New Defence Systems Handed over to Army

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

A day after a made-in-India howitzer gun, the ATAGS,  Defence Minister handed over several new defence systems, including the F-INSAS, the Nipun mines, the Landing Craft Assault (LCA), to the Army.

What is the F-INSAS System?

• F-INSAS stands for Future Infantry Soldier As A System, a programme for infantry modernisation aimed at increasing the operational capability of 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-203 assault rifle. It has a range of 300 metre, and is being made at Korwa near Amethi in a Russia-India joint venture.
• The F-INSAS includes a multi-mode hand grenade, which can be used in defensive and offensive modes.
• In defensive mode, the grenades are to be hurled when the thrower is in a shelter or has a cover, while the target is in the open and can be harmed by fragmentation. 
• In the offensive mode, the grenades do not fragment and the adversary is harmed by the blast or is stunned. The weapon kit also has a multi-purpose knife for close quarters combat.
• Apart from this, the F-INSAS provides soldiers with ballistic helmets and ballistic goggles for protection against small projectiles and fragments, along with a bullet-proof vest. 
• The helmet and the bullet-proof jacket are capable of protecting the soldier against 9 mm bullets and ammunition fired from AK-47 rifles.
• 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.

What is the F-INSAS modelled on?

• Conceived in the 2000s, F-INSAS is one among many soldier modernisation programmes across the world. 
• The US has Land Warrior, while the UK has FIST (Future Integrated Soldier Technology). 
• According to estimates, over 20 armies around the world are following such programmes. 
• The DRDO had conceptualised the F-INSAS (not to be confused with INSAS or Indian Small Arms System) in line with the targets of the Army’s Infantry Soldier Modernisation Programme with an aim to optimise the soldier’s performance across the full spectrum and duration of a military operation.

What are Nipun mines?

• Nipun mines are indigenously designed and developed anti-personnel mines, 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. 

What is the Landing Craft Assault?

• The Landing Craft Assault (LCA) 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. 
• Similar vessels are already in operation in the Indian Navy.

Some other Defence Systems

• Other than these systems and equipment, the Defence Minister also formally handed over to the Army a thermal imaging sight for T-90 tanks; hand held thermal imager; and frequency-hopping radio relay for tactical communication across much longer ranges.
• Further, Downlink Equipment with Recording Facility to help helicopters in surveillance missions was also handed over. 
• Using this system, reconnaissance data is recorded and can be accessed only when the helicopter returns to the base.
• Some other defence systems included, Infantry Protected Mobility Vehicles; Quick Reaction Fighting Vehicles and Mini Remotely Piloted Aerial System surveillance, detection and reconnaissance at the infantry battalion and mechanised units level.