting...

http://ibnlive.in.com/blogs/sauravjha/2 ... rends.html

Indian Army C4ISR trends

IA's spend on ISR systems is expected to exceed 5-6 billion dollars by 2020. Indeed for truly persistent 'ISR', IA has to move towards airborne intelligence systems which will increasingly be based on medium altitude long endurance (MALE) UAVs in the years ahead that enable an operator to look 400-500 kilometres deep into enemy territory.

This indigenous SAR, which will eventually be carried by the Rustom-2 MALE UAV is expected to boost medium range battlefield mapping capabilities by conferring IA with the ability to cover ground the size of an army corps commander's area of interest from a safe stand-off distance.

Systems based on unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) however seem to be moving faster.

BEL's PJT-531 Battlefield surveillance radar-Short range (BFSR-SR ) however is an indigenous product developed by LRDE in a period of just 24 months in response to a specific qualitative requirement from IA. BFSR-SR is a man portable, battery powered J-band surveillance and acquisition radar capable of detecting crawling men at 500 m, moving groups of people at 5 km and a group of vehicles at 10 kms. It can track 50 targets in track-while-scan (TWS) mode and displays target information on a high resolution portable colour PC display.

This year however BEL began deliveries of the 'Kshitij' to IA which is an upgraded version of LORROS that extends its FLIR range beyond 13 km and was developed keeping in mind the Line of Actual Control with China. It is expected that the cheaper Kshitij will allow IA to field it in every battalion.

In the words of a former Defence Minister himself, 'DCN envisages a network of optical fibre cables, satellite earth stations and transportable and portable satellite terminals with high security features that enable conduct of simultaneous real time networked operations from multiple sites to cater for contingencies and failures, as well as hardware redundancies for fail-safe operations. Such a network will be the backbone of the proposed joint commands for cyberwarfare, special operations and space operations.
Joining all the dots together Singha. IF as according to that report, we can see 400 km deep into enemy territory, the entirety of Pakistan is covered, and a lot of the Chinese border is very well covered. The BFSR-SR is a man portable, battery powered J-band surveillance and acquisition radar capable of detecting crawling men at 500 m, moving groups of people at 5 km and a group of vehicles at 10 kms. Plus the IR Kshitij means means all infiltrators can no longer make it over the border. The LoC is going to be a deathtrap :eek: .

Unmanned ground vehicles means we have more than just flying drones in our arsenal. I don't know what super advanced Bharat this is. The India I know is a poor country with cows, curry and caste. Seriously, when we did get so advanced as to have all this tech? The tipping point may have been reached, I'm starting to believe Kalam was right, 2020 will see Bharat as a developed nation.

And the final thing, tying it all together makes a system much stronger than its individual parts.DCN meshes the IA,IAF, IN into a smooth seamless whole. No more Kargils! Pakistan can't even mount a surprise attack. And China will have to be careful because we will probably see them coming from 400 km away! 2020 will be a great year.
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by rkhanna »

Joining all the dots together Singha. IF as according to that report, we can see 400 km deep into enemy territory, the entirety of Pakistan is covered, and a lot of the Chinese border is very well covered. The BFSR-SR is a man portable, battery powered J-band surveillance and acquisition radar capable of detecting crawling men at 500 m, moving groups of people at 5 km and a group of vehicles at 10 kms. Plus the IR Kshitij means means all infiltrators can no longer make it over the border. The LoC is going to be a deathtra
Am i right in assuming that this kit is far from becoming operational along the length and breath of our borders? The beheading of Indian soldiers along the LOC means there are still plenty of Gaps?!
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by Prem Kumar »

Surveillance/Networking is an area where the IA has clearly demonstrated vision, though execution has been slow. The indigenous WLR & LORROS replacements (Swathi & Kshitiz) are also corroborated in this TOI report. Good going!

