'Night blindness' worries Indian Army

[Choppers]

New Delhi, Jan 14 (IANS): As the Indian Army geared up for the 62nd Army Day Friday, its chief General Deepak Kapoor expressed concern about the force's 'night blindness' in the area of armoured corps and mechanised infantry.

'My major concern is that night blindness of the army is removed so we are able to fight in the night as in the day,' Kapoor said.

Earlier when his attention was brought to the fact that the Indian Army's tanks have a night vision capability of 20 percent, Pakistan's have 80 percent while China has 100 percent, Kapoor only replied: 'You are right.'

'Projects are already in the pipeline to ensure that we have the night vision capability that our adversaries have. It may take three-four years,' Kapoor added.

The lack of night vision capability of the Indian Army has affected its fighting capability during the night. The deficiency has been persistent since the Kargil conflict.

On a query about the obsolete artillery of the Indian Army, the army chief said that successive bans have delayed acquisition of new guns for long.

'Artillery is a cause for concern. We need to have better guns. Trials for towed guns are underway. Because of bans the process got delayed. We are now acquiring (ultra light) guns through FMS (Foreign Military Sales) route (from the US),' Kapoor added.

The artillery modernisation plan of the Indian Army, which has not bought a single gun for the last 23 years, was derailed when the defence ministry banned seven armament firms including a Singapore artillery major on corruption charges.

While the government gave a go ahead to the trials of towed artillery guns, it has opted for a direct sales route in case of ultra light howitzers, in which the Singapore Kinetics was the single vendor. Ultra light guns are required by the Indian Army to position in the mountainous terrain bordering China.

'I would be happy to get the guns whichever way I can. I do not mind if it comes through Foreign Military Sales. The Defence Acquisition Committee cleared it and we are ready to go for it,' he added.

Indo Asian News Service

 

[deckingraj]

Indian Army's tanks have a night vision capability of 20 percent, Pakistan's have 80 percent while China has 100 percent, Kapoor only replied: 'You are right.'

This is crazy...what the heck our policy makers were thinking that they allowed such a disparity??? Were they thinking that Pakistan or China will say lets fight only in broad day light since poor Indian tanks go blind in night??? can anyone suggest what went wrong because as far as i know Tank battles are very much a reality in South Asia unlike west where AF and Navy perform major roles....

 

[Iggy]

This is crazy...what the heck our policy makers were thinking that they allowed such a disparity??? Were they thinking that Pakistan or China will say lets fight only in broad day light since poor Indian tanks go blind in night??? can anyone suggest what went wrong because as far as i know Tank battles are very much a reality in South Asia unlike west where AF and Navy perform major roles....

I read in some article that they are waiting of Bharat Electricals to manufacture Night Vision goggles..i am not sure its true..

 

[Choppers]

This is crazy...what the heck our policy makers were thinking that they allowed such a disparity??? Were they thinking that Pakistan or China will say lets fight only in broad day light since poor Indian tanks go blind in night??? can anyone suggest what went wrong because as far as i know Tank battles are very much a reality in South Asia unlike west where AF and Navy perform major roles....

I guess he is exagerrating the facts to release more funds for the army.

 

[deckingraj]

I guess he is exagerrating the facts to release more funds for the army.

I doubt that....He did not bring in the topic ...He was merely asked a question which he responded by agreeing to it.... If what he agreed to is true then some one should be shown the boot....

 

[gogbot]

Dude Indian Army continues to be a Let down.

Any hope of them keeping pace with the other branches rests solely with the F-INSAS program.

Honestly the IA has this decade to get its gear in order. while IA is struggling for night vision goggles. IAF and IN are establishing themselves on the world stage. with 5th gen fighters, Aircraft carriers and Nuclear subs.

IA has yet to even implement a new camo

 

[pagans]

What is F-INSAS ?

 

[deckingraj]

Dude Indian Army continues to be a Let down.

Any hope of them keeping pace with the other branches rests solely with the F-INSAS program.

Honestly the IA has this decade to get its gear in order. while IA is struggling for night vision goggles. IAF and IN are establishing themselves on the world stage. with 5th gen fighters, Aircraft carriers and Nuclear subs.

IA has yet to even implement a new camo

Well that is really frustrating... This F-INSAS will complete in 2020 though initial phase will roll out by 2012(if i am not wrong)... I am wondering what the indian planners are thinking...Are they preparing for a war overseas??? We have two immediate neighbours as our adversaries...Are they going to win the war(God Forbids it ever happen) by IAF and IN alone???

This is BULL ****

 

[baker]

What is F-INSAS ?

u must be kidding right.......

see this link
F-INSAS - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Hulk]

We are behind everywhere and some people complain we are overspending.

 

[deckingraj]

We are behind everywhere and some people complain we are overspending.

Let people say whatever they want to say....Truth won't change...However what is outrageous is why the heck we let our Army modernization halted for so long that we don't even have night fighting ability match to that of Pakistan???

And then we talk about being able to defend the country even if a two front war is thrusted on us

 

[graphican]

More trash, expect Indian Army to spend more on militry purchases. These are excuses that Militry Generals are putting forth at the time when they have to spend. India admitted its nuclear as fissile the moment it was thinking to conduct more nuclear tests as they will not be possible ever after that under US agreements. Pakistan would have 100s of such problems, why dont our militry spur them out and there is one simple reason, we are not ready to spend as much India can, this we are silent and not exposing our weaknesses although they are there and probebly as much as Indian militry has. Learn people, you have wasted half of your life worrying and laughing at each other's weaknesses. Truth is not dug under 100 layers and you are not dumb not to identify that. Learn the game and its rules. You will burn less of your blood when you would know how world works.

 

[DesiGuy]

Every, week, we ******* hear these stupid news from Indian officials.

than we talk about India buying aircraft, ships, tanks, from world develop countries.


i wonder, will they know, how to turn on all that stuff, when it comes to war with china or Pakistan?


sometimes, stupid statement from Indian army chief, and sometimes from other government official, stupid statement without any logic in it.

these are stupid and careless people in the Indian government, army, and within people.

Pakistan which is 5-6 times smaller than India, always keep India out. because India knows well, Pakistan is NOT a weak country, even thought they are in today situation.

i know i was being little more harsh, but with due respect, everything i sad is true.