Indian Army

In 1994 the army had approximately 940,000 men and women in its ranks and more than 36,000 in reserve forces. The army is headquartered in New Delhi and is under the direction of the chief of the army staff, always a full general. The army is equipped with some 3,400 main battle tanks. Of these, 1,200 are indigenously manufactured Vijayanta tanks. Additionally, the army has some T-55, T-72, and PT-76 tanks. The Arjun main battle tank has been under development by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) since 1983, and, in 1995, limited production was expected to begin in 1996.

The army also has substantial artillery forces. The best estimate places the army's towed artillery capabilities at more than 4,000
pieces. In addition to the towed artillery, the army has self-propelled artillery. Finally, it has substantial numbers of surface-to-air missile capabilities, the total number being more than 1,200. Apart from its nine squadrons of helicopters, the army has eight air observation squadrons and six antitank/transport squadrons.
It relies on the air force for air support, lift capabilities, and air supply .

Equipment of the Indian Army :

Armoured Vehicles :

- Arjun Mk.1 MBT

At the end of the 1971 war, the Indian army realized the limitations of their tank fleet in the harsh desert conditions of Rajasthan, a northwestern Indian state bordering Pakistan, so they initiated their own MBT design. The first “Arjun” (named after a mythical Hindu warrior prince. As of mid-2000 India planned to acquire T-90 tanks, based on field trials which had already been completed. Although orders had been placed for the supply of 124 Arjun tanks through the Defence Research Development Organisation, it would be difficult to predict when these orders would be fufilled. And on 9 January 1996, the Arjun was formally unveiled and cleared for mass production. Considered comparable to the M1A2 Abrams, Leopard 2, and Leclerc, the 59-ton "15th Variant" can achieve a maximum speed of 70 kph (55 mph) and cross-country speed of 40 kph with its 1400-hp powerplant. The 1,610-liter fuel tank allows for a cruising range of 200 km (120 miles).The first 120 tanks to be built would cost $4.2 million each, while other cost estimates places the figure at $5.6 million each per tank by 2001, given a purchase of 124 tanks to equip two regiments.

- T-90S MBT

In view of Pakistan's acquisition of the T-80UD from Ukraine, the Indian Army had decided to acquire 310 T-90S MBTs from Russia. After numerous hiccups and delays, an inter-governmental agreement was finally signed in October 2000 and a formal agreement on 15 February 2001. A first batch of 10 tanks were delivered in the first week of January 2002, with more to follow soon. The deal is estimated to be at $650 to $750 million for the 310 tanks, which includes complete technology transfer and weapon systems.

- T-72M1 MBT

Known as Ajeya, 2000+ T-72M1 tanks form the modern backbone of the Indian Army's MBT fleet. Licensed production of the T-72M1 at Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF), Avadi is believed to have ended in 1998 and during a 15-year period 1100+ tanks were produced. The T-90S MBT will now replace the T-72M1 on the production line at HVF. 'Operation Bison' - the program to upgrade the T-72M1 at HVF - is running behind schedule, partially due to the purchase of 310 T-90S tanks.

Around 200 T-72M1s are to be fitted with more powerful engines, explosive reactive armour, fire-control systems, land navigation systems (LNS), VHF radios and advanced nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) equipment. The remaining T-72s will be partially retro- -fitted.

- T-55 MBT

An upgrade program for the T-55 MBT, called Project Gulmohar, was almost complete as of October 1999. The tanks, 700+ in service and another 200 in store, were expected to remain in service till 2015. However in 2001, the army decided to phase out the tank over a period of seven years and replace them with upgraded T-72M1 MBTs.

- BMP-2

Known as the Sarath (Chariot of Victory) in the Army. Production continues at 100 per year and 900+ are in active service. BMP stands for Bronevaya Maschina Piekhota. A number of product improvements were made to various models of BMP-2 in the late 1980’s. These improvements included modifications to the gun stabilization system, improved internal communications, improved rubber-bushed tracks, and the spare tracks have been moved from the rear exit doors to the left and right upper side walls of the troop compartment. This vehicle also includes a special mat for the transport of the seriously wounded and six slings for the slightly wounded.

Artillery :

- 105 mm Indian and Light Field Guns (IFG/LFG)

LFG IFG

The 105 mm Indian and Light Field Guns (IFG/LFG) are high performance guns meeting the conflicting requirements of mountain, plain and desert warfare. The Indian Field Gun is the mainstay of the Field Artillery Branch of the Indian Army covering a maximum range of 17 km. The LFG is a close in weapon, designed to provide the necessary range, mobility and fire power required in the present day battlefield scenario.A unique feature of LFG is its light weight which makes it capaple of being helilifted for quick deployment in mountain terrain. Being replaced by 130mm M-46 Field Gun.

- M-46 130mm Field Gun

Nearly 500 guns are earmarked for upgrade to the 155mm/39-calibre and 155mm/45-calibre by Soltam Systems Ltd. of Israel. An initial batch of 180 guns will be upgraded in Israel and would be delivered to the Indian Army by 2002/2003. 200 guns are purchased each year to replace the 105mm IFG/LFG.