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city ... 811928.cms
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by Prem Kumar »

rkhanna: the report has a mixture of inducted, in-development & planned items. 400 Km range ISR from MALE UAV is clearly in the future. Rustom-2 first flight is only going to happen this year. BFSR is already inducted, though I dont have figures of how many (cant escape the feeling that the induction hasnt happened in substantial numbers). In the above report I linked, indigenous WLR & LORROS have been cleared for induction
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by Surya »

And the final thing, tying it all together makes a system much stronger than its individual parts.DCN meshes the IA,IAF, IN into a smooth seamless whole. No more Kargils! Pakistan can't even mount a surprise attack
never say never

history is full of such premises
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by ramana »

x-post...
Raja Ram wrote:Ulan Batori Gentleman

The word is that the retaliation is calibrated to inflict disproportionate casualty to command and coordination centers across the IB. Apparently, there is a lot of activity on ground inside Pakistan as well. There has been an increased coordination from Afghanistan side as well I believe. In addition, there has been some clear demands made to Nawaz when he was here.

The GHQ in Pindi is feeling the heat because of the situation internally and the slow loosening of grip on the Allah Army that traditionally did only what the Generals said. Apparently there is a churning on that front and some of them are not willing to listen to everything the PA says.

But there has been some sobering considerations as well. The establishment is horrified at the state of preparedness of all three forces. Further, they had taken an assessment of the Indian capability in terms of Stand-Off retaliation that can be calibrated and delivered with precision. They have found that it is not to the level that is desired for effective operations. The Decade of Drift has caused major shortfalls in operational capabilities that according to some borders on near treason levels.

This the ground reality. Apparently the NSA Mr. Doval is working overtime along with key teams to get things into shape into Intel Network. The silver lining has been the very close involvement of the political leadership by way of PM and the RM to get things moving. It has led to a major boost to the morale of the Uniformed Leadership across the board as well as greater demands from them to get things done.

As you rightly surmise, this is a strategic window of opportunity to bring to end the artificial entity's existence. While there is an intention to get going from the GOI, there has been a realization that serious capability drawbacks exist. The priority is to get those fixed as quickly as possible while making sure that Pakistan gets the message.

May not make all of us here happy, but this seems to be a realistic assessment that I gathered by talking to a few who have been around.

Just an informed ramble. Take it for what it is worth.
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by vsunder »

Aha, as I thought, this is the real reason why no full time Raksha Mantri has been appointed. A new Raksha Mantri would need time to be apprised of the situation and would have to be someone who is energetic enough to take care of this mess, tall order. There is no luxury of time now, and no learning on the job, certain things have to be done fast lest the situation deteriorate and the forces be found wanting of some minimal needs.
Like RR, don't take this seriously.
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by SSridhar »

Amidst all the above, A soldier from every home is a tradition here - P.V.Srividya, The Hindu
A crow perched atop the high flag mast scans a sleepy kutcha stretch while a cement statute of a turquoise uniformed-sepoy sporting a twirled moustache stands upright, the right hand raised in a salute. Hidden in a corner is a plaque with names of persons who perished in the two World Wars.

The sleepy village of P. Thippanapalli, nestled away from the yawning highways, is some 20 km from Krishnagiri. The village, with 345 households, has over 400 men in the armed forces while over 160 persons draw ex-servicemen’s pensions.

Even today lanky young boys in the village want to continue in the footsteps of their fathers and grandfathers in what has become an unwritten tradition spanning over a century since World War I. According to P. Chinappan, district president of the ex-servicemen welfare association, poverty and lack of education drove the villagers to take up jobs in the army during the world wars. Later, army jobs became a lucrative proposition for them as it ensured job security.

The village had one of its own get martyred only once; in 2008, when Govindasamy, deployed in Afghanistan, was killed in a suicide-bomb attack. “Whoever went away always returned. Perhaps, that may also be the reason why we do not fear sending our men,” says 35-year-old Anuradha, whose husband returned to Sikkim last weekend.

“My father and uncle were in the Army, and now my husband is posted in Sikkim,” says 34-year-old Saradha while Kannamma, 45, whose husband has been in the Army for over 25 years, says: “We are used to this. It is a pride for our village, and for the country.”
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by Mukesh.Kumar »

X-Post from Border Watch Thread
Pakistani Chaiwala Alert from across the border

Apparently the Indian Army has been giving hell across the length of the Punjab border too. People are getting out of and nearby areas because of shelling. There have been some civie casualties in that area.
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by merlin »

vsunder wrote:Aha, as I thought, this is the real reason why no full time Raksha Mantri has been appointed. A new Raksha Mantri would need time to be apprised of the situation and would have to be someone who is energetic enough to take care of this mess, tall order. There is no luxury of time now, and no learning on the job, certain things have to be done fast lest the situation deteriorate and the forces be found wanting of some minimal needs.
Like RR, don't take this seriously.
With all due respect this is BS. If the full time RM was appointed at the same time all the current ones were then he would have enough time to learn and understand stuff. The only reason I can think of is that Modi doesn't really think defence is a priority and minor cosmetic changes done by Jaitley and moving forward stuck procurement is sufficient to stem the rot in the defence field in India.
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by vic »

