Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
New Mech unit likely,makeshift airstrip in place
Coming from confirmed sources, the induction of one more mechanised unit in the Karu-based 3rd Division, the news was kept tight lipped by the Army here. The battalion comprising the indigenously made BMP-2 infantry combat vehicles (ICV), named 'Sarath', will be the mainstay of this unit which would be raised anytime in the next five years, said a source.
Increasing activities of China, at the border, has forced New Delhi to sit up and take notice and come up with measures.
Chumur, near Thankung post, where the airspace violation took place on June 21 this year, is 60-70 kilometers from the Line of Actual Control (LAC), near Pangong-tso, the world's most beautiful lake. The lake spreading 135 kilometers in length and about five kilometers in breadth and 210 meters in depth in right at the border and has 90 kilometers of its length under China occupation and the remaining 45 kilometers in India. Located at a height of 14,500 feet, the lake is exactly at the border of the two Asian giants, and a planned patrolling is carried out by the Garrison battlion of the Indian Army posted there.
Local villagers told People's Post that the airstrip which is a makeshift one made out of a special powder, meant for straightening the ground without heavy earth movers, was constructed after the Chinese airforce helicopter violated Indian air space, to which an army officer added that its a common phenomenon in that area, and it often happens.
Boats, worth 3.5 crore, go out on patrols five times a month, while patrols on foot are undertaken twice a week, in the 45 kilometer area which seperates the two countries.
The lone mechanised infantry battalion, presently 1 Guards, posted in Karu has 52 ICVs , which can be air lifted in IL-76 aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) as well as can be moved on land at the height of 11,800 feet, have been deployed for defensive purposes and mainly safeguarding the region. Said an officer that it was still not clear about when the second mechanised unit would come up in the area, but it was in the pipeline and would be most propably deployed in the same region as it was to counter China, adding that the huge Northern Command required another mechanised unit. For the first time the vehicles went ahead of Zoji-La in Jammu and Kashmir in 1948 and are quite capable of operating in mountaineous regions.
The Northern Command, which is the largest Command of the Indian Army, has just one such mechanised battalion, which is moved throughout the Command and since there are two Divisions dedicated to Pakistan and China, coming under 3rd Division, the lone mechanised unit finds it difficult to counter both countries in the entire Command.
The mechanised battalion, which came up in the mountaineous region for the first time in 1986, uses surface-to-surface missiles and guns which can hit a flying chopper too. The battalion carries out annual exercises using the BMPs in Wari-La region in Pangong, which is situated at an altitude of 16,600 feet, the highest point at which the ICVs can go upto.
An senior officer told People's Post, "These violations, airspace as well as sometimes on land, take place at the LAC, as it is not recognised by the Chinese. They refuse to take any recognition of the maps offered by India in the late 90s and mid-2000s. Whenever a map was offered by the Indian side it was rejected by Beijing, and LAC is still disputed, which is why it is always violated."
Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor, who took over as Chairman Chiefs of Staff on August 31, 2009, has said that there have been several violations by the Chinese in the recent past. Ministry of Defence figures say that there were 233 violations in 2008 and more than 75 in the past three months. The violation has been taken up with Beijing, but there has been no statement from the Chinese embassy in New Delhi.
The Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) is 982 kilometers, falling between Indiracol (the northern-most tip of India) and K2 and LAC begins after that between K2 and Arunachal Pradesh measuring around 3800 kilometers.
After 13 rounds of bilateral talks between New Delhi and Beijing, the dispute over LAC still remains un-resolved.
Copyright: People's Post
Army's Trishul Battle School in Karu-based China-centric 3rd Div !!
Back in Leh, safely, after a strenuos trek !!
I have seen in the comments section that people have shown concern about my safety thinking I was stuck and had to be evacuated, thanx for that, but there was some other expedition in Himachal, which required ALHs, while the two men in my team who were evacuated used Cheetahs in Siachen. Minor casualities, is what I can say. I trekked on Indo-Pak border and not near China. I was close to Pakistan on the festival of Eid , but there is no movement in camps and posts after sunset !!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
China incursion reports affect foreign tourists.
Monday, September 7, 2009
"JULEY" !!
Ok report on Sino-Indian border---GOC 14 Corps, exclusive tete-a-tete with Chindits !!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Lockheed Martin begins Phase-2 of MMRCA field trials
Lockheed Martin's F-16IN 'Super Viper' has completed Phase-1 of field trials. The week long training phase was in preparation for the field trials.
Phase-2 of field trials begins tomorrow, September 7, 2009. Phase-2 will last two weeks.
IAF's FSI writes to DGCA for recognition and affiliation
