Insta
Armed Forces Modernisation: Special Forces In Army, Navy And Air Force To Get Weapons Upgrade
Swarajya Staff
Jul 19, 2018, 01:48 PM | Updated 01:48 PM IST
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Finnish Sako sniper rifles, Swedish Carl Gustaf Mark-4 light weight rocket launchers, Italian Beretta pistols with silencers among other weapons are expected to be inducted into Army's Para Special Forces (SF) battalions, Times of India has reported. Contracts for the same have been inked as per the TOI sources.
The army currently has nine battalions of para special forces and five air borne battalions, each having a strength of 620 soldiers. Another battalion is expected to be raised in near future.
Special forces of the Navy known as marine commandos (Marcos) are slated to get a two "midget submarines" or "chariots" under a Rs 2017 crore project. Suppressed sniper rifles, air-droppable rubberised inflated boats, hands free power ascenders and remotely operated underwater boats are other advanced equipment expected to be inducted into the navy special forces.
The Indian Air Force's (IAF) Garud commandos are expected to induct new sniper rifles, thermal sights, breaching ammunition and other equipment. Currently, the IAF has 15 Garud flights, and has a plan to induct 12 more flights. A flight is roughly an equivalent of a company in an infantry battalion. In addition to this, the IAF has already inducted 65 micro Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) as per the report.
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Introducing ElectionsHQ + 50 Ground Reports Project
The 2024 elections might seem easy to guess, but there are some important questions that shouldn't be missed.
Do freebies still sway voters? Do people prioritise infrastructure when voting? How will Punjab vote?
The answers to these questions provide great insights into where we, as a country, are headed in the years to come.
Swarajya is starting a project with an aim to do 50 solid ground stories and a smart commentary service on WhatsApp, a one-of-a-kind. We'd love your support during this election season.
Click below to contribute.