Mukesh.Kumar wrote:X-Post from Border Watch Thread
Pakistani Chaiwala Alert from across the border

Apparently the Indian Army has been giving hell across the length of the Punjab border too. People are getting out of and nearby areas because of shelling. There have been some civie casualties in that area.
If Pakistani Punjab or Pakistani Sindh is being shelled then it is a major Geopolitical development and paradigm change from being Mouse to being Shivaji
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by vic »

I think Modi may be de facto DM while Jaitely name is only de jure.
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by Singha »

thats the sense I get. the DM post is too sensitive, too much scams, too much pressure groups for anyone but the big boss himself to handle. him being the DM needs nobody of any pressure group will dare to show their faces in his strike radius to push their cases.
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by Surya »

do we know the nationality of UN peacekeepers captured in golan

We need to pull our troops out

seems to be fijians

hope the message is passed to not surrender weapons under any conditions - eff the UN orders

and withdraw from Golan
Let those who wanted to bleed Syria deal with the mess
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by ravip »

Vishal Thapar @thaparvishal 5h
Dedicated mobile network approved for Indian Army @adgpi for China boundary for Rs 900 cr. communication system meant for 3,4 & 14 Corps

Much needed but don't know why 33 & 17 corps are left out. Any gurus in the know?
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by merlin »

Singha wrote:thats the sense I get. the DM post is too sensitive, too much scams, too much pressure groups for anyone but the big boss himself to handle. him being the DM needs nobody of any pressure group will dare to show their faces in his strike radius to push their cases.
But he is not DM, Jaitley is. Isn't Jaitley chairing the DAC and clearing deals?
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by rohitvats »

Gen Rath absolved of wrongdoing, V K Singh virtually indicted

http://www.business-standard.com/articl ... 469_1.html
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by member_25399 »

http://m.ibnlive.com/news/armed-forces- ... 290-3.html
In an extraordinary order, the Armed Forces Tribunal has exonerated Lieutenant General PK Rath, the former General Officer Commanding the Siliguri based 33 Corps, of any wrong doing in what has been labeled by the media as the 'Sukhna Scam'. The bench, comprising Hon'ble Justice Sunil Hali and Hon'ble Air Marshal JN Burma has in their order virtually overturned the order of the General Court Martial that had found General Rath guilty of charges 2, 4 and 5 in January 2011.

The order of the AFT has raised many eyebrows as it was by and large felt that the Indian Army had a watertight case against General Rath. The bench can only go by what is put up to them, and it is felt that the Army has 'played the court' with an eye towards an even bigger game; the exoneration of a senior officer who has been issued a notice by the c of India accusing him of directly shielding officers involved in the Jorhat Dacoity case. In addition, another case against the same officer is also pending in the Gauhati High Court wherein he is again accused of shielding the same officers in the Dimapur Murder case where three Manipuri boys were tortured and executed by the same people involved in the Jorhat case. The main accused, a Colonel in the Intelligence Wing, involved in both the Jorhat and Dimapur cases, has earlier served as an OSD to two former Chiefs. He has since moved to Delhi on attachment and has been seen by serving officers regularly interacting with the Senior Officer who is now in a n extremely prominent appointment.

Lieutenant General PK Rath's petition before the AFT plays up the 'revenge' angle. This interpretation has (obviously successfully) tried to imply that the entire Sukhna land scam issue was a devious scheme hatched up General VK Singh (Respondent No. 2) when he was the Eastern Army Commander. Early in his petition, General Rath prays: "On 13.02.2009, Respondent No.2 visited HQ 33 Corps. The petitioner made a mention of the proposal received from the private parties while seeing him off at the helipad. At that time, respondent No.2 showed no reaction to the proposal. However, the matter was given undue prominence by Respondent No.2 later, since he had a serious grudge against the then Military Secretary Lt Gen Avdesh Prakash who he held responsible for obtaining a commitment from him on the issue of his date of birth which stood in the way of his extension of tenure as the Chief of the Army Staff."

