The Jewish nation of Israel which had revolutionised modern warfare with the development of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) more commonly known as drones have now developed a revolutionary anti-drone system. This state of the art system designed by Israeli company ‘Skylock’ has the unique capability to take over the enemy’s drone system, giving the user the ability to counter-drone strikes and even gather intelligence from the adversaries system.
Skylock’s revolutionary anti-drone system on display
“The system we developed can detect hostile drones at a range of up to 3.5 kilometers and take control of about 200 drones simultaneously,” says Asaf Lebovitz, product manager at Skylock
The Israeli company had first demonstrated the new technology two months ago. Explaining the functioning of the drone Lebovitz says,
Predator Drone firing a hellfire missile
“We set a certain location where we want to gain control of the drone,We have the ability to disrupt the connection between the drone and the operator, and then gain remote control of it and land it, to check what it is carrying and whom it belongs to.”
Other Israeli firms are now following suit, working to develop more advanced variants of Skylock’s anti-drone system. The Jewish nation has always been a pioneer in military technology, the creation of this program is likely to change the trajectory of drone warfare.
Passing Out Parade on the occasion of the commissioning of 153 Gentleman and 30 Lady Cadets was held at the Officers Training Academy, Chennai today, along with 21 foreign cadets. It was reviewed by Lt Gen Satinder Kumar Saini, AVSM, YSM, VSM, GOC in C, Southern Command.
3 reason why the apache attack helicopter is a nightmare for the enemy
The Apache attack helicopter is widely regarded as the world most elite attack chopper and has been used extensively by the United States and Israel in their military campaigns. These famed attack uber elite attack helicopters serve as the primary attack chopper for the worlds most powerful military’s. With eight out of twenty Apaches being inducted into the services, it is essential to analyse the combat edge these renowned death machines will add to the countries warfighting capabilities.
Digital artwork of an Apache Attack helicopter
The Apaches Will Revolutionise Indian Tank Warfare
Apaches will escort armoured columns
The Apaches are an apex anti-tank weapon, this uber-sophisticated chopper was designed to prevent a likely Soviet Tank attack in Germany during the Cold war. “The damage that this helicopter can cause to an enemy tank is greater than what can be caused in the tank to tank battles,” explained an expert on the subject. The Apaches other than being deployed to escort friendly mechanised columns will also ensure their deep penetration into enemy territory. These attack choppers will serve as a crucial component in India’s anti-tank warfare strategy against Pakistan, along the country’s western front.
The ability of the Apache attack choppers, to easily slip around mountains for cover, maybe strategically leveraged in a hypothetical two-front war situation with both China and Pakistan. Keeping the utilities as mentioned above in mind, it can be ascertained that the Apache Guardian helicopter will be instrumental in tipping the balance of power, thereby enhancing India’s likelihood of victory in battle with quick, stealthy and destructive air assaults.
Ability To Conduct Bunker Busting Operations In Mountain Warfare
The Apaches have the potential to be utilised as high altitude bunker busters in which could be a decisive factor in mountain warfare. While the primary deployment of the choppers to be along the country’s western front, they might even be deployed in Ladakh and Sikkim for bunker-busting operations. It is important to note that high altitudes diminish the choppers overall ability.
Direct Massive Amounts Of Firepower To Aid Ground Troops
The Apaches will serve as guardian angels to the troops in the field (Pic credits Arun Menon)
The Apache attack helicopter comes armed with a 30 mm automatic cannon, general-purpose hydra rockets and Hellfire missiles, in short, this piece of military hardware comes out of the factory packing some serious firepower! This assortment of an impressive range of munitions will allow a field commander to direct decisive firepower at critical moments anywhere in a theatre of battle, giving the initiative to the boots on the ground.
With exactly a month having passed since the repeal of article 370 in a landmark political move, aggravating tensions between India and Pakistan. The Pakistan army in an unprecedented manoeuver has deployed a brigade-sized force 30 kilometres toward the volatile Line of Control (LoC). These 2,000 troops were previously stationed at peace areas before receiving orders to move toward the LoC. According to sources in the Indian Army these soldiers have not yet been positioned in any offensive capacity.
Soldiers from the Gorkha Rifles training for war
“At present, they have not been deployed in any offensive posture; The Indian Army is closely monitoring their movements.”
Indian Infantrymen in action (Picture credit Arun Menon)
The movement of the Pakistani regulars according to sources, is taking place at a time when Islamabad has activated its Jihadi infrastructure in the Kashmir valley. Such a move will likely lead to further escalations in tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations.
