New Delhi, Oct 22: Army has launched a major to enhance the firepower, reconnaissance and surveillance of all infantry units with forces now being equipped with ultra modern light weapons like anti-material rifles, multi shot grenades and flame throwers. "Its an across the board modernisation of 350 infantry battalions" Lt Gen K Nagaraj director general infantry said asserting that this process would be completed within a time frame of two to three years.

Under the Rs 3000 crore plan, infantry units are getting human and arms detecting sensors, battlefield surveillance radars, hand held thermals, anti material rifles, 84mm rocket launchers,30mm automatic grenade launchers, multi shot grenades, missile launchers and other state-of-art weapons. The units would also have enhanced communication, jammers, sacotic, seismic, passive infra red and magnetic sensors as well as sniper rifles.

Army, Gen Nagaraj said had also commenced equipping the infantry troops with nuclear and biological proof clothing as well as more bullet proof jackets.

For the first time, army on the occasion of the infantry day put on public display some of these new weapons systems, with the Director General Infantry saying that the frontline troops and forces engaged in battling insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir had already been equipped with these augmented firepower. "Within the next few months you will see the troops now dominating terrorists" Nagaraj said.

Bureau Report