That the AFT should buy this argument is ridiculous on two counts: a) Lieutenant General Avdesh Prakash was not on the horizon when the COI was ordered. His name tumbled out of the closet much later and b) General VK Singh, now a Minister in the Government, should not be called upon for his views even though the entire petition before the AFT now reads like a Shakespearean play in which he is the real villain. Somewhere along the line, presumably with the help of the Army (Respondent No. 1) the entire spotlight has been shifted. General Rath's petition is punctuated with references to the infamous age issue, which was the brainchild of a senior bureaucrat within the PMO during the UPA Government and then played out through the various bureaucrats and sections of the media who had been set up to discredit the General. None of this is implied, it is stated in black and white. To quote from the writ which has been reproduced as a part of the order:

"(aa) Respondent No.2 and the then Military Secretary Lt. Gen Avdesh Prakash had exchanged certain letters related to the issue of change in the record of the year of birth of Respondent No.2 from 1950 to 1951 even after his giving a written commitment earlier. Respondent No.2 again reiterated his written commitment sometime in 2008-2009 by accepting 1950 as the year of his birth. The commitment was projected as having been made under duress and coercion.

"(ab) Respondent No.2 was overlooked for being appointed as Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS) during the time of his predecessor as the COAS and Lt Gen (Retd) PC Bhardwaj appointed as the VCOAS.

"(ac) Both these events resulted in a vengeance in the mind of Respondent No.2 for which he held the then Military Secretary responsible and was looking for an opportunity to get even."

So what does Rath's exoneration have to do with the Senior Army officer's case? In all cases that directly or indirectly affected this particular officer, the entire defence mechanism has been activated to paint a picture wherein the former Army Chief, General VK Singh, is somehow dragged into the scenario and the theme song becomes that of 'vengeance'. The various points of merit (or demerit) promptly lose their significance, as the former Army Chief becomes the de facto accused. From General VK Singh's perspective, the irony is further heightened as he is not allowed to depose in his own defence as he is not the main accused and therefore not involved in the principle case. It helps even more if Respondent No. 1 is the MoD or the Indian Army. After that, regardless of who is the chair Umpire, it is 'game, set and match'.

The AFT bench claims that it has 'righted a wrong' and have even refused the respondents the right to appeal, but one wonders if they have any idea of what they are doing? In effect, as Lieutenant General Rath's lawyer was at great pains to explain on NDTV later in the evening, the AFT had overturned the General Court Martial (GCM)'s findings on the ground that since the original complainant was General VK Singh, nobody involved with the GCM had the guts to go against a senior officer. This is an amazing charge, especially since the present VCOAS was also involved in the GCM that found Rath guilty on three counts. By the yardstick being employed by the media, should not the VCOAS be asked to put in his papers on the grounds of 'gutless sycophancy'?

The present Chief Justice of India, the Hon'ble Justice RM Lodha, had gone on record saying that judgments can be questioned, but motive cannot be attributed to the Judges. In this case it would seem an order has been passed that reeks of incompetence. If anything, it would appear the bench has done exactly what it accuses the GCM of doing - doled out a verdict to please the boss!

This automatically brings us to a sore point that needs to be addressed. The AFT continues, against all logic, to be under the MoD. The contradiction is obvious - in all cases brought before the AFT, the MoD is a respondent. Yet the boss of AFT is MoD. What has happened to the basic principles of justice in this country?

Interestingly, the AFT bench can very cleverly argue that in its 77-page order, it has not said a single word against General VK Singh and hence they have in no way indicted the General. However, it is well known that the entire game is more to do with 'Perception Management' and less to do with facts. The media has been cleverly manipulated time and again to run a hysterical campaign against VK Singh, the single biggest campaign being the age issue itself. For anyone watching the developments closely, the attempt is now to paint him as a 'vengeful, vindictive individual'; and by extension, anyone accused of any wrong-doing during his tenure is therefore being victimized regardless of the facts.

The same lobby, in defusing Lieutenant General Ravi Dastane's case, considered to be a fairly open and shut affair, used the same technique. Though the bribery case of Lieutenant General Tejinder Singh overshadowed his case against General VK Singh and four other officers of the Indian Army, the same technique was also considered. Who knows what strange turns that will eventually take? Left to the various lobbies working against the former chief, it will not be surprising if some day they arrest him for having refused a bribe!

