Indian Army Expedites Its Plan to Modernise Air Defence Amid Rising Threats of Enemy Drone Swarms

© Sputnik ScreenshotThe China Academy of Electronics and Information Technology tests launching a swarm of suicide drones from a modified Dongfeng Mengshi 6x6 truck
The China Academy of Electronics and Information Technology tests launching a swarm of suicide drones from a modified Dongfeng Mengshi 6x6 truck - Sputnik International, 1920, 20.10.2021
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The Indian Army claims China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) has increased the scale and duration of patrolling and military drills near the loosely demarcated Line of Actual Control (LAC). Indian Army Chief Gen. Manoj Mukund Naravane has vowed to counter China's infrastructure build-up and deployment with equal power.
The Indian Army has started the procurement process of 220 air defence guns and 141,576 rounds of ammunition as border tensions with China have necessitated the additional air defences.
With a service life of 25 years, the guns will be manufactured by Indian firms in technical support with any foreign firm. The air defence guns are planned to replace the "in-service" guns, currently held by Army AD.
Weighing no more than seven tons, the guns will engage aircraft, helicopters, and all types of remotely piloted aircraft/drones and cruise missiles.
"Gun should be capable of engaging ground targets up to 2000m or more", the document issued by the Indian Army read.
In its latest saber-rattling move, The Pentagon is ramping up efforts to build an space war headquarters, in order to protect US satellites from hypothetical attacks by Russia and China. - Sputnik International, 1920, 10.10.2021
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The Indian Army has been incorporating different types of air defence systems to counter threats emanating from China across the LAC. The Army has ordered additional Akash Surface to Air Missile systems, the under-development Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM), and Igla-S Very Short Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) Systems from Russia.
The Air Defence unit of the Indian Army possesses over 680 surface-to-air missile defence systems, which includes the Akash for medium range and 180 vintage 2K12s of Russian origin. It has over 500 point defence systems, but most are decades old and operating beyond their technical service life.

The Indian Army's Air Defence unit has been guarding airspace with the help of the 9K33 Osa, 9K31 Strela-1, 9K35 Strela 10, 9K210 Igla-1, 9K38 Igla, Tunguska, Zu-23-2, and L40/70.

After media reports of the deployment of several drones at the Malan airbase in China's Xinjiang region, the Indian Armed Forces also added swarm drone tech to its combat potential in December 2020.
In July this year, Indian Army Chief Gen. Manoj Mukund Naravane said offensive technology like drones has challenged the traditional prima donnas: tanks, artillery, and dug-in infantry. The Army chief said that swarm drones could overwhelm and effectively suppress an enemy's air defence capability, creating windows of opportunities for frontline forces.
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