F-INSAS is India's programme to equip its infantry with state-of-the-art equipment, F-INSAS standing for Future Infantry Soldier As a System. [1] [2] However the Indian Army has decided to drop the F-INSAS program in favour of two separate projects. The new program will have two components: one to arm the future infantry soldier with the best available assault rifle, carbines and personal equipment, such as helmets and bulletproof vests. The second component is the Battlefield Management Systems (BMS). [3] [4]
NATO similar combat systems are made in India by MKU (company).[ citation needed ]
F-INSAS has been taken up to equip Indian infantry with advanced weaponry, communication network and instant access to information on the battlefield conceived in 1994. [5] This program is similar to the future soldier programs of other nations. F-INSAS includes a fully networked all-terrain, all-weather personal-equipment platform, enhanced firepower and mobility for the digitalised battlefield of the future. The weight carried by soldiers will need to be reduced by at least 50%. [6]
The fully integrated Infantry of tomorrow will be equipped with mission-oriented equipment integrated with his buddy soldier team, the sub-unit, as also the overall C4ISTAR represents C4 (command, control, communications, computers) and ISTAR (intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance) system. [7]
In the first phase, to be completed by 2015, [1] the infantry soldier will be equipped with a modular weapon system that will have multi-functions. [1]
The Indian Army intends to modernise its entire 465 infantry and paramilitary battalions by 2020 with this program.
On 16 August 2022 Honorable Defence Minister Rajnath Singh handed over F-INSAS to Army Chief General Manoj Pande. [8]
The intention is to equip the soldiers to ensure a dramatic increase in his lethality, survivability and mobility while making the soldier "a self-contained fighting machine". [9] [10]
The helmet is a Level-IV bullet-proof helmet and capable of stopping a 9mm round at close range, facial protection, ballistic and laser eye protection and flame-resistant eye & face protection.
The visor will contain a mounted flash light, thermal sensors, advanced night vision capability, a digital compass, shoulder video camera, a computer, nuclear, biological and chemical sensors, and an audio headset. The visor is intended to be integrated and to act as a heads-up display monitor equivalent to two 17-inch computer monitors.
The personal clothing of this soldier of the future would be lightweight with a level IV bullet-proof jacket. The jacket would be non-flammable, water-proofed yet breathable (flexible ballistic protection, hard ballistic protection, electronic jacket, load-bearing structure). The new attire will enable him to carry extra loads and resist the impact of nuclear, radiological, chemical and biological (NRCB) warfare. The uniform will also carry solar elements for charging palmtop computers and other attached electronic equipment. It will contain an external oxygen supply and respirator to provide protection against gas and smoke and will include fire-proof knee and elbow pads, hand gloves and ballistic & laser eye protection goggles. A bullet-proof, armoured waistcoat including flexible ballistic, hard ballistic, ceramic armor plates covering the front, back and groin and an armored, electronic jacket with a load-bearing system will also be included. The electronic jacket integrates the electronics (such as a computer unit, energy manager unit, peripheral equipment interfaces, user interfaces, a radio, a man-machine interface, an Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS a.k.a. NAVigation with Indian Constellation- NavIC) device, cables, connector, camouflaging system, wearable environmental control and a micro-climate heating & cooling system). A flexible water bottle, magazines, grenades and other equipment holders and pockets optimises weight distribution on the soldier. The new uniform will have vests with sensors to monitor the soldier's health parameters and provide quick medical relief. He might also wear flame-resistant, moisture-defeating undergarments; flame-resistant hand, face, and foot protection and a pair of non-skid shoes with mine & explosive detection sensors would complete the ensemble. The system also includes inbuilt water purifier system so that they have purified drinking water. [1]
The weapons sub-system is built around a multi-calibre individual weapon system with the fourth calibre attached to a grenade launcher. These include a 5.56 mm, a 7.62 mm and a new 6.8 mm under development for the first time in India. The UBGL (Under Barrel Grenade Launcher) will be capable of firing air bursting grenades. The sub-system includes a thermal weapon sight and laser range finder to provide the soldier with range and direction information. The IRNSS (similar to GPS or GLONASS) location information will allow the soldier to call for indirect fire accurately. There are two types of next generation infantry rifle under development in cooperation with Israel. In this context, news sources report that the Indian MoD has recently issued a global tender for the acquisition of a new assault rifle and a Close Quarter Battle (CQB) carbine. [11] [ unreliable source? ] In DEFXPO 2014 a prototype of the ARDE-DRDO MCIWS (Multi Caliber Individual Weapon System) was showcased. It is lighter than the existing INSAS rifles in the Indian Armed Forces, weighing only 3 kg. It features an UBGL (Under Barrel Grenade Launcher) as well as thermal sights or plain holographic sights & Red dot sights. Laser target it has multiple picatinny rails to facilitate various add-on equipments needed for various missions and thus improving versatility. And many other terrain, operation & mission based weapons as per requirement.