The Army has once before already gone out on a limb to protect Lt General Tejinder Singh after he was caught red handed inside the TSD premises. Not only did the Army turn against the officers who filed a case against the former General, they even disbanded and took apart the Intelligence agency in the fond hope that they could find 'something' that would help write General VK Singh's epitaph. Today, the biggest loser is the country, for not only has the TSD been shut down, the main accused who actually controlled the Off-the-Air Interceptors, was allowed to go scot free on that score.

On the very day AFT was letting Lieutenant General Rath off the hook, a battery of senior lawyers at the High Court were trying to get Lieutenant General Tejinder Singh out on bail after he had been remanded to judicial custody. Forget all the other names, just calculate the fee of Mr Kapil Sibal and honestly tell me which Army officer can afford to hire such expensive council? Or was Mr Sibal there to defend the accused on behalf of the UPA on a pro bono basis? Maybe the IT people need to look into this as well.

Having set the tone, the AFT must realize the dangerous game it is being forced to play by its masters, which continue to be the MoD and not the Ministry of Law and Justice. What will they do next? Exonerate Lieutenant General Avdesh Prakash? Already, it's a good chance that the defence for the Senior Officer in both the Jorhat and Dimapur cases will be an all out attack on General VK Singh who initiated an enquiry into the first incident when he slapped a DV Ban on the said Senior Officer for inaction when he was the 3 Corps commander. It will be of little consequence that allegedly not only were heinous crimes committed, they were committed under the umbrella of ASFA. This much maligned act, so necessary for the protection of the soldiers who have to be protected from false charges in internal operational areas, loses its sanctity when people at the very top hide behind it to hide their own acts of omission. When that happens, it is a pity that the great institution, the Indian army, then has to resort to playing games to save these people who hold the reigns of power. Let us not forget that every man, be he/she a soldier, sailor or airman, knows what is happening.

We talk endlessly of Institutional integrity and the need to stand up when it comes to right and wrong. The learned bench of the AFT quotes Text 34 Chapter 2 of the Bhagwadgita: "People will always speak of your infamy, and for a respectable person, dishonor is worse than death." Today, it would seem the sacred message has been given a new interpretation - do what you want, just don't get caught! After this, which commander will ever pull up his subordinate who is caught with the hand in the till? The Army as an institution has suffered enough damage in this desire to get at the former Chief so that others with major cases against them can be protected. Question is, how far are we willing to go when every Tom, Dick and Harry knows what the real game plan is?
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by merlin »

I hold Arun Jaitley (and by extension Modi) fairly and squarely responsible for the continued mess that is the MoD. Insinuation, "media management", perception management and everything else is being used to paint Gen. VKS Singh in a poor light so that everything he initiated as COAS, all enquiries against ugly activities and corruption in the IA, is swept under the so called vengeance carpet. MoD has gone and filed an affidavit against one of its own ministers (VKS) virtually saying he's a liar. Arun Jaitley with commendable alacrity said there is nothing wrong with the current COAS and we (implying the BJP) have no problems with him and then MoD goes and virtually tells the court that VKS is a liar. Good going.
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by dinesh_kimar »

@Rohit Vats

1. An old post mentions Generals were retired by JLN-VK Menon at age 51-54.Had they continued, 1962 debacle might not have happened. Now, suppose only the Generalship was better, but equipment available to troops remained same, and the Commanders were free to decide the allocation of units and other such things, would the outcome of 1962 have actually been different? IIRC, even Gen BM Kaul, in the face of initial reverses, had brought in more experienced and decorated (WW-II) field commanders.

2. A fascinating snippet says that While Eastern Command did not do much, the Northern Army Commanders made various "contingency plans" against VK Menon's orders and Chinese were given a bloody nose in Chusul and Rezang La. However, popular media says that junior officers at the units made heroic last stands at these places. Please shed some light on the actual thinking at that time.
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by manjgu »

dinesh_kumar.... if generalship had been better , they would have convinced that maintaining dhola post was not militarily tenable ... if IA had made a stand at a more sensible location, it could have given the chinese a better fight and possibly prevented a breakout??!! ... they could have convinced the govt that india was not prepared militarily to face chinese... the experienced generals were brought in a stage when the chinese had already unhinged the indian defenses... and they could do precious little to alter the course of the battle... i think the logistics train in NE was much more difficult than Ladhak... the so called air drops to resupply the garrision at dhola and surrounding regions was a total failure ... atleast in ladhak sector there was a functioning air strip close to the battlefield which probably made the task easier...
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by Vipul »

How AK Antony damaged the soul of the Army.

