Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 16

Even as the Army’s fleet of BMP mechanised infantry combat vehicles remains severely deficient in numbers, plans are being drawn up to upgrade these vehicles with new anti-tank missiles, enhanced mobility and a state-of-the-art fire control system.Over 1,500 BMPs are expected undergo an upgrade to boost their operational capability. Global vendors, who are willing to transfer critical technologies and manufacture upgraded components and systems in India in consonance with the government’s “Make in India” policy, would be also considered for the project.The Army has projected a requirement of 15,000 anti-tank guided missiles, followed by an annual requirement of 3,000 missiles for the upgrade. These missiles need to have a range above 4 km, night firing and “fire and forget” capability and a first shot kill probability above 90 per cent.Besides advanced and contemporary sighting and fire control systems for the commander and gunner that are integrated with the BMP’s cannon and missile and are capable of night and adverse weather operations in extreme hot and cold climatic conditions, the mobility upgrade could include changes in running gear and suspension and a complete ergonomic redesign as long as it does not compromise operational parameters and amphibious capability.The Soviet-origin BMP-2/2K and its variants are the mainstay of the Mechanised Infantry. These are tracked armoured vehicles equipped with their own cannons and anti-tank missiles with the capability to carry soldiers into battle.

Mainstay of Mechanised Infantry

• The Soviet-origin BMP-2/2K are tracked armoured vehicles equipped with cannons and anti-tank missiles with capability to carry soldiers
• The Army started inducting BMP, the mainstay of Mechanised Infantry, in the late 1980s. Their role is to complement tanks and support infantry during assaults

The police block protesters in Kupwara demonstrating against the Handwara killings. Yawar Kabli

Tribune News Service

Srinagar/New Delhi, April 16

The Kashmir Valley continued to be tense today with protests against Handwara killings, during which five persons have already died, spreading to Ganderbal.  The police and the CRPF resorted to a lathi-charge and lobbed teargas shells to quell the demonstrators. Handwara and Kupwara towns, that are under restrictions, remained tense.There were stray incidents of stone-pelting in Gojwara, Soura and Narabal in Srinagar and at Barsu in Ganderbal district. At least 10 persons, including eight policemen, were injured. Any decision to remove restrictions in areas under the Rainawari, M R Gunj, Nowhatta, Khanyar, Maisuma, Kralakhud and Safakadal police stations of Srinagar would be taken tomorrow, an official said. Concerned over the loss of lives during the past four days, the Centre held a review meeting today and decided to sens an additional 3,600 paramilitary personnel in J&K. Twelve companies arrived in the troubled state today and 24 more will reach  tomorrow. The meeting also deliberated on the implementation of  the package announced by PM Narendra Modi to give a fillip to the state’s economy and to generate jobs. Meanwhile, CM Mehbooba Mufti met the bereaved families in Handwara and assuring them of justice. 

Picture for representaional purpose. Thinkstock

Washington, April 6

The US is poised to sell state-of-the-art thermal weapon sights and spares to Pakistan, in the wake of Obama Administration’s decision to provide eight F-16 fighter jets and nine AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters worth $170 million to the country.

The Pentagon yesterday awarded a $17-million contract to Raytheon for supply of state-of-the art thermal weapon sights and spares which improve targeting and surveillance capabilities by enabling soldiers to spot targets at long distances through haze, dust, fog and other obscurants.

Raytheon is known as a pioneer in thermal weapons sights.

The Pentagon yesterday said Raytheon has been awarded a $17,877,938 firm-fixed-price, foreign military sales contract (Pakistan) for thermal weapon sights and spares, training, and contract data requirements lists.

One bid was solicited with one received.

Work will be performed in McKinney, Texas; and Pakistan, with an estimated completion date of October 30, 2017.

Fiscal 2010 other procurement funds in the amount of $17,877,938 were obligated at the time of the award, the statement said. — PTI

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 4

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar will host his US counterpart Ashton Carter for three days beginning April 10. It will include a visit to Goa, the home state of Parrikar.Meanwhile, the Defence Policy Group of the two countries shall be meeting in the run-up to the talks.Carter commences his visit from Goa and a US Navy’s warship, the USS Blueridge, shall be visiting the state – an important Indian Navy base. It’s the home base of the MiG-29-K fighter jets which are docked on board the sea-borne aircraft carrier, the INS Vikramaditya.The US-India ties are to move to the next stage with both countries discussing the joint design and technology of a 65,000-tonne sea-borne aircraft carrier. US companies Boeing and Lockheed Martin have submitted proposals for ‘make in India’ fighter jets. New Delhi is looking for additional fighter jets once it signs the Rafale fighter jet deal.On March 4, Parrikar had categorically turned down a US proposal to jointly patrol the contested waters of South China Sea. “Our viewpoint will come, if at all we consider it. As of now, India has never taken part in any joint patrol, the question of joint patrol does not arise,” he had said.The US is also keen that the much-talked-about Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) can progress unhindered once India signs the ‘foundational agreements’.The logistics support agreement (LSA), to share military logistics, is in advanced stages of talks. India has some issues on this which were flagged during Parrikar’s visit to the US in December last year.India fears the LSA could turn out to be a binding commitment to support the United States in a war. It allows the two militaries to use each other’s land, air and naval bases for resupplies, repair and rest.Defence Minister to visit ChinaIndia will diplomatically balance its separate military-level ties with the US with China. Manohar Parrikar will lead a delegation to China from April 18 to 20 to hold talks with the military leadership. India and China are looking to implement on ground the consensus reached between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping on ensuring peace and tranquility along the 3,448-km Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The panel had also taken note of lower life expectancy of soldiers as compared with civilian employees.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar

In a turnaround from the stated policy of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, his ministry and the Army headquarters have issued instructions to government lawyers to once again start filing appeals in the Supreme Court, against pension granted to disabled soldiers by the armed forces tribunals and the high courts.

