With a new generation of fire arms, better recce and surveillance devices, improved communication systems, a foray into developing protective clothing for NBC warfare, and night-fighting appliances, Indian infantry has a newlook. One of the most battle-hardened and combat rich forces in the world organised a display of its modern weapons and equipment for media in New Delhi on the occasion of Infantry Day. While talking to mediapersons, Lt Gen K Nagraj, Director General, Infantry said: "In future, wars in the region are going to be infantry-centric. Therefore, it stands to reason that the key component of the Army gets modernised to lead the nation to victory."

Cabinet Committee for Security (CCS) has cleared a package to the tune of Rs 3000 crore for modernising the Infantry. "Within two to three years all 350 infantry battalions will be equipped with modern gadgets," added Lt Gen Nagraj. Speaking about the usage of state–of-the-art weapons in counter-insurgency operations, he opined that those weapons would be very useful in Jammu and Kashmir where the bulk of Infantry was deployed. They also add a lethal punch in the jungles of North-East.

The equipment on display included anti-material rifle (AMR),flame-launcher, unified anti-tank grenade/missile launcher, 84 mm rocket launcher, 30 mm auto-grenade launcher (AGL) and multi-shot grenade launcher (MGL). Other personal weapons like AK-47 rifle fitted with an under-barrel grenade launcher (UGBL), 7.62 mm Dragunov sniper rifle, insas 5.56 mm light machine gun (LMG) and a kit for NBC warfare were also on display. Surveillance equipment like EL/M 2129 battlefield surveillance radar, hand-held thermal imager, night vision binoculars and goggles and unattended ground sensors (UGS) were also part of the exhibition. Different types of advance mountaineering gadgets from other countries were also kept for view on the occasion.

- Sunil Tripathi