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[Indian Army - Master Thread]
- All current Indian Army related news and discussion.
- Link to sub-threads on specific arms and weapon systems.
- All current Indian Army related news and discussion.
- Link to sub-threads on specific arms and weapon systems.
From 2015 - informative article by @SJha1618 on growth trajectory of Army Aviation Corps. Would be interesting to see where we stand today. https://www.news18.com/blogs/india/saurav-jha/the-growth-of-the-indian-armys-helicopter-inventory-10879-974550.html
- There was a 2015 report from Tehelka (link not working now) which mentioned that Indian Army's Akash Missile Regiment has 6 batteries.
- Which will explain this image which appeared in 2017.
- For come reason, what would normally be termed as a Battery, is called as a Troop
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- Which will explain this image which appeared in 2017.
- For come reason, what would normally be termed as a Battery, is called as a Troop
+
+ It is quite possible, that 6 troops equal to 3 batteries with 2 x troops per battery.
- Which can possibly explain this 2018 report that IA is getting 2 x Akash Regiments with 6 batteries.
- 6 troops/3 batteries or 6 batteries (assuming troop = battery)+ https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/army-inducts-indigenously-built-surface-to-air-missile-akash/articleshow/47160885.cms?from=mdr
- Which can possibly explain this 2018 report that IA is getting 2 x Akash Regiments with 6 batteries.
- 6 troops/3 batteries or 6 batteries (assuming troop = battery)+ https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/army-inducts-indigenously-built-surface-to-air-missile-akash/articleshow/47160885.cms?from=mdr
+ means Indian Army's Akash Regiment is a massive unit.
- 24 launchers, with 3 missiles/launcher, means 72 ready-to-fire missiles, 7 x 3D-Central Acquisition Radar, 6 x Troop Level Radar (Rajendra-III).
- Coverage would be excellent
- Multiple the above by 2 for 2 x Akash Regts+
- 24 launchers, with 3 missiles/launcher, means 72 ready-to-fire missiles, 7 x 3D-Central Acquisition Radar, 6 x Troop Level Radar (Rajendra-III).
- Coverage would be excellent
- Multiple the above by 2 for 2 x Akash Regts+
+
- Unlike older times, when A Grade equipment went to Strike Corps, the two Akash Regiments have gone to Pivot Corps, i.e. Bhatinda based 10 Corps and Jalandher based 11 Corps.
- In fact, analysis of open source data shows that a SA-6/Kvardat Group from a Strike Corps was +
- Unlike older times, when A Grade equipment went to Strike Corps, the two Akash Regiments have gone to Pivot Corps, i.e. Bhatinda based 10 Corps and Jalandher based 11 Corps.
- In fact, analysis of open source data shows that a SA-6/Kvardat Group from a Strike Corps was +
+ shifted to Desert Corps, or 12 Corps.
On Army Aviation (2015)
Something I wrote in 2016 on force accretion along LAC from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh.
India moved first two tank regiments as part of newly raised (I) Armored Bde under 14 Corps in 2014-15 period and third one was post 2016. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Third-regiment-of-T-72-tanks-to-be-moved-to-Ladakh-soon/article14497629.ece
- 9 Para (SF) had been awarded 04 Ashok Chakras till date in CI Ops. And all of them posthumously
- It received 'Bravest of Brave' citation from the COAS post Kargil Ops.
- It also led a complex rescue in Sierra Leone known as 'Op Khukri' to successfully rescue Indian troops
- It received 'Bravest of Brave' citation from the COAS post Kargil Ops.
- It also led a complex rescue in Sierra Leone known as 'Op Khukri' to successfully rescue Indian troops
- 9 Para (Special Forces) is the 'mother' battalion of Para (Special Forces) units in IA.
- An ad-hoc Commando unit raised in 1965 was raised as 9th Battalion (Commando) of Parachute Regiment in 1966. It was split in 1967 and 10th Para (Commando) battalion
was raised.
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- An ad-hoc Commando unit raised in 1965 was raised as 9th Battalion (Commando) of Parachute Regiment in 1966. It was split in 1967 and 10th Para (Commando) battalion
was raised.
+
- In 1978, 1 Para Battalion of Parachute Regiment was converted into third Para (Commando) battalion.
+ These three are original Para (Commando) battalions. The fourth Para (Cdo) Bn was raised by converting 21st Bn of Maratha Light Infantry into 21 Para (Commando) Bn in mid-90s
+
+ These three are original Para (Commando) battalions. The fourth Para (Cdo) Bn was raised by converting 21st Bn of Maratha Light Infantry into 21 Para (Commando) Bn in mid-90s
+
Thread from 2017 on the evolving scenario with respect to the Army Aviation Corps covering Dhruv, LCH and WSI-Dhruv/ Rudra helicopters. https://twitter.com/KesariDhwaj/status/904616105800433664?s=20
Posting screen-shots of the above thread for record.
Some thoughts on the unnecessarily controversial term Cold Start Doctrine #CSD. CSD actually became a tool for Pakistan to scare West (read USA) as to how this doctrine is destabilizing the conventional deterrence and Indian establishment became shy of even mentioning it +
+ Part-II of the above.
10 Infantry Division in Akhnoor became a RAPID - Reorganized Plains Infantry Division. This is the 7th known RAPID of the Indian Army. https://twitter.com/KesariDhwaj/status/912532589751054336?s=20
Some pointers on the RAPIDs -
Important thread which brings out key points about the Arjun tank https://twitter.com/Leopard212/status/919101287848861696?s=20
Reproducing my thoughts on what holds back large scale production and induction of Arjun tanks in the Indian Army -
(1) I've said this before, there are 4 main reasons holding back large scale Arjun induction in the army.
