Indigenously-developed Equipment and Systems.

• The defence minister recently handed over several indigenously-developed equipment and systems to the Army which includes F-INSAS, the Nipun mines and the Landing Craft Assault (LCA).

About 

 Future Infantry Soldier as a System(F-INSAS):

• It is a programme for infantry modernisation aimed at increasing the operational capabilityof the soldier.
• As part of the project, soldiers are being equipped with modern systems that are lightweight,all-weather-all-terrain, cost-effective and low maintenance.
• The full-gear of the F-INSAS system includes an AK-203assault rifle, which is a Russian-origin gas-operated, magazine-fed, select-fire assault rifle.
• The F-INSAS also comes with hands-free, secured advanced communications set for real-time exchange of information with the command post and fellow soldiers for enhanced situational awareness. modelled on Conceived in the 2000s, F-INSAS is one among many soldiers modernisation programmes across the world. The US has Land Warrior, while the UK has FIST (Future Integrated Soldier Technology).

 Nipun mines:

• They are indigenously designed and developed anti-personnelmines, termed by the DRDO as ‘soft target blast munition’.
• These mines are meant to act as the first line of defence against infiltrators and enemy infantry.
• They have been developed with the efforts of Armament Research and Development Establishment,a Pune-based DRDO facility, and Indian industry.
• Anti-personnel mines are meant to be used against humans as against anti-tank mines that are aimed at heavy vehicles.
• They are smaller in size and can be deployed in large numbers.

Landing Craft Assault (LCA):

• It is meant to serve as a replacement for the boats with limited capabilities currently in use in the Pangong Tso lake.
• The LCA, which has been indigenously developed by Goa-based Aquarius ShipYard Limited, is said to have better launch, speed and capacity to operate across water obstacles in eastern Ladakh.