F-INSAS
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]
The F-INSAS program
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 (
Timeline
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
F-INSAS equipment
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]
Core systems
Helmet and visor
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.
Clothing
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 (
Weapons
The weapons sub-system is built around a multi-calibre individual weapon system with the fourth calibre attached to a
Accessories
The soldier will be equipped with a USB 2.0 digital data bus, Palmtop
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 (
Procurements for program
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]
Indigenisation of program
With the intent to retain its strategic autonomy, self-reliance and indigenisation of the program is being emphasised.
- Design and development of a multi-calibre individual weapon system.
- Design and development of an air bursting grenade for individual weapons.
Program split
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]
See also
Notes
- ^ a b c d "Indian Army To Invest in F-INSAS (Future Infantry Soldier as a System) Programme". India Defence. Retrieved 31 May 2008.
- ^ "Indian Army To Invest in F-INSAS (Future Infantry Soldier as a System) Programme". India Defence Review. Retrieved 31 May 2008.
- ^ "Indian Army to Break up Future Soldier Program into Two Parts". Defense World. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
- ^ a b "programmes-overview-december-2015" (PDF).
- ^ a b Brig BS Chauhan (11 November 2015). "F-Insas Programme: Future Infantry Soldier As A System – A Reality Check". India Defense Review. Retrieved 31 May 2008.
- ^ "Kalam vision: A hi-tech Indian soldier". The Times of India. 3 May 2004. Archived from the original on 17 March 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2008.
- ^ "Future Indian Army Soldier will be Tech-smart". Indiastrategic.in. October 2004. Retrieved 1 June 2008.
- ^ "Rajnath Singh hands over 'Made in India' F-INSAS with AK-203 assault rifles to Indian Army – WATCH". Firstpost. 16 August 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
- ^ "High-tech system to provide Indian soldier with overmatch facilities". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 9 May 2006. Archived from the original on 21 October 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2008.
- ^ "Picture of soldier equipped with F-INSAS". 17 February 2008. Archived from the original on 1 April 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2008.
- ^ "Future infantry: unravelling the Indian Army's F-INSAS programme". army-technology.com. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
- ^ "It's possible for us to have military history written without carrying sensitive material". 15 October 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2008.
- ^ a b Rahul Bedi (14 May 2008). "India seeks carbines to boost future soldier programme". Retrieved 31 May 2008.
- ^ "India's futuristic soldier to be ready in three years". The Times of India. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
- ^ "Ordnance Factory Rises up to meet the Demand of Indian Armed Forces". Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
- ^ "Indian Army to Break up Future Soldier Program into Two Parts". defenseworld.net. Retrieved 12 December 2016.