The soldier will be equipped with a USB 2.0 digital data bus, Palmtop IRNSS/GPS navigation device, secured advance audio communication set, advance electronic warfare data manager, secured network connection where each radio can subscribe to two networks simultaneously. This offers the squad leader some flexibility in organizing communication networks in his section. Each network has an audio conference channel, with priority given to the squad leader, an alert channel from the infantryman to his leader, and a data transmission channel. Voice and data transmissions are based on tried and tested civilian technology (domestic cordless telephone technology). Each sub-network works from a base carried by the squad leader. As RIF sets are all identical, a soldier can replace his commander if necessary by configuring his set as base. The radio is configured by the computer, thereby limiting the number of control buttons needed on the set. The soldier might be able to communicate with other soldiers and locate or generate maps to find his location, and he will be aware of the situation on the battlefield. The palmtop will inform soldiers where other friendly forces are in relation to them. It will also enable them to transfer messages. Terrain equipment for various specific missions will also be carried. [12]
Integrated Multifunction Sight Device Night Vision Equipment, Thermal Imager, a Laser Range-Finder, Colour Charge-Coupled-Device (CCD) Camera, an Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) device and a Digital Magnetic Compass, Compact Laser-Based Instruments, Integrated Electro-Optical Surveillance and Fire Control Systems, Advanced IRNSS/GPS receivers, Infrared sensors, Thermal sensors, Electro optical sensors, Spectroscopic sensors, Electromagnetic and Radio frequency sensors and many other sensors, radars and jammers would also be carried.
Procurement requests for the 'open calibre' carbine valued at around ₹44 billion (US$551.0 million) have been initiated with global manufacturers. [13] The procurement covers night-vision devices, laser designators and detachable under-barrel grenade launchers. [13]
With the intent to retain its strategic autonomy, self-reliance and indigenisation of the program is being emphasised. [5] Most of the equipment is being locally developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Ordnance Factories Board as the prime developer and the system integrator respectively. [14] [15]
In January 2015, Vice Chief of Army staff, Lt General Philip Campose reported that the Indian Army has split the F-INSAS program in favour of two separate projects. The new program will have two components: one arming the modern infantry soldier with the best available assault rifle, carbines and personal equipment such as the helmet and bulletproof vests and the second component is the Battlefield Management Systems (BMS). [4] [16]
The Merkava is a series of main battle tanks used by the Israel Defense Forces and the backbone of the IDF's armored corps. The tank began development in 1970, and its first generation, the Merkava mark I, entered official service in 1979. Four main variants have been deployed. As of 2023, the Merkava mark IV is the latest version. The Merkava was first used extensively in the 1982 Lebanon War. The name "Merkava" was derived from the IDF's initial development program name.
Land Warrior was a United States Army program, launched in 1994, cancelled in 2007 but restarted in 2008, that used a combination of commercial, off-the-shelf technology (COTS) and current-issue military gear and equipment designed to:
The Warrior tracked vehicle family is a series of British armoured vehicles, originally developed to replace FV430 series armoured vehicles. The Warrior started life as the MCV-80, "Mechanised Combat Vehicle for the 1980s". One of the requirements of the new vehicle was a top speed able to keep up with the projected new MBT, the MBT-80 – later cancelled and replaced by what became the Challenger 1 – which the FV432 armoured personnel carrier could not. The project was begun in 1972; GKN Defence won the production contract in 1984 and the Warrior was accepted for service with the British Army in November 1984. Production commenced in January 1986 at Telford, with the first vehicles completed in December that year. GKN Defence was purchased by BAE Systems, via Alvis plc.
