THE INDIAN ARMED SERVICES – LEGEND

military

Surrounded by hostile neighbours, India has fought numerous wars to protect its sovereignty and as deterrent to any future hostility, it has one of most well-armed, trained and disciplined military force in the world. We take a look at the men and the weapons of the Indian armed forces.

Picture: Indian Air Force Sukhoi Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft patrol the skies over the Himalayas.

military

A contingent of Indian Army’s special forces contingent doubles past the saluting dais during the Republic Day parade in Delhi.

INS Kochi, India’s deadliest ever warship

An Indian Navy personnel gestures on the deck of the newly built INS Kochi, a guided missile destroyer, during a media tour at the naval dockyard in Mumbai, India September 28, 2015. The warship is the second ship in the Indian Navy to have multi-function surveillance and threat alert radar to provide information about targets for a long-range surface-to-air missile system, according to a media release issued by the Indian Navy.

INS Kochi, India’s deadliest ever warship

An Indian Navy personnel looks on as he stands in front of the rocket launcher system mounted on the deck of the newly built INS Kochi, a guided missile destroyer, during a media tour at the naval dockyard in Mumbai, India September 28, 2015.

India is negotiating with France for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft to replenish the Indian Air Force’s depleting squadron strength.

The Rafale is a 4.5 generation fighter aircraft and it has seen extensive action in the skies over Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Mali. Armed with the latest weaponry and avionics, the Rafale will give the IAF an edge over rivals in the region.

Aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya joined the Indian Navy in 2013 and it helps the navy in projecting power well beyond India’s maritime borders. Vikramaditya carries the lethal MiG-29K supersonic fighter aircraft which can decimate any aerial threat to the ship and also destroy ground targets with equal ease.

The indigenous Tejas fighter aircraft will be the mainstay of the Indian Air Force in the coming years once the Mark II enters service in 2022. Tejas will replace the MiG 21 and 27.

The indigenous Akash surface to air missile has been developed by DRDO and is in service with the army and the air force. A battery of Akash missiles can track 64 targets at a time and fire missiles at 12 of the most threatening ones, which include aircraft, ballistic missile, drones and other aerial targets.

T-90 main battle tanks and BMP-2 infantry combat vehicles practice manoeuvers in Rajasthan. Both T-90 and the BMP-2, which carries soldiers into battle, are at the top of their game and in the event of war, will lead the armoured thrust.

The Sukhoi Su-30 MKI is the mainstay of the Indian Air Force. The twin-seat fighter aircraft is the best aircraft in its class and is the only fighter in the air force which has the range and weapons load to strike deep into enemy territory.

Soldiers of the ‘ghatak’ platoon during Republic Day parade rehearsal in Kolkata on January 24, 2016. Each of Indian Army’s infantry battalion has a platoon (30 soldiers) trained as commandos. They are tasked with the most dangerous missions and they also act as pathfinders. They are equipped with a variety of weapons including Brügger & Thomet MP9 sub-machine guns, AK-47 and INSAS assault rifles.

The mighty Bofors FH77 155 mm howitzer, which has been at the center of controversy for so many years, proved its worth during the 1999 Kargil war when it was successfully used in direct-fire roll against Pakistan bunkers atop mountains captured by Pakistani troops. The Bofors was one of the weapons which won the war for India.

The Boeing C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft is a giant of the skies and it can transport troops and material across thousands of miles and land on unpaved, short runways. The aircraft proved very useful in disaster relief operations, flying in aid and flying out the sick and injured during natural calamities in Uttarakhand, Kashmir and other places.

Paratroopers jump out of an Indian Air Force C-130J Hercules transport aircraft. The C-130J’s main task will be to insert special operation forces into enemy territory during day/night all-weather conditions.

An Ilyushin Il-78 aerial tanker of the Indian Air Force refuels Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft.

The MiG 29K fighter aircraft of the Indian Navy provides the teeth to INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier. This supersonic fighter aircraft is replacing the venerable subsonic Sea Harrier jump jet.

The indigenous Dhruv multi-purpose helicopter of the Indian Army carries a gypsy during a training exercise in the Thar desert in Rajasthan. Dhruv equips all three wings of the armed forces and also paramilitary forces.

Operatives of the special operations forces of the Indian Navy known as the Marine Commandos or Marcos, slither down from a Sea King helicopter to a waiting zodiac boat. Marcos are the most secretive special forces in India and not much is known about the operations they have carried out though during the 1999 Kargil war, they were said to have carried out numerous cross-LoC raids to neutralize enemy targets.

A marine commando, armed with an AK-103 automatic assault rifle and SIG P226 pistol, provides perimeter security around a helipad used by US president Barack Obama during his 2010 visit to Mumbai.

A T-72 MBT of the Indian Army swims through a canal during a training exercise.

An officer of the elite special forces of the Indian Army displays the Tavor assault rifle, the primary weapon of the special forces.

An Indian Air Force Beriev A-50EI Mainstay airborne early warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft comes into land. In the foreground anti-aircraft surface-to-air missile carrier with SAM-3 missiles loaded can be seen.

Soldiers of the Indian army head for the beach during an amphibious landing exercise in the Arabian Sea.

Supersonic Brahmos surface-to-surface missiles on display during the Republic day parade.

Nuclear-capable Agni V intercontinental ballistic missile is launched during a test.

Special forces personnel of the Indian army during a training exercise in the Thar desert in Rajasthan.

An Israeli-made Spike anti-tank guided missile, which will equip infantry battalions of the Indian army.

A Tunguska surface-to-air missile (SAM) system of the Indian army.

A soldier from the Sikh regiment of the Indian Army display a Carl Gustav anti-tank weapon system.

A M777 lightweight 155mm howitzer in action with the US army in Afghanistan. The Indian Army is all set to get this gun to equip its mountain corps.

A Chinook heavy lift helicopter of the US Army. The Indian Air Force is buying this machine.

The world’s most lethal attack helicopter, the Apache, will soon don Indian Air force colours.

A BMP-2 ICV climbs out of a water canal during a training exercise in Punjab.

Pinaka surface-to-surface rocket launchers on display during Army Day parade.

INS Teg, a frigate of the Indian Navy on a friendly visit to Germany on Elbe river, near Hamburg.

We take a look at how the army is taking on terrorist infiltration from across the Line of Control (LoC) in the state of Jammu and Kashmir

Line of Contention between India and Pakistan

Soldiers from the army as well as the BSF have to brave elements, including heavy snow, to maintain constant vigil and thwart any infiltration bid from across the LoC

Line of Contention between India and Pakistan

An Indian army soldier, armed with an automatic grenade launcher, keeps a watch on the LoC

Line of Contention between India and Pakistan

Soldiers bridge the gap between the two Kashmirs in a rare moment of peace between the two nations, which have been in constant confrontation over Kashmir since 1947

Line of Contention between India and Pakistan

Caskets draped in the tricolor and carrying bodies of Indian army soldiers, who were martyred on the LoC in an encounter with a combined force of Pakistan army regular and militants from LeT in 2013, awaiting journey home

Line of Contention between India and Pakistan

Soldiers in mine-resistant boots train to locate mines and IEDs

Line of Contention between India and Pakistan

An officer of the Indian army displays a remote control used to detonate improvised explosive device (IED), captured from militants

Line of Contention between India and Pakistan

Soldiers patrol along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir

Line of Contention between India and Pakistan

Pakistani currency found on the bodies of militants gunned down by the Indian army

COURTESY MSN.COM