India shares 15,106.7 kilometres of Internationally recognised land borders with its immediate neighbours, Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan. These physical boundaries are located in a myriad of different terrains and altitudes, owing to India’s unique geographical conditions. The borders India shares with its neighbours, are largely porous and are a subject to routine infiltration and smuggling attempts requiring round the clock physical patrolling and vigilance.
India’s neighbours
The army does not man the borders
Indian army personnel training for war
Contrary to public perception, it is not the Indian Army which physically patrols the borders, but rather it is the unsung and often unheard of, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF’s). The CAPF’s are a uniform nomenclature of 5 border guarding forces which has been written about in detail in a previous article. These frontier guarding forces are assigned designated borders to carry out border policing functions in peacetime. Having a dedicated border force in play does not mean that the Indian Army is entirely ruled out. The Army too maintains a presence in border areas and even conduct physical patrolling with CAPF’s like the Border Security Force (BSF) in certain borders.
The Indian Army takes over during external aggression
Army soldiers posted in remote outposts near the border areas
The military maintains a footprint over the border areas, deployed near the International boundaries. However, the army’s role is primarily a wartime one, with its mandate to take over CAPF positions in times of war or large-scale conflict. In times of relative peace, the Indian Army either prepares for its primary war fighting functions or is deployed in counter-insurgency operations (COIN-OPS) in the valley and in the northeast. Maintaining only a supervisory role at the borders in peacetime.
With rampant boredom and disease, it’s easy to slack
Lone border man standing guard at night
The border guardsmen deployed here to provide physical security of these land boundaries in peace, do so in some of the most arduous of terrains and climatic conditions. Life is unbearably lonely at these remote outposts, with personnel maintaining constant vigil despite seeing no activity for days and sometimes even months. Boredom, depression and insect born diseases are the primary challenges. Despite the relative inactivity for prolonged periods, slacking, however, is not a choice for these border men, as a moment caught off guard is all it takes for catastrophe to strike.
ITBP Troopers patrolling the Himalayan ranges
A quick glance at India’s land boundaries
Indo-Pak Border: (3,323 km)
Sino-Indo Border: (3,488 km)
Indo-Bangladesh Border: (4,096.7 km)
Indo-Nepal Border: (1,751 km)
Indo-Bhutan Border: (699 km)
Indo-Myanmar Border: (1,643 km)
Indo-Pak Border
Wagah Border Retreat ceremony
The Indo-Pak Border is a 3,323 km long internationally recognised boundary between India and Pakistan. The border is also known as the International Border (IB). The boundary drawn during the Partition of 1947, has since become one of the worlds most militarised and volatile borders. The fence between India and Pakistan has been the battleground of three wars and the final resting place of 115,000 soldiers from both sides of the barbed wire. The Indo-Pak border has also been the setting for a nuclear arms race between the two warring nations, with both sides stockpiling on Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD).
BSF jawan’s patrolling the Indo-Pak border
Who guards this volatile border?
BSF Commandos standing guard during border retreat ceremony
The Border Security Force (BSF) is the premier border gaurding agency which has been entrusted the duty of gauding this massive land boundary with India’s neighbours to the West. The organisation was formed to bridge the gap between the police and Indian army both of which were not suited for border policing roles. The BSF prides itself as being the worlds largest border police organisation and its personnel tasked with a variety of border duties. The border guards monitor everything from trans-border crimes such as smuggling of drugs, arms, gold, vehicles and Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN), counter-infiltration attempts, and ensure the safety of citizens living in border areas.
Indo-Bangladesh Border
Bangladesh border signboard
India’s border with Bangladesh is the fifth-longest land border in the world, demarcating six divisions of the country. The geographically porous and politically charged border runs, 262 Km through Assam, 856 km through Tripura, 180 km through Mizoram, 443 km through Meghalaya and 2,217 km through West Bengal. The border is notorious for smuggling and illegal immigration. The lack of discernible features and porosity of the area make it virtually impossible to patrol physically effectively Like the Pakistan border; this border has also earned the dubious distinction of being one of the Worlds most dangerous borders. It has earned another distinction of being one of the most infiltrated borders with over 10-20 million illegal immigrants have crossed and now residing in West Bengal and the northeastern states leading to ethnic disputes. Over 10,000 Bangladeshi infiltrators have been killed in counter-infiltration operations by the border forces in the past ten years, a body count which added to the complications.
Indian border man with Bangladeshi counterpart manning a vaguely demarcated border
Who guards this border?