The XM25 Counter Defilade Target Engagement (CDTE) System, also known as the Punisher and Individual Semiautomatic Air Burst System was an airburst grenade launcher with programmable ammunition derived from the XM29 OICW. It was fielded to soldiers serving in the War in Afghanistan in 2010, after which malfunctions and 2013 program budget cuts delayed official entry into service, planned for early 2017. In early 2017, the contract with Orbital ATK was cancelled, calling the future of the entire program into question. The program was officially terminated on 24 July 2018.
INSASor Indian Small Arms System is a family of infantry arms consisting of an assault rifle and a light machine gun (LMG). These weapons were developed in India by the Armament Research and Development Establishment and manufactured by the Ordnance Factories Board at its various factories. The INSAS assault rifle was the standard infantry weapon of the Indian Armed Forces for almost three decades.
Infanterist der Zukunft is the German Bundeswehr's program as part of the Future Soldier project. It is a modular, integrated fighting system designed to provide significant lethality, survivability, mobility, battle command, and training to the German infantryman. It is being developed by EADS Defence Electronics and Rheinmetall-Detec.
FÉLIN is the name for the French infantry combat system developed by Safran Electronics & Defense.
Ghatak Platoons are special operations capable reconnaissance platoons present in every infantry battalion of the Indian Army. Ghatak is a Sanskrit word meaning "killer" or "lethal". Their name was given to them by General Bipin Chandra Joshi. They act as shock troops and spearhead assaults ahead of the battalion.
In India, the Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE) is a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Located in Pune, it is the main DRDO lab involved in the development of conventional armaments.
List of abbreviations, acronyms and initials related to military subjects such as modern armour, artillery, infantry, and weapons, along with their definitions.
The ZBD-04 or Type 04 is a Chinese infantry fighting vehicle. It bears some external resemblance to the BMP-3, particularly with regards to its turret and main armament; However, the chassis and internal subsystem possesses a different layout. The earliest prototypes received the designation ZBD-97. An improved version, ZBD-04A, is the vehicle currently in service and being produced.
The PAPOP was a French project to construct a computerized infantry weapon for the FÉLIN system, capable of hitting hidden or protected targets. It would have combined a 35 mm grenade launcher with a 5.56×45mm NATO assault rifle, both in a bullpup configuration, complete with targeting aids and an unorthodox sight.
The Joint Venture Protective Carbine (JVPC), also known as Modern Sub Machine Carbine (MSMC) until 2014, is a gas-operated, magazine-fed, select fire submachine gun designed to chamber the 5.56×30mm MINSAS cartridge. It was designed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment of the Defence Research and Development Organisation, and manufactured by Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited and by Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited. It was intended as a replacement for the 9mm Sterling submachine gun in service with the Indian Armed Forces.
Program Executive Office Soldier is a US Army organization that is responsible for rapid prototyping, procurement, and fielding of equipment for its soldiers.
Ordnance Factory Tiruchirappalli (OFT), also called Ordnance Factory Trichy, is a small arms factory operated by Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited based in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, which was previously part of Ordnance Factory Board of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. The company is headed only by an IOFS officer called General Manager (ex officio Additional Secretary to Government of India) who is the Chief Executive Officer, responsible for the overall management of the company. OFT is the largest small arms manufacturing company of India and has the most varied range.
The 40 mm Under Barrel Grenade Launcher, is a single shot grenade launcher developed by ARDE and Ordnance Factory Tiruchirappalli for use with the INSAS and AK-47 rifles used by the Indian Army. Stand alone versions of the grenade launcher exist.
FLW stands for "remotely operated, light weapon station" developed by the German defence company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann brands its family of remote weapon stations.
The LG5 is a semi-automatic grenade launcher developed by Norinco and introduced in 2011. The launcher's designation "QLU" stands for "light weapon - grenade (Liúdàn) - sniper (Jūjī)" in Chinese military coding standard.