July 1, 2020
India Deploys Israeli SPYDER Missiles along border with China
China-India Corps Commanders meeting fail to end Ladakh standoff
By Abdus Sattar Ghazali
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has reportedly installed the SPYDER Missile along with the homemade Akash surface-to-air missile (SAM) with a range of 30 km as part of strategic planning for a double layer tactic to guard critical resources and locations in the country, the Eurasia Times reported Tuesday.
“As part of the ongoing build-up in the sector, the air defense systems of both Indian Army and the Indian Air Force have been deployed in the sector to prevent any misadventure by the Chinese Air Force fighter jets or the People’s Liberation Army choppers there,” government sources were quoted as saying.
The deployment of Akash Air Defense System comes after China reportedly increased its fighter jets and helicopter activities along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), de facto border of India and China, the paper said.
Akash is India’s first indigenously developed medium-range surface to air missile that can engage multiple targets from various directions. The all-weather missile can engage targets at a speed 2.5 times more than the speed of sound and can detect, track and destroy targets flying at low, medium and high altitudes.
The Israeli Missile can provide air defense for fixed assets and for point and area defence for mobile forces in combat areas fitted on either Tatra Trucks or Scania P-series truck, according to Eurasia Times.
According to Hindustan Times, the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army have deployed their air defense systems in eastern Ladakh as the People’s Liberation Army Air Force has activated several of its bases in both Xinjiang and the Tibet Autonomous Region with Chinese fighter jets regularly making a show of strength in the Aksai Chin area, said the first official cited above.
Apart from Sukhoi-30s and upgraded MiG-29 fighter jets, the IAF is operating Apache AH-64E attack helicopters and CH-47F (I) Chinook multi-mission helicopters --- both imported from the United States --- in the region.
The Indian Army has deployed its new US-origin M777 ultra-light howitzers, which can provide accurate artillery fire support in mountainous terrain, in eastern Ladakh, said officials. The 155 mm/39-caliber M777 howitzers can be sling-loaded to helicopters and swiftly deployed to high-altitude areas. India ordered 145 howitzers from the United States for $750 million in November 2016. The howitzers have a range of 24-30 km.
Indian Air Force to buy SPICE-2000 bombs from Israel
Amid tensions with China, India Today TV reported Tuesday that India is going to acquire more Israeli SPICE-2000 bombs, which were earlier used in the airstrikes in Balakot, Pakistan.
"The SPICE-2000 bombs will give us the capability to take out ground targets from a stand-off distance and also to take out bunkers and buildings," government sources told India Today TV. The bombs would be in addition to the ones acquired last year from Israel, the sources said.
SPICE-2000 is used on French-origin Mirage-2000 jets and has been acquired by IAF for use against fortified and underground command centres.
With tensions brewing between India and China, the Narendra Modi government has granted emergency financial powers to defense forces under which they can buy any weapon systems under 66 Million dollars.
India reaches out to friendly nations, seeks early delivery of weapons
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) officials have been reaching out to countries including the US, France, Russia and others in an effort to urge them to deliver earlier than the scheduled date, Financial Express reported Tuesday.
Amidst crisis in Eastern Ladakh India has reached out to the friendly nations to ensure early supply in pending deals. “Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) a fortnight ago decided to reach out to all friendly nations with whom there is a defence deal either in the pipeline or getting ready to be delivered,” Financial Express quoted informed sources as saying.
“While Israel is expected to send a new air defense system Iron Dome for deployment in border areas, US-based BAE Systems are expected to ship in Howitzers, more ammunition from Russia and the US.”
According to Financial Express, while India has already acquired 155MM Excalibur artillery ammunition from the US, which has the capability to hit targets almost 50 km away, there is a plan to acquire more PGMs (precision-guided munitions). This can also be fired at extended ranges. In India, this is being used for M-777 ultra-light Howitzers which have been made in the US by the BAE Systems and are locally here in India.
Marathon talks of China, India Corps Commanders fail again
In other developments, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported Tuesday, Indian and Chinese militaries on Tuesday held an over 10-hour Corps Commander-level dialogue with a focus on finalizing modalities for the disengagement of troops from various standoff points in eastern Ladakh, and explored ways to ease tension in the region.
In the meeting, the Indian delegation conveyed concerns over China's "new claim lines" in the region and demanded restoration of status quo ante as well as immediate withdrawal of Chinese troops from Galwan Valley, Pangong Tso and a number of other areas, the PTI quoted Indian government sources as saying.
The talks took place on the Indian side of Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Chushul sector in eastern Ladakh. The Indian delegation at the meeting was headed by 14 Corps Commander Lt Gen Harinder Singh while the Chinese side was led by the Commander of the Tibet Military District Major General Liu Lin.
There was no official word on details of the meeting, the PTI said adding: It was the third corps commander-level meeting since the standoff began on May 5. In the previous two rounds of talks, the Indian side demanded immediate withdrawal of Chinese troops from various areas in the region.
The Indian and Chinese armies are locked in a bitter standoff in multiple locations in eastern Ladakh for the last seven weeks, and the tension escalated manifold after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a violent clash in Galwan Valley on June 15.
Abdus Sattar Ghazali is the Chief Editor of the Journal of America (www.journalofamerica.net) email: asghazali2011 (@) gmail.com
The Journal of America Team:
Editor in chief:
Abdus Sattar Ghazali
Senior Editor:
Prof. Arthur Scott
Special Correspondent
Maryam Turab
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