The upgrading process of the Indian armed forces has been explicitly spelt out in the Long Term Integrated Perspective Plan (LTIPP), covering the period up to 2027. India has a hostile neighbourhood, the step of modernisation of Indian armed forces has been slow, and technologically, they are not where they should have been.
The process to acquire and equip him with a modern Rifle, Machine Gun and Carbine is on. One key programme is the Future Infantry Soldier as a System, to provide a soldier with state-of-the-art weaponry and combat gear. Its first phase is nearing completion with the complete schedule set for 2020.
In addition to new technology and safety kits for the soldiers of our armed forces, some of equipment are as:
Helmet: The soldier would have a Helmet capable of stopping a 9mm bullet at extremely short ranges. In addition, it would have a mounted flash light, thermal sensors, night vision capability, digital compass, video cameras, computer, and nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) sensors as also an audio headset.
Clothing: A soldier’s clothing must be lightweight with a bullet proof jacket. It will also protect him from NBC threats.
Weapon: It would be a multi calibre individual weapon system with an Under Barrel Grenade Launcher, a thermal weapon sight and Laser Range Finder.
Accessories: They will include palmtop devices with secure communications and integrated with Battle Management Systems.
In comparison to other countries like china and Pakistan, back in 1962 India lost war to China over the same issue, the non-demarcated boundary has then since been a matter of conflict. The Chinese army has since been intervening regularly but this has now gone far beyond the limit. Now that China signals for a possible war, let us analyse what does this have to mean and what do the number and stats say about comparison between the military strengths of the two countries.