[ONE] - Organizational inertia.
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(1) I've said this before, there are 4 main reasons holding back large scale Arjun induction in the army.
[ONE] - Organizational inertia.
+
+
- 2 plus generations of Armored Corps officers have cut their teeth in T-72 and now, T-90.
- Arjun is everything which T-72/90 is not.
- 2-man vs 3-man turret and size argument predates even before first Arjun tanks had entered service with 43rd Armored Regiment
+
- 2 plus generations of Armored Corps officers have cut their teeth in T-72 and now, T-90.
- Arjun is everything which T-72/90 is not.
- 2-man vs 3-man turret and size argument predates even before first Arjun tanks had entered service with 43rd Armored Regiment
+
+
- General SR Chowdhary mentions about it in his autobiography.
- He was driving force behind induction of 15 tanks in 43rd Armored Regiment.
- Idea was that an operational unit should be giving feedback to DRDO.
[SECOND] - Bad blood between DPSU (CVRDE/HVF) and the IA
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- General SR Chowdhary mentions about it in his autobiography.
- He was driving force behind induction of 15 tanks in 43rd Armored Regiment.
- Idea was that an operational unit should be giving feedback to DRDO.
[SECOND] - Bad blood between DPSU (CVRDE/HVF) and the IA
+
+
- HVF has very patchy production record. There is already a massive backlog of T-72 & T-90 overhaul.
- IA simply has no faith in ability of HVF to support a weapon system over it's lifetime.
- With T-90, you always have the Russians to fall back upon
- take example of Su-30 +
- HVF has very patchy production record. There is already a massive backlog of T-72 & T-90 overhaul.
- IA simply has no faith in ability of HVF to support a weapon system over it's lifetime.
- With T-90, you always have the Russians to fall back upon
- take example of Su-30 +
+
- production at HAL. HAL has missed deadlines repeatedly and as a result, larger work share has been outsourced to Russians to ensure timely delivery.
- Same is the case with T-90; when push comes, you always have Russians.
- And then there is 67% (?) commonality between
+
- production at HAL. HAL has missed deadlines repeatedly and as a result, larger work share has been outsourced to Russians to ensure timely delivery.
- Same is the case with T-90; when push comes, you always have Russians.
- And then there is 67% (?) commonality between
+
+
T-72 and T-90.
- For an army with 2500+ tanks, this is a big plus.
[THIRD] - Corruption.
- The unique scenario of dysfunctional R&D-Production set-up, unwillingness to back domestic product by IA due to multiple reason, genuine pressing requirement for new MBT
+
T-72 and T-90.
- For an army with 2500+ tanks, this is a big plus.
[THIRD] - Corruption.
- The unique scenario of dysfunctional R&D-Production set-up, unwillingness to back domestic product by IA due to multiple reason, genuine pressing requirement for new MBT
+
+
created a conducive environment for pushing foreign product with attendant palm greasing.
- T-90 induction has gained so much momentum that it is unstoppable.
- Badly worded and enforced contracts mean Russians get away with delaying/denying TOT and still get repeat
+
created a conducive environment for pushing foreign product with attendant palm greasing.
- T-90 induction has gained so much momentum that it is unstoppable.
- Badly worded and enforced contracts mean Russians get away with delaying/denying TOT and still get repeat
+
+
orders for new batches of T-90.
- Russian shenanigans held up production at HVF and this delay was used as reason for giving new order of importing directly from Russia!!!
- And IA as the customer has no say in all this! It is happy that AT LEAST, it gets required tanks
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orders for new batches of T-90.
- Russian shenanigans held up production at HVF and this delay was used as reason for giving new order of importing directly from Russia!!!
- And IA as the customer has no say in all this! It is happy that AT LEAST, it gets required tanks
+
+
- HVF-CVRDE-Arjun is one of the few islands of completely broken system in our set-up.
- Unless IA gets assurance that HVF can sustain the product in long term, this logjam will not break. And a powerful tank like Arjun will continue to suffer from apathy.
+
- HVF-CVRDE-Arjun is one of the few islands of completely broken system in our set-up.
- Unless IA gets assurance that HVF can sustain the product in long term, this logjam will not break. And a powerful tank like Arjun will continue to suffer from apathy.
+
+
[FOUR] - Sum of parts of less than the whole
- This is an opinion I've arrived at after speaking with some ex-armored corps officials.
- While individual systems of Arjun might be superior to say, T-90, the whole system does not come together in a manner to deliver the
+
[FOUR] - Sum of parts of less than the whole
- This is an opinion I've arrived at after speaking with some ex-armored corps officials.
- While individual systems of Arjun might be superior to say, T-90, the whole system does not come together in a manner to deliver the
+
+
whole weight of the sub-systems.
- The superiority of individual systems shows-up in the comparative tests between T-90 and Arjun but yet, a tank man prefers a T-90 over Arjun.
- The solution to this logjam is more interaction between IA and DRDO and not throwing the baby+
whole weight of the sub-systems.
- The superiority of individual systems shows-up in the comparative tests between T-90 and Arjun but yet, a tank man prefers a T-90 over Arjun.
- The solution to this logjam is more interaction between IA and DRDO and not throwing the baby+
+ out with the bathwater.
