Mobility update on India's soldier modernisation programme

[COLDHEARTED AVIATOR]

Mobility update on India's soldier modernisation programme




This is the thrid part of Defence IQ's report on India's Futuristic Soldier As a System (F-INSAS) programme. This article focuses on mobility.

One of the chief aims of F-INSAS is of course to lighten the load for the soldier in battle, which will subsequently enhance survival rates and operational effectiveness. Developers are working on retaining ballistic protection through a tactical vest that includes cover to the legs, groin, neck and collar, but does not chafe in hot and uncomfortable conditions nor impede the soldier's movement.

Developers have been under pressure to reconcile a lighter load with the 'soldier as a system' concept, including the need to weave cabling and battery packs into clothing. Specifically, India's intention of providing Palmtop computers, fire proof undergarments, health monitoring sensors, and integrated respirators and sensors for chemical protection will all add to the 'on board' hardware requirements.Looking at the positives, an advance in new 'micro' technology, such as smaller communication devices and tablet PCs, should counter this in the long run, provided that systems remain flexible enough to make fast upgrades after the programme is finally rolled out into the battlefield.

The Indian soldier's helmet will be made of a lighter-weight composite material so that it balances out the additions of the added, visor, camera and internal communication system, but still protects from 9mm carbine rounds and shrapnel.

It is possible that armoured clothing could include a shear-thickening capability that not only disperses the impact of a gunshot or blast, but could potentially harness and transfer that energy for its own internal energy system.

Simpler modifications are also being implemented to standard issue clothing to make the soldier more manoeuvrable, such as "modular" gloves that can be adapted for any type of weather and enable easy handling of a weapon.

Back at the Ranch

When it comes to survivability, most major militaries are anticipating a continued rise in urban and irregular warfare, which in turn is calling for a rising prioritisation for mobility over general protection.
Exo-skeletal suits, a popular concept currently being evaluated by R&D teams worldwide are not believed to be an aspect of F-INSAS. Such suits – or 'Lower Body Units' (LBUs) – are intended to enhance a soldier's strength by providing a form-fitting machinized frame that augments the muscle power of the wearer.

Integration of solar panel and nanotechnology systems to lighten the load has already been explored by British Armed Forces in tests to convert kinetic, solar and thermal energy into electricity, but admit that thermoelectric (TE) solutions could still be 5-10 years from incorporation into clothing, and longer still from seeing the battlefield. However, key to the planning phase of TE solutions is the concept of "building in redundancy" so that lightweight clothing, which is likely to tear, will simply see its electricity re-routed rather than severed.

The US Future Force Warrior programme has entertained secondary applicable shear-thickening solutions to armour in order to enhance capability without adding to the load. One product looks to provide a spray-on option that stiffens on impact with the round in enough time to disperse the force, but testing and development remains ongoing, as it does with related ceramic and ferrofluid smart materials.

IntelliBriefs: Mobility update on India's soldier modernisation programme

 

[KRAIT]

We are going to delay it and a scam may emerge......this program should be carried with same effectiveness like MMRCA trials (atleast). No more compromise on soldier's life otherwise what's the message will be passed to future generation of soldiers.

 

[Yogi]

at last something is being done for our brave soldiers who risk their lives for our safety...

 

[COLDHEARTED AVIATOR]

We are going to delay it and a scam may emerge......this program should be carried with same effectiveness like MMRCA trials (atleast). No more compromise on soldier's life otherwise what's the message will be passed to future generation of soldiers.

Moreover this project doesnt involve difficulties of the like of developing a Jet Engine so if given priority the F-INSAS system can show results quickly..the induction could take a little long for our million strong army though.

 

[KRAIT]

Moreover this project doesnt involve difficulties of the like of developing a Jet Engine so if given priority the F-INSAS system can show results quickly..the induction could take a little long for our million strong army though.

Difficulties won't be at technical level, but will be on implementation and meeting up the demand.

 

[OrionHunter]

F-INSAS (Futuristic Infantry Soldier As a System)

The intention is to equip the soldier (see picture belpw) to ensure a dramatic increase in their lethality, survivability and mobility while making the soldier "a self-contained fighting machine".