While Manmohan Singh’s personality in the psychological context of the Indians was a perfect veneer for pliability, criminal collusion and subversion of the spirit of Indian Constitution, Antony’s assiduously acquired ‘clean image’ came in handy for ‘powers that be’ to subvert and wreck the Indian Armed Forces from within.

It may be reiterated here that Manmohan Singh in no sense was an elected Prime Minister and therefore his writ did not extend to picking up his own defence minister. The Prime Minister and the defence minister were picked up by the same authority and for same considerations, the least of all ‘integrity’.

In fact, integrity and incorruptibility, financial and moral, were two biggest disqualifications in the previous regime.If Manmohan Singh delivered to his political benefactor and mentor by way of CWG, Coal and 2G; Antony did not lag behind. Never before in the history of India, the three services were targeted the manner in which it was done during Antony’s stewardship of the MoD. Never in independent India, had the arms lobby become so brazen and criminal that it dared to manipulate ‘chain of succession’ of service chiefs.

The Indian Army was deliberately dragged into controversy by fabricating age related issue in respect of an Army Chief. Mr Antony vouched for the integrity of this Army Chief when he reported the Tatra scam to him. When the age issue came up in the Supreme Court, the government of which Mr Antony was a part, submitted an affidavit to the honourable bench, testifying the integrity of the concerned Army Chief.

If the Army Chief was a man of integrity, then Mr Antony must answer as to why did he re-elicit the opinion of the Law Ministry, when it had categorically ruled in favour of the Army Chief. The common buzz is that it was done at the behest of someone, to whom Mr Antony owed his office.The next in the line was Indian Air Force. Once the VVIP Chopper scam was reported from a foreign soil, as is invariably the case, a former Air Chief was made the scapegoat for allegedly being recipient of kick-backs.

The primary fault of this Air Chief was that as demanded, he had given his ‘opinion’ on the requisite operational parameters for procurement of VVIP Chopper. Even say, this Air Chief was guilty in the reckoning of Mr Antony for having allegedly received a small fraction of the kick-backs, the Defence Minister should have been worried as to who were the major recipients of public money. On this account both the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister were silent, because their puppeteer was in the grave shadow of doubt!

Now was the turn of Indian Navy. More than dozen accidents in a matter of months! It included two submarines. Many serving and retired Naval Officers asserted that the accidents were result of age related problems of the naval inventory. After every accident, the Naval Chief was put under-pressure. Finally, the powers that be succeeded. The Navy Chief resigned.

The desired person was put in Office. Such was the force and osmosis of this new Naval Chief that all age related problems of the inventory have mended without intervention and there have been no accidents thereafter. Very poor script Mr Antony! You and your patron indeed think very poorly of the intelligence of Indians and integrity of people in uniform.

Sadly there were some high ranking personnel in uniform to oblige the designs of your benefactors and the arms lobby. Subversion and sabotage by the arms lobby could not have acquired this new high, but for the indulgence of the dispensation. It was during the decade of the UPA rule that the notorious ‘Chandigarh Gang’ surfaced as the mainstay of the international arms lobby.

This gang is not necessarily in Chandigarh alone, but nevertheless is centered around it. It comprises some retired Officers, politicians, journalists and prominent newspapers. One of these newspapers, particularly one journalist was on an overdrive during the ‘age-row’ of the then Army Chief. It had gone to the extent of getting hysterical. Its obsession with General VK Singh continues. Another newspaper of the same ilk, carried the ‘coup story’ and a full page advertisement on ‘Tatra’ in the same issue.

The same very ‘Chandigarh Gang’ has been in the forefront of hyping the Chinese threat and disparaging the DRDO, all at the behest of the arms lobby. The media houses that are the part of this lobby, inconformity with the imperatives of the international arms manufacturers, from time to time bombards the audiences with ‘Chinese here, Chinese there and Chinese everywhere’ stories. Patriotic citizens should rather rely on the version of the Indian Army on these stories, then being misled by some of the unscrupulous media houses. Heading this ‘Chandigarh Gang’ was none other than the illustrious colleague of Mr Antony, who it is believed that was desperate to see through a ‘succession plan’ in the Indian Army.

