Howitzers, UAVs, Pinaka Rocket Systems: Army Boosting Fire Power Along China Border

India-China Border: The Army has increased its firepower along the LAC by deploying a variety of rockets and artillery weapons, and it plans to acquire a variety of additional systems.

Indian army convoy carrying reinforcements and supplies, drive towards Leh, on a highway bordering China

Source : Getty

Even though Indian and Chinese troops have disengaged in the eastern Ladakh sector following a two-year standoff, the Army has increased its fire power along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) by deploying a variety of rockets and artillery weapons, sources told ABP News. To ramp up its combat prowess, the Army also plans to procure 100 K9 Vajra howitzers and UAVs.

The Army plans to equip its artillery units along the country's frontier with China with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) with a range of up to 80 km, according to information obtained by ABP News.

"We are looking at procuring UAVs having a range of 15-20 km as well as those having capabilities to carry out surveillance at a range of up to 80 km having an endurance of four hours," PTI quoted an official as saying.

The artillery units are already equipped with K-9 Vajra Tracked Self-Propelled Howitzers, ultra-light M-777 howitzers, Pinaka rocket systems, and Dhanush gun systems. Almost all UAVs in the Army's inventory are currently operated by Army Aviation units.

New Batch Of 100 K9 Vajra Howitzers To Be Produced

The Army is planning to purchase 100 more K9 Vajras howitzers in addition to the 100 that were ordered in 2017. "The proposal to order 100 more K9 Vajras has been approved by the Defense Acquisition Council. The Request for Proposal (RFP) will be released shortly," the official said.

The K-9 is a South Korean howitzer manufactured in India by L&T Company. In 2017, India agreed to buy 100 howitzers from South Korea. Ten of these were purchased directly from Korea, while the remaining 90 were produced at L&T's Hazira plant in Gujarat. The Indian Army now possesses all 100 guns. 

At that time, the Army had procured these South Korean howitzers to be deployed in desert areas -- along the border with Pakistan. However, following the standoff in eastern Ladakh, the Army deployed a significant number of the howitzers in that high-altitude region.

"We are also procuring winterisation kits so the howitzers work in sub-zero temperature," the official told PTI.

The Army is also in the process of procuring Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System, commonly known as ATAGS, and Mounted Gun Systems (MGS), reported PTI. 

More Pinaka Weapon Systems To Be Procured

The Indian Army is preparing to procure six additional regiments of the indigenous Pinaka Multiple Rocket Launcher System, for which an agreement has been signed. These new Pinaka systems with extended range will also be deployed on the border with China. 

A regiment of the Pinaka system has already been deployed along the LAC adjoining Arunachal Pradesh. Guided rockets will be used in the new Pinaka regiment. DRDO has converted Pinaka into a missile system.

The new Pinaka regiments will be equipped with electronically and mechanically improved weapon systems capable of firing a variety of ammunition over longer ranges. The rocket will be capable of firing at longer ranges with significant accuracy, PTI reported.

Loitering Weapon System To Be Installed

The Army is also acquiring a 'Loitering Munition System,' which will improve its surveillance, target acquisition, and precision strike capability. "We are also in the process of procuring an indigenously designed and developed Loitering Weapon System with enhanced strike capability," according to the official.

ATAGS Trials In Final Stages

The indigenously developed Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) is in the final stages of testing. 

This gun system boasts numerous firsts, including a 25-litre chamber, long-range capability, and rapid and sustained rates of fire. According to sources, user trials on the gun systems have been completed satisfactorily, and a few procedural issues are being addressed.

(With inputs from PTI)