The most striking feature of this system is that the soldier will be equipped with a Palmtop GPS navigation device to be able to communicate with other soldiers and locate or generate maps to find location, and will be aware of the battlefield. The palmtop will inform soldiers where other friendlies are in relation to them. It will also enable them to transfer messages. Terrain equipment gears for various specific mission will also be carried.

Thermal imaging, sensors and night vision equipment, currently deployed in weapon systems such as artillery and main battle tanks, will be customized to make them portable for soldiers to carry in the battle ground. Defense advanced GPS receivers, infrared sensors, thermal sensors, electromagnetic sensors and radio frequency sensors would also be carried.

Now that stuff borders on science fiction, what? But will it be just that? Let's wait and see the trials to begin. In the first phase, to be completed by 2012, the infantry soldiers will be equipped with modular weapon systems that will have multi-functions.

The Indian Army intends to modernize its entire 465 infantry and paramilitary battalions by 2020 with this program.

Here's the vid.....

The cost of equipping one soldier with the F-INSAS system? A mind boggling Rs 5-7 Lakhs approx!

 

[Abingdonboy]

Hmmm, whilst I untderstan the mammoth task the IA has set itself of equipping the entire infantry with this system I also do not want these delays. And I am sure that we will not see any sort of user trail involving IA soldiers testing "modular weapon systems that will have multi-functions" in 2012 (although I would love to be proved wrong!). However what many don't know is that many other components of the F-INSAS have been tested out by the IA. Most of these are net-centric tech but even still it is a good thing that there is progress in some way, last year's large-scale Summer desert war-games by IA tested out much of the net-centric and C41 components of the IA.


What is werid, and I'm not sure how to read it, is the utter silence the IA gives wrt this project. We have never even seen an offical pic from the IA of what they intend the final system to look like nor have we had any real sense of a full timeline.

 

[Fazlu]

Implementing F-INSAS would mean massive lay-offs in IA.

 

[Sergi]

Implementing F-INSAS would mean massive lay-offs in IA.

Lay-offs ??? Didn't you heard new induction for NE ???

 

[Fazlu]

Lay-offs ??? Didn't you heard new induction for NE ???

Which makes me even more skeptical about the full deployment of F-INSAS project.

Cost of re-fitting a million strong force is no small amount.

 

[Abingdonboy]

Implementing F-INSAS would mean massive lay-offs in IA.

How so? This has never been mentioned. Are you saying this because of the cost, if so it has already been accounted for in the IA's long-term spending and the Indian defence budget is increasing year on year so will easily be able to cover it. Or are you saying this because the automation of many process will make many roles in the IA redundent ie support staff? If so this is not true, it is true the IA is in a trainsition phase and is molding in to a new more flexible force but the F-INSAS is intended to supplement existing infantry not replace anyone. Yes this will make infantry more lethal but that is the point not maintaining existing lethality levels.

 

[xataxsata]

F-Insas is soon to be a reality and with it we will take a never before technology leap and these will be no looking back after that.

 

[Sergi]

Which makes me even more skeptical about the full deployment of F-INSAS project.

Cost of re-fitting a million strong force is no small amount.

Wrong assumption. Success of F-INSAS will actually reduce the cost as we are buying most of things now. As far as I know GOI had given the green flag to modernisation budges. If this project is successful then money remains in India if not we are buying. And all of this project I am doubting the most waited F-INSAS gun. Rest of all is achievable or might have been achieved too.( I have seen one model with the all F-Insas kit just gun was different )

 

[Abingdonboy]

Which makes me even more skeptical about the full deployment of F-INSAS project.

Cost of re-fitting a million strong force is no small amount.

Like is said in post #11 costs have been calculated and accounted for. Huge projects like these are not paid for in one huge lump-sum in one-go, instead the cost is spread out over a long period of time. Now initial estimates (of course there is bound to be the mandatory cost increases) of the full cost of F-INSAS are ~$10-20 BN, spread over 10-15 years. This is, at worst, $2BN/year which can easily be covered by the IA. With the Indian defence budget, and by extension the IA's, increasing year on year the drain on IA funds is going to be less and less each year- by 2020 the Indian defence budget is likely to be in excess of $110 BN/year.

 

[COLDHEARTED AVIATOR]

RFI for FINSAS Computer and Communication System issued last year.


http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/Archive/..\..\writereaddata\RFI\215\RFI_FINSAS_080211.pdf