It is also believed that it was he who prevailed on Mr Antony to re-obtain the opinion of the Law Ministry on the age issue of the said Army Chief.Threat analysis should be a major concern and responsibility of a defence minister. Mr Antony allowed the MoD to be hijacked on this issue. He equally shares the blame for India’s sell out at Sharm-el-Sheikh.

As a result of Indo-US nuclear deal, he is equally responsible for degrading India’s indigenous nuclear quest by slowing down the process of ‘fast breeder reactor’ and the ‘thorium route’. If there are three ends to the spectrum of warfare, i.e. sub-conventional, conventional, and nuclear, then the entire gamut should be the concern of a defence minister.

If a prime minister is hysterical about only one end of this spectrum, then the motivations are not nationalistic. At the conventional level, Mr Antony did not allow one major arms acquisition even in the face of pernicious security imperatives on one pretext or the other. Indian security became a victim of the murderous internecine rivalry of the various arms lobbies.

At the sub-conventional or proxy war end of the spectrum, the defence minister allowed India’s bargaining position to be neutralized vis-à-vis Pakistan by allowing the ‘Chandigarh Gang’ to implicate Col Purohit for Malegaon and Samjhauta blasts at the behest of international lobbies. The specter of ‘Hindu terror’ was drummed up by the media of the same ‘Chandigarh Gang’. When the Army Court of Inquiry absolved this Officer, the least the defence minister should have done is to honourably reinstate him. This is bound to recoil as one of the biggest scams involving highest levels of the country. An unpardonable act on the part of the defence minister was to acquiesce to the machinations by the arms lobby for inquiry on the Technical Support Group (TSG) to kill the political prospects of Gen VK Singh.

The TSG raised for acquiring operational and tactical intelligence in the wake of 26/11. Those who are in the know of the splendid achievements of TSG, very much doubt the patriotism of the characters who questioned the functioning of the organization in order to pander anti-nationals in the Kashmir Valley and their Pakistani benefactors.
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by ramana »

So what do AKA bhaktas or fan boys have to say about the scurrilous AKA and his clean mundu? Its soiled beyond any detergent can clean.
Worse than Krishna Menon.
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by Vipul »

When you have an Idealistic Fool (Nehru) and Italian Mafia remote (Mickey Mouse Singh) leading a ruling party then such anti-national acts and characters will always be thrust upon us.
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by P Chitkara »

With AKA at helm, scuttling any was a super easy job. Just dropping an anonymous note to his office was sufficient enough to halt any acquisition in it's tracks.

AKA decade has brought the forces to their knees. For god's sake there has been no arty addition in last three decades!! and this is just one of many, many things that are so badly needed by the forces.
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by P Chitkara »

BTW, what types and how many weapon locating radars does the IA have? Google uncle couldn't come up with conclusive numbers.
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by chetak »

arun wrote:The Indian Army is investigating allegations that a Brigadier sodomised a Sahayak.

If the allegations turn out to be true, trust detterent will be handed down:
In a major embarrassment to the army, a brigadier deployed along the Line of Control in the Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir is facing the prospect of disciplinary for allegedly sodomising his assistant (sahayak).
PTI via Hindustan Times:

Brigadier faces charges after allegedly sodomy

Indian Express reveals more details about the Brigadier under investigation. The Brigadier is attached to 7/8 Gorkha Rifles, was a winner of Vishisht Seva Medal and till recently was posted as a Colonel at the Army Headquarters:

Brigadier posted at LoC faces inquiry for ‘sodomy’

What with all the recent firing going on, both of them would have been bent over, anyway.