Red-flagging the MoD’s latest move, veterans’ organisations have cautioned that vested interests are not willing to implement the vision of the Prime Minister and Defence Minister for reducing litigation in the defence services.

In one such letter, the All India Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association, headed by Bhim Sen Sehgal, has stated that “litigation clearly seems to have become a lucrative business”. The association has further alleged that entities in the government were in favour of filing direct appeals in the SC, rather than high courts, from the AFT, since it would be difficult for the aggrieved veterans to afford the cases. Sources said the law regarding disability benefits is now well settled in favour of disabled soldiers by a series of recent HC and SC decisions but still some officers show excessive interest in appealing, causing a burden both on the exchequer as well as the litigant without allegedly informing the correct position to the Defence Minister. In fact, Parrikar has already asked the ministry to take action on an Expert Committee Report which had slammed the past practice of the ministry and the defence services in dealing with disabilities based on outdated procedures. The expert panel had directed the withdrawal of all such pending appeals in the SC against disabled soldiers and had recorded that there was inherent stress and strain in military service which aggravates disabilities and while the rules on disability pension were apt and liberal, their implementation was rigid and impractical. Deprecating the rejection of disability benefits for ‘domestic reasons’, the panel had noted that situated away from their families most part of the year, soldiers cannot efficiently fulfill all familial requirements which leads to stress. For the first time it was also noted that even non-fulfillment of sexual needs by virtue of being away from spouse contributes to stress and all such realities were being conveniently ignored and stress and strain of military life was being wrongly compared with other professions. The panel had also taken note of lower life expectancy of soldiers as compared with civilian employees.

Our Correspondent

Samba, April 2

More than 42,000 youths applied for the 16-day recruitment rally which began at the district police lines ground here today.The rally is being held for aspiring youths from 10 districts of the Jammu region, Rajouri, Poonch, Jammu, Kathua, Kishtwar, Doda, Samba, Ramban, Reasi and Udhampur.Interacting with the media at an Army recruitment rally, Brig JS Samyal, Deputy Director General (DDG), Recruiting (Punjab and J&K), said, “A total of 42,868 candidates have registered for the recruitment rally that started today.”

Srinagar, April 1

The Army’s senior most officer in Kashmir on Friday said there were around 200 militants active in Kashmir and their morale was down due to the killing of their commanders. “There are around 200 terrorists active in Kashmir,” General Officer Commanding, 15 Corps, Lt Gen Satish Dua told reporters on the sidelines of a function in north Kashmir’s Baramulla. — TNS

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Rewari, March 31

A court of civil judge has issued notices to 104 persons, including Army Chief, Haryana’s Chief Secretary, DGP, Home Secretary, all 10 MPs and 90 MLAs, while hearing a petition moved by a senior citizen regarding the problems and mental stress he faced during the Jat reservation stir last month.Satbir Singh (63) of Naya Gaon here, said in his petition that they all failed to perform their duty during the Jat stir resulting in acute inconvenience to a large number of people for several days.“I had to spend six sleepless nights due to road blockades. I could not even go to Delhi in time to get my ailing wife treated,” said Satbir.The petitioner said he had come to Rewari from Delhi on February 20 in connection with a court hearing, but could not go back due to blockades. He has also sought a compensation of Rs 1 lakh for the harassment he faced during the agitation.The court has issued notices to all the persons and fixed May 2 as the next date of hearing.

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 30

(From left) Punjab Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Maj Gen GD Bakshi (retd) and Sambit Patra attend a seminar at Law Bhawan in Sector 37, Chandigarh. Tribune Photo: Manoj Mahajan

JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar and others, who raised “anti-India” slogans recently at the JNU, were criticised by speakers present during a seminar on ‘National Security Threats in India-2020’ organised by the Bhagat Singh Kranti Sena Foundation and Citizen 4 Forces at Law Bhawan in Sector 37 today.Punjab Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa was the chief guest.The JNU issue was taken up elaborately and the speakers accused leaders of the Congress and left parties for supporting those who were raising “anti-national” slogans and observing the death anniversary of a terrorist, Afzal Guru.“Those who compare Kanhaiya with Bhagat Singh do not know what nationalism is,” BJP Spokesperson Dr Sambit Patra said.Giving solution of the problem, he said, “India is globally known for spiritualism and we have to fight with the internal security threats with spiritual powers.”Col (retd) RSN Singh, former RAW chief, said proxy war was a new challenge before the country. There is no development without peace, he added.Meanwhile, BJP leader Dinesh Kumar, Assistant Media Advisor to Punjab Government Vineet Joshi, Supreme Court lawyer Aditya Shankar and chairman of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh Bar Council Rajat Gautam also expressed their views.