Thermal Imaging for Tactical Survey
Thermal imaging scores over both, because it can be done at night when the enemyis unalerted and therefore cannot hide; second, because body heat which is the source ofenergy being detected can be 'seen' even through camouflage. Thermal imaging equipmentweighs less than 30 kg and can be carried even by the Cheetah helicopter flown by the ArmyAviation Corps or by unmanned drones. The equipment can detect a bunker full of soldiersat 5,000 feet. Sleeping soldiers generating less heat can be detected at 2,000 feet andclassified as humans, as apart from, say, yaks or mules used at high altitude. Date ofentry into service abroad: 1981
Raising the Accuracy of Artillery Fire
On small targets, the accuracy of artillery fire hinges on spotters situated far forwardof the guns. A two-commando team-one with a hand-held global positioning system and theother with binoculars fitted with a laser range-finder-work their way to sighting distanceof the target. Unlike the army's 7 x 50 pieces, today's binoculars, with 20 x 100magnification, can make the enemy soldier's face clearly visible at 5 km. Once given thedirection and distance of the bunker, the coordinator plots its position and fires hisspotting round. The spotter then gives corrections until the guns range correctly ontarget. The commandos stay in touch with the artillery base through a small digital setwhich automatically encrypts and decrypts, so that wireless messages emanating from soclose to the enemy are not understood by him.
Man Portable Laser Designation for Air Attacks with Laser-Guided Bombs
A technology that is very simple and could be used immediately, but for the fact that theair force needs to stock up with 100 kg and 250 kg laser-guided bombs, instead of the 500kg bombs the iaf is currently stocked with for attacking airfields. A man looks throughpowerful binoculars, spots the bunkers, illuminates it with laser, and the aircraft hitsthe bunker with bombs that home in on the laser-illuminated target-by night or by day.
Night Air Attack on Bunkers
Present airstrikes on Pakistani bunkers involve daylight attacks, which brings theaircraft into Stinger range. Current technology to avoid this is through night attackswith forward-looking infrared radars. A cheaper option would be to fly Cheetahs andChetaks at night with pilots equipped with night-vision glasses and the gunners sportingthird-generation image intensifiers/starlight scopes, firing lmgs. Vintage: 1985. Timeneeded to train an experienced pilot: 2 weeks.
Aircraft and Helicopter Counter-measures against Heat-seeking Missiles
Flares dropped from aircraft or helicopters when a Stinger missile is on the way seducesthe missile onto a false target. But when does the aircraft or helo begin to drop flares?How many flares can it carry? To help the pilot and aircraft survive in the brief momentsthen they are under threat from heat-seeking missiles, the aircraft are now fitted withmissile warning systems (mws). The earlier generation senses the infrared radiation fromthe missile. The latest mws senses the ultraviolet radiation and automatically triggersoff the flare dispenser, with greater reliability.
Night Flying by Troop-carrying Helicopters
Much of the travails of the infantryman can be eased if he could ride part of the way intobattle-say up to 12,000 feet. A flight of three helicopters flying two sorties at nightcan get a platoon to 12,000 feet in one night-but only with night-flying technology. Nightflying is a pilot capability-not an equipment capability. It is taught on simulators whichconvert aerial photos of the actual terrain to a route map. The pilot plans his route,flies it and the simulator will rate the pilot.