The crafty brigadier merely "aligned" himself to the situation.
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by chetak »

P Chitkara wrote:BTW, what types and how many weapon locating radars does the IA have? Google uncle couldn't come up with conclusive numbers.
I think that the amirkhans have sold us some and some (28)?? made by BEL Weapon Locating Radar (WLR)

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/IF05Df01.html
The major Indo-US defense deals so far are valued at much less. Recently, the Indian Army took delivery of 12 Weapon Locating Radars from US arms manufacturer Raytheon at a cost of $200 million.
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by Ajit.C »

Today's times of india
Maulvi in Army ‘censured’ for saying Jai Hind
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 790700.cms
CHANDIGARH: Made famous by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, the salutation "Jai Hind" was coined by Major Abid Hasan Zafrani of the Azad Hind Fauj. Two decades after Zafrani's death, a Muslim priest of the Indian Army has approached the President of India, the National Commission of Minorities and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav alleging that his superior officers have censured him for using the slogan because it "sends a message of religious hatred and extremism".

Subedar Ishrat Ali alleges his commanding officer has served him a notice warning him to "rise above narrowmindedness", and instead salute by using "Ram, Ram" and "Jai Mata Di" — the official battalion slogans — or face "disciplinary action". Ali told ET from Bikaner that he has protested and written to his superior officers.

He has informed them that it is impossible for him to use the said salutes as they are Hindu religious chants and he is an Islamic priest. On his behalf, his wife Shehnaz Bano has written to the President of India and the National Commission for Minorities, Delhi, with a copy to the Uttar Pradesh chief minister complaining of "mental torture and harassment" and demanding justice.

Ali's commanding officer Colonel Chitra Sen refused to comment on the issue and said Army HQ had all the relevant information. "Army is absolutely secular. We respect salutation of Jai Hind and all battle cries," said Major General Shokin Chauhan, additional director general, public information, without getting into the details of Subedar Ali's complaints.

Leading lawyer Rajeev Anand, who took premature retirement as assistant commandant of Border Security Force, was critical of the notice issued to Ali. "This is totally wrong. Salutations are in the name of the country and not in the name of a religion. They all are soldiers of India. Passing such directives are totally untenable."

The notice issued to Ali asks him to change his salutation. "The task of Army's religious teacher is to enthuse the spirit of patriotism, zeal and unity in the jawans, while the slogan of Jai Hind (Long Live India) sends a message of religious hatred and extremism. If you do not rise above narrowmindedness and do not salute by shouting 'Ram Ram' and 'Jai Mata di', as per the rules of the battalion disciplinary action will be taken against you," it says. "You are a religious teacher and your job is to enthuse patriotism, zeal and spirit of unity in the jawans. Your action (the utterance of Jai Hind) does not only send a message of religious hatred and extremism but also reflects upon your lack of knowledge; and that will not be tolerated."

In his 22 years of service as a maulvi, Ali claims he was never asked not to use "Jai Hind" until July when he was verbally "warned" to shun the slogan and resort to shouting "Ram Ram and Jai Mata Ki" or else face a court martial.

"I have served the Army for 22 years, saluted many chiefs including General VK Singh and others who never objected to it. Jai Hind is a slogan, which marks patriotism. How can I be faulted for being a patriot?" he asks. Ali claims his "harassment" began in May this year after his return from Sudan, after a seven-month special assignment.

According to him, he is being targeted for his earlier complaint against a junior maulvi being sent to Sudan. "I had served at Rajputana Rifles centre, Delhi, for 10 years but was transferred to Rajputana Rifles (3 Raj Rif Bikaner) because I had complained against the move to send a junior of mine to Sudan. After my complaint I was sent to Sudan but immediately after my return I was posted to Bikaner, Rajasthan," Ali told ET over the phone from there.

Ali added that he petitioned the Delhi high court against the transfer citing the ill health of his wife who is a heart patient and is undergoing treatment. In his petition, Ali had also mentioned that since he is left with two years of service and his two daughters and a son are studying in Delhi, he be allowed to serve in the capital.

Although his initial case was rejected on the grounds of delay, his review petition is hanging fire in the Delhi high court.

Ali says that on August 17, he refused to sign his annual confidential report (ACR), which according to him was tarnished "deliberately".

A second notice was issued to him over this issue.
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Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 11 June 2014

Post by chetak »

ramana wrote:So what do AKA bhaktas or fan boys have to say about the scurrilous AKA and his clean mundu? Its soiled beyond any detergent can clean.
Worse than Krishna Menon.
one illustrious forum defender of the vainglorious saint seems to be rather missing in action, or is the tattered mundu of the plebeian, pedestrian saint showing the usual politician's striped undies for all to see him for the low level family retainer he has always been.
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