Malaria is one of the leading causes of death in the jungles of Tripura
The BSF along with the Indo-Pak border has also been mandated to secure the Bangladesh border. Personnel from the force routinely foil infiltration attempts, make arrest despite having to patrol in some extremely humid and marshy terrain, their service conditions are punishing. BSF men see frequent engagement with cattle smugglers who take advantage of the near-transparent border route to smuggle cattle for higher prices. According to several BSF personnel, the greatest threat to the lives of the BSF men deployed here (especially Tripura) are not enemy gunfire but rather more basic elements, skin infections, mosquito-borne diseases are some of the leading causes of death here, though not officially acknowledged by the frontier force.
BSF jawan’s patrolling a bridge along the Bangladesh border
Sino-Indo Border
Indian border policeman next to Chinese counterpart
The Sovereignty over the barren ‘Akshai Chin’ and Arunachal are the two significant points of contention between India and China’s 3,488 km long mountainous border. The disputed regions have prompted a series of claims and counterclaims amongst the two superpowers, with frequent Chinese incursions into Indian claimed territory as a signal of dominance. According to India’s version, the westernmost part of India- China Border, the ‘Aksai Chin’ belongs to the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. While the Chinese maintain that the ‘uninhabited barren wasteland’ should remain under Chinese administration under the jurisdiction of the Chinese Autonomous Region of Xingjiang
The scenic Arunachal Pradesh is a subject to frequent Chinese adventurism
Who guards India’s border with China?
Himalayan veers patrolling India’s mountainous borders with China
The Indo Tibetian Border Police (ITBP) personnel are deployed to ensure the security of over 3,488 km of the Indo-China border, performing guard duties, all the way from the Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Jachip Le in Arunachal Pradesh, serving in temperatures ranging from 9,000′ to 18,700′. The HimVeers as they are called, are professionally trained mountaineers who other than high altitude border gaurding functions, serve as the first responders, tending to any natural disaster in their area of responsibility (AOR). ITBP troopers routinely conduct Search and Rescue (SAR) operations in the region and have provided medical assistance to several mountaineers in times of emergency.
Joint training between the ITBP and the Indian Army
Indo-Nepal Border
Border outpost near the India-Nepal border
India shares a 1,751 km long border with Nepal, with both countries generally sharing excellent bilateral relations and enhanced security cooperation. This land boundary however is even more translucent than India’s border with Bangladesh. Narco Trafficking, pushing in insurgents into the country, and a range of other illicit activities.
Border men deployed along the Nepal border arrest left wing extremist
Who patrols this border?
New SSB recruits
The Shasastra Seema Bal (SSB) is the premier border gaurding and intelligence agency in charge of securing this transparent border, while a sizable strength of the ITBP is also deployed at times. As aforementioned, the challenges of manning the open border are more daunting than securing a closed border. The open border provides alluring encouragement to traffickers and smugglers and even offers huge opportunities for state-sponsored terrorists to infiltrate and pose a serious threat to national security. In short, It is the border of choice for infiltrators and smugglers.
Several SSB personnel have lost their lives in the line of duty
Indo-Bhutan Border
India’s border with Bhutan is one of the most peaceful borders
This largely peaceful border serves as the international boundary between the Kingdom of Bhutan and the Republic of India. The border is 699 km long, adjoining the Indian states of Assam (267 km), Arunachal Pradesh (217 km), West Bengal (183 km), and Sikkim (32 km). The Treaty of Peace between Britain and Bhutan demarcated the border in 1865, following the Bhutan War. The boundary was further detailed and refined in the 1973-1984 period through talks between Bhutan and India. Remaining disputes have been minor and concern part of the border with Arunachal Pradesh, and the region between Sarbhang and Geylegphug.
Who guards this border?
SSB Officers planning operations
Like India’s border with Nepal, the Indo-Bhutan border is under the purview of the SSB, with companies of the ITBP deployed here from time to time. While the border is porous deployments here are generally considered to be peaceful and compared to India’s other borders.
Indo-Myanmar Border
India’s 1,643 km long border with Myanmar is a complex affair, with several dynamics involved. According to the Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA) sources, anywhere around 2,000 cadres of insurgent groups are active in the Seven sister states, i.e. the Northeast. Notorious extremist groups such as the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), National Social Council of Nagaland (NSCN), its splinter factions, National Democratic Front Of Bodoland (NDFB) etc. are known to seek refuge in the neighbouring country of Myanmar, when pursued by security forces.
Militancy is a business in India’s Northeast
These groups have been known to conduct hit and run tactics on Indian security forces, ambushing Indian soldiers then retreating across the border to regroup, recuperate, train, plan and execute future offensives. The fraternal ties of the Myanmar government with these insurgents are said to be a contributing factor in these groups receiving shelter. Insurgency is not the only challenge; rampant gunrunning and narco-trafficking are other dynamics to this challenging border. Myanmar is part of the golden triangle, meaning the country is a hub of narcotics trafficking in entire south-east Asia. With a complex nexus between the organised crime syndicates and insurgent outfits.