- BOFORS 155mm FH-77B

The Army initially planned to acquire 1500 Bofors FH-77B howitzers, but due to the infamous 'Bofors Scandal' only 410 guns were purchased. Due to the lack of spares, an estimated 100+ guns have been cannibalized and are not operational. In September 1999, the Army ordered spare parts from BWS worth $23.26 million which was a follow-on order to a small July 1999 purchase. On 25 March 2001, the 14-year contract with Bofors expired and once again the 155mm howitzer is in serious trouble of acquiring spares and ammunition.

- New Self-propelled artillery competition

Denel 155mm Celsius 155mm

The Indian Army is shortly expected to place an order for new 155mm/52-caliber howitzers as part of its Field Artillery Rationalization Plan. It is expected that a total of up to 4000 howitzers will be procured to equip its 185 tube artillery regiments.The Indian Army is finalizing its modified General Staff Qualitative Requirement (GSQR) for self-propelled and towed howitzers and will be inviting a number of overseas companies to bid. The seven companies likely to take part in trials include Celsius (Bofors) of Sweden and Denel (LIW) of South Africa which are the forerunners in this competition.

- Pinaka 214mm MLRS

Following the end of user trials in September 1999, the Indian Army decided to accept the Pinaka. While certain user requirements remain to be fulfilled, the Army has decided that the Pinaka offers a quantum leap in capability vis-à-vis its existing rocket artillery. However, developmental work continues to increase the Pinaka's maximum range and develop two new types of warhead. DRDO is also working to cut salvo re-load time from 15 minutes to 4 minutes. The first Pinaka regiment was raised in February 2000. A regiment consists of three batteries of six Pinakas each, plus reserves. It is expected that one regiment will be added each year as the oldest BM-21s are withdrawn from service.

- Prithvi SRBM

The Army version, designated as the SS-150 had a range of 150 km and could carry up to a maximum of a 1000 kg as its payload.By October 1995, 20 pre-production Prithvi SS-150s were delivered to the Army to form the 333rd Missile Group based in Secunderabad. Two more have been formed since, 444 and 555. The former has been raised and trained and should receive its equipment soon, while the latter exists only on paper and is yet to be raised. Each group will have 12 launchers, with possibly another three more acting as reserves. Around 120 Prithvis (both variants) have been produced to date, at BDL, with 40-50% of them being the SS-250 and is now the only production version at BDL.

Air-Defence weapons :

- Strela -10M3 (SA-13 Gopher)

The SA-13 Gopher is a short-range, low altitude SAM.The TELAR vehicle is a modified MT-LB amphibious armoured tracked vehicle with the machine-gun turret removed. Normally the TELAR carries 4 ready-to-fire SA-13 missiles in the container-launchers and eight reloads in the cargo compartment. However, it might also have 9K31 Strela-1 (SA-9 Gaksin) missiles in the container-launcher boxes or a mixture of both.

- ZRK-SD Kvadrat (SA-6 GAINFUL)

The SA-6 Gainful is a two stage, solid-fuel, low-altitude SAM. It has radio command guidance with semi-active radar terminal homing. The vehicle has an air filtration and over pressure NBC system and infra-red night vision equipment fitted as standard but the vehicle has no amphibious capability The basic SA-6a has a maximum effective range of 24,000 metres and has a minimum effective range of 3,000 metres, the minimum engagement height is 100 metres when using the fire control radar and 80 metres when in the optical tracking mode, the maximum effective altitude is about 11,000 metres. The Indian Army has decided to upgrade it's Kvadrat air defence systems, due to inordinate delays in the Akash missile program which was supposed to replace the Kvadrat system.

- Tunguska-M1 30mm

Tunguska-M1 is a gun/missile system for low-level air defence. The system was designed by the KBP Instrument Design Bureau in Tula, Russia and is manufactured by the Ulyanovsk Mechanical Plant, Ulyanovsk, Russia. It can engage targets while stationary and on the move, using missiles for long-range targets and guns for close-in defence. It is designed for defence against both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters and can also fire on ground targets.Tunguska is in service with the Russian army and has also entered service with the Indian Army.

The Tunguska-M1 vehicle carries eight 9M311-M1 surface-to-air missiles. The missile (NATO designation SA-19 Grison).Two twin-barrel 30mm anti-aircraft guns are mounted on the vehicle. These guns have a maximum firing rate of 5,000 rounds per minute and a range of 3,000m against air targets.

- Bofors 40mm L/70

Ammunition Range:        12,500 metres - maximum horizontal.
                                         8700 metres - maximum vertical.
                                         4000 metres - effective vertical.

Replacing the ageing 40mm Bofors L/60.

- ZSU-23-2 Towed Anti-Aircraft system

The ZSU-23-2 anti-aircraft gun system comprises twin 23mm cannons on a towed two-wheel carriage. It has an effective anti-aircraft range of 2500 meters.

Aviation :

- ALH (Advanced Light Helicopter )

A fully-armed ALH [Z3268], lies on display at Bangalore. The chopper is fitted with a 20mm chin-mounted, three-barrel gun, from Lockheed Martin Ltd. and pylon-mounted Nag anti-tank missiles and air-to-surface rockets.

Sources :

	BHARAT RAKSHAK (Unofficial Page of the Indian Armed Forces & Main source)
	Army Technology
	FAS
	Unofficial Indian Army

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