General Awareness Series: New weapon fleet for Indian defense forces

With more focus on indigenous development of weapons the Indian Army is setting new records each year by adding to its weapons arsenal some serious weapons. Weapons which send a clear message that we are in no way behind our counterparts. Some of the latest weapons included in the Indian Army are as follows:

1) Dhanush artillery guns:

After the Bofors scandal, and many companies trying to take the contract for development of artillery guns by unfair and corrupt means ,the DRDO 155 mm artillery gun project was started by India so as to produce indigenous developed artillery guns which could meet the requirements of the Indian army. The home made gun is made with a strike range of 38 kilometers. It can operate in three different modes:

• Burst – 3 rounds in 15 second
• Intense – 15 rounds in 3 minutes and
• Sustained – 60 rounds in 60 minutes
  

With a 6 to 8 member crew, it also provides thermal sight for the gunners display

2) Pinaka Multi barrel Rocket system:

 Pinaka is multiple rocket launcher launched in India. It founded great use in the kargil war. The mark 1 version has a range of 40 kilometers and the mark 2 versions had a range of 65 kilometers. It can fire a salvo of HE rockets in 44 seconds. Each pinaka battery consists of 6 launcher vehicles, each with 12 rockets. The Army generally deploys a battery of 72 rockets, all of which can be fired in 44 seconds, neutralizing an area of 1 km.

3) Prithvi 2 missile:

With a strike range of 350 kilometers , the prithvi missile is another ace in the pack of nuclear missiles of India. It is capable of carrying a warhead of 500 to 1000 kg and and the missile is fired through a liquid propulsion twin engine.

4) Agni 5:

The Intercontinental ballistic missile, Agni 5 developed by the DRDO has added it to the series of Agni missiles present in the Indian Army’s missile arsenal. The missile is deadly in the fact that it has strike range of 5000 km – 8000 km. The warhead is nuclear and it runs through a three stage solid fuel. The speed of the missile is 24 Mach or roughly 29,401 kmph in the terminal phase. With this missile India has made its place among the top countries (US, UK, France, Russia, China, Israel) possessing Intercontinental Ballistic missiles.

5) Berreta's ARX 160 assault rifle:

As a means to replace the INSAS rifle, the India Army is testing the Berreta ARX 160 assault rifle. The rifle is made by Italy as a means for future soldier programme. The rifle’s unique features include ambidextrous safety’s, magazine catches and charging handles, also the ability to change which side the used shells be ejected. The magazine also includes a barrel change option and fold-able telescopic stock.

6) Aakash SAM:

The Surface to air missile is developed by the DRDO for the IAF and the Indian Army. For the Indian Army, the missile can be fired from mobile as well as static platforms, which includes battle tanks and wheeled trucks, thus providing flexible deployment. It can handle multiple targets, missiles launched from helicopters, fighter aircraft, un manned aerial vehicles and cruise missiles. The missile can operate in all weather conditions, and is capable of destroying aircraft within 30 to 35 km range and at altitudes up-to 18000 km. It is also capable of carrying 60 kg nuclear warhead.

7) HAL Rudra:

The Army version of the Light combat Helicopter is a modified version of Dhruv. It is armed and has the following specifications which make it a successful attack helicopter:

•    Crew : 1 or 2 pilots
•    Capacity : 12 passengers and 14 if highly dense seats
•     Useful weight : 2600 kg
•    Maximum takeoff weight : 5500 kg
•    Armed with 20 mm gun
•    8 Helina(Helicopter launched Nag) anti-tank guided missiles
•    70 mm rocket pods

In my point of view to improve the technology we apply in our weapons, the DRDO needs to collaborate itself with the foreign private weapon manufacturers so that a technology transfer can take place and with their help we can generate a more stronger Army, just like the initiative taken by the DRDO to make Future Infantry Soldier as System or FINSAS we need to come up with more such programs so that we can match with the military strength of the world powers.

About the Author: Shekhar Tanwar is a computer science engineer who is working with a renowned MNC and is a die heart defense aspirant. Guitar is his passion and he is very firm believer of physical fitness. This article is a way to help defense aspirants to present his critical views on the topic, on the forum so that collective exchange of thoughts can take place.