Drug bust near Myanmar border
Furthermore, the governments of both countries have a unique arrangement in motion, called the Free Movement Regime (FMR). This treaty permits the tribes residing along the border to travel 16-km across the boundary without visa restrictions. Though the arrangement has helped the tribals maintain cultural ties, it has, on the other hand, created a security nightmare. The provisions of the movement treaty are heavily exploited by the Indian insurgents to seek shelter in Myanmar. A contentious provision in the FMR, allows tribal people to carry headload has also been misused to smuggle in drugs, weapons and other contraband.
Gunrunning racket busted
Who maintains vigil across the Myanmar border?
Assam Rifles soldiers patrolling
The Assam rifles are in charge of security along the Myanmar border. the Assam Rifles popularly known as the Sentinels of the Northeast is the countries oldest paramilitary force. The BSF too maintained a presence here before there were talks to replace them with the ITBP. The Assam Rifles is led almost exclusively by commissioned officers of the Indian Army, however, the organisation does not come under the administration of the Defence ministry instead it is under the administrative control of the ministry of home affairs. The officers are on deputation with Assam Rifles during the duration of their tenure with Assam Rifles. These soldiers have to perform their duty in pathetic terrain comprising of high mountains, deep river channels together with dense forests with limited visibility.
Assam Rifles bust an arms smuggling racket
Adding to the difficulties is the lack of connected roads and scarce communication lines. There is also a lack of adequate deployment of the force with only 15 battalions out of 46 battalions of the Assam Rifles available for border guarding purposes while the rest of force are bogged down with counter-insurgency operations. These 15 battalions are also not uniformly deployed at the border or spread out sporadically in company-operated bases (COBs) stationed deep inside, thereby preventing the force from dominating the border domination and restricting their ability to prevent illegal cross-border movements. Efforts to build a 10 km fence to prevent cross-border movement of insurgents have also been stalled because of agitations by the tribals.
Assam Rifles Regimental Khukri
Understaffed and overworked, whats the way forward?
Manning India’s vast frontiers are a daunting task, with border men often overworked, understaffed and lack the adequate equipment to carry out these crucial functions. Despite the handicaps and complex landmasses, the country has some of the most efficient border management skills in the world, this is largely credited to the resolve of the men in uniform, Technological advancements and border infrastructure are the need of the hour, lack thereof will only increase the body count of those deployed to safeguard the nations land boundaries.
In a significant boost to the Indian Air Forces offensive capabilities, Eight Boeing Aerospace designed Apache AH-64 Guardian Attack helicopters have been inducted into the IAF. The elite attack choppers were inducted into the service by the current Air Force Chief, BS Dhanoa. Following a formal ceremony held at the Pathankot Air Force Station.
Apache helicopters flying in formation
Eight helicopters as part of the first batch out of 22 have entered into the IAF’s upgraded arsenal, with the remaining 14 to be inducted in a phased manner by the year 2020. The procurement of the uber-sophisticated attack choppers is a result of a procurement contract between the IAF, Boeing Aerospace and the United States government.
IAF Chief BS Dhanoa and other IAF officers inaugurating the newly inducted chopper
The Apaches will enhance joint operations with the ability to conduct precision airstrikes and support boots on the ground. The procurement of the lethal weapon system will pack a punch to the IAF’s ageing arsenal.
Lieutenant General Manoj Mukund Naravane has been appointed as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS) on 1 Sep 2019. The general rank officer has succeeded Lt Gen Devraj Anbu. Prior to his appointment as VCOAS Lt Gen. Narvane was serving as the General Officer Commanding In charge (GOC in C) Eastern Command of the Indian Army. With the highly decorated officer in charge of the army’s second highest position, here are a few things you should know about the new Vice Che if of Army Staff (VCOAS)
Newly appointed VOAS Lt Gen. Narvane
Alumnus of the countries premier military academies
The National Defence Academy’s Sudan Block
Lt Gen. Naravane is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla, Pune and the Indian Military Academy (IMA) Derhadun.
The Sikh regiment has given the army some of its fiercest warriors
Lt Gen. Narvane, was commissioned into the 7th battalion of the iconic Sikh Light Infantry Regiment in June of 1980.
A Sikh regiment solider aiming through his pistol sights
Served in uniform for over three decades
Lieutenant General Naravane has served in the Indian Army for 37 years, and in his nearly four decades spent in uniform, he has held several crucial appointments in all operational areas be it peace areas field postings and Counter-Insurgency operations (COIN OPS) in the valley and the North East.
Headed some of the army’s finest fighting units
Rashtriya Rifles soldier in an exchange with militants in the valley
Lt Gen. Narvane commanded a Rashtriya Rifles (RR) battalion, which is the Army’s premier counter-insurgency force. The Flag officer was also in command of an Infantry brigade deployed on the country’s eastern front.
Operation Pawan was launched to help Sri Lanka eliminate LTTE leader Prabhakaran
Lt. General Naravane served as part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka during Operation Pawan.
LTTE Militants AKA Tamil Tigers
Served as a Defence Attache in the Indian Embassy
Indian Embassy in Myanmar
The general rank officer served as India’s Defence attache at the Indian Embassy in Myanmar for three years.
Indian Soldiers deployed along the Myanmar border
A highly decorated General
VCOAS Narvane interacting with his troops in Arunachal Pradesh
Lt Gen. Narvane, is a decorated officer who has been awarded the ‘Sena Medal’ (SM Distinguished) for effectively commanding his battalion in Jammu and Kashmir. The Flag officer is also a recipient of the ‘Vishisht Seva Medal’ (VSM) which he was awarded, for his services as the Inspector General Assam Rifles (North) in Nagaland, he has received the ‘Ati Vishisht Seva Medal’ (AVSM) for commanding of a prestigious strike corps. The general has also conferred the ‘Param Vishisht Seva Medal’ (PVSM) for his distinguished services as the GOC-in-C of the Army Training Command.
100 Women To Undergo Training in the Corps of Military Police
A 100 female military personnel are scheduled to undergo training from December this year, for their induction into the Corps Military Police. The Indian army is in the works to train a 100 female military policemen every year until it reaches their sanctioned strength of 1,700 personnel. There will be no distinction made concerning the training of the female personnel as compared to their male counterparts., with recruits from both the genders training rigorously for 61 weeks.
Recruits from the Corps of Military Police
Lieutenant Colonel Nandani has been appointed as the chief instructor for the army’s pilot program. The lady officer was handpicked by Lt. General Ashwani, the Colonel Commandant of the Corps of Military Police.
Lt Col Nandani, Corps Of Military Police, interviewed by Adjutant General and Colonel Commandant Corps of Military Police, Gen Ashwani Kumar. Col Nandani, likely to be first of the Instructors to train women PBORs for Corps of Military Police
Major Julie, another distinguished lady officer, has also been appointed. Maj. Julie has served as the instructor for the first batch of women constables in the paramilitary force, the Assam Rifles.
Women to undertake a criminal investigation roles
An extremely stringent process has gone into the selection of the training team of this new occupational speciality. “The first batch is the most important to us as it will lay down the foundation for generations to come!” The decision to induct women into the military police was made earlier this year. In January, when the erstwhile defence minister announced, that the government has taken a “historic” decision, to enhance female representation in the services. Women will be inducted in a phased manner, with the intent of comprising around 20% of the entire corps.
20% of the Corps of Military Police will comprise of women
The role of military policewomen would be criminal investigations of military crimes and aiding soldiers in the field. Until this recent induction woman were only allowed in specific military occupations such as medical, legal, education, signals and engineering roles.
Indian army has published the merit list of NCC 46 for men and women. NCC 46 Special Entry course is going to commence in Oct 2019 at OTA Chennai. Candidates who have cleared the NCC 46 SSB interview can check the merit list for men and women. Candidates will get the joining instructions as per the order in the merit list.
IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa flew a sortie with Wg Cdr Abhinandan Varthaman at Air Force Station Pathankot today in a MiG-21 trainer. It’s the last sortie flown by IAF Chief in a fighter aircraft before retirement. They took off around 1130 hrs for a 30 min sortie. Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa and Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman flew in the trainer version of the MiG-21 Type 69 fighter Aircraft, earlier today. This was also the last sortie of the IAF Chief in a combat aircraft. Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa and Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman on Monday flew a sortie in a MiG-21 fighter aircraft from the Pathankot Airbase.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B15tGWNgn7n/
Vir Chakra awardee Varthaman who shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet post-Balakot operations had resumed flying operations on August 23. The officer has started flying after medical clearance.
During Pakistani counter-attack on India on February 27 in response to Balakot airstrikes, Abhinandan had flown a MiG 21 Bison fighter into Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). Abhinandan had been grounded due to ejection from his MiG-21 which had been shot down in aerial conflict with Pakistan Air Force F-16s. Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief, Dhanoa is also a MiG-21 pilot and had flown the planes during the 1999 Kargil war while commanding the 17 Squadron, during the war.
