LISTEN TO LIVE RADIO

Thursday 25 January 2007

INFANTRY WEAPONS

INFANTRY WEAPONS



Pistols

9mm FN35

9mm Glock 17 + others


Sub-Machine Guns

9mm Carbine 1A
Cartridge: 9mm X 19mm Parabellum.
Operation: Blowback, selective fire.
Feed: 34-round curved box magazine.
Sights: Fore, blade, rear and flip aperture.
Rate of Fire: Cyclic, 550 rounds a minute.
Maximum Range: ?

9mm Heckler & Koch MP-5
Cartridge: 9mm X 19mm Parabellum.
Operation: Delayed blowback, selective fire.
Feed: 15 or 30-round curved box magazine.
Sights: Fore, blade, rear and flip aperture.
Rate of Fire: Cyclic, 550 rounds a minute.
Maximum Range: ?


Machine Guns

5.56mm INSAS Light Machine Gun
Cartridge: 5.56mm x 45mm.
Operation: Gas, selective fire.
Operation: 30-round plastic box magazine.
Sight Radius: 1000 metres.
Rate Of Fire: Cyclic, 650 rounds a minute.
Maximum Effective Range: 1000 metres.

7.62mm FN MAG
Cartridge: 7.62mm x 51mm NATO.
Operation: Gas, automatic.
Feed: Belt.
Sight Radius: ?
Rate Of Fire: Cyclic, 650 - 1000 rounds a minute.
Maximum Effective Range: 2000+ metres.

7.62mm IB
Cartridge: 7.62mm x 51mm NATO.
Operation: Gas, selective fire.
Feed: 30-round box magazine.
Sight Radius: 1000 metres.
Rate Of Fire: Cyclic, 500 rounds a minute.
Maximum Effective Range: 1830 metres.

12.7mm NSV and 14.5mm KPV


Rifles

5.56mm INSAS Assault Rifle
Cartridge: 5.56mm x 45mm.
Operation: Gas, selective fire.
Feed: 22-round plastic magazine.
Sight Radius: 400 metres.
Rate Of Fire: Cyclic, 650 rounds a minute.
Maximum Effective Range: Without optical sight; 400 - 500 metres.
......................................With an optical sight; 700 metres.

7.62mm FN-FAL
Cartridge: 7.62mm x 51mm.
Operation: Gas-operated semi-automatic.
Feed: 20-round detachable box magazine.
Sights: Flip up aperture rear sight.
Sight Radius: 600 metres
Rate Of Fire: Cyclic, 650-700 rounds a minute.
....................Auto, 120 rounds a minute.
Maximum Effective Range: 600 metres.

7.62mm 1A1
Cartridge: 7.62mm x 51mm.
Operation: Gas, single shots.
Feed: 20-round box magazine.
Sights: Fore, blade, rear and aperture.
Sight Radius: ?
Maximum Effective Range: 800 metres.

7.62mm 1C
Cartridge: 7.62mm x 51mm.
Operation: Gas, selective fire.
Feed: 20-round plastic magazine.
Sights: Fore, blade; rear, flip aperture.
Rate Of Fire: Cyclic, 650 - 700 rounds per minute.
Maximum Effective Range: 500+ metres.

7.62mm AKM
Cartridge: 7.62mm x 39mm.
Operation: Gas, selective fire.
Feed: 30-round detachable box magazine.
Sights: Fore, pillar; rear, U-notch.
Sight Radius: 800 metres.
Rate Of Fire: Cyclic, 600 rounds a minute.
Maximum Effective Range: Automatic; 300 to 400 metres.
..................................................Semi-automatic; 500 metres.

7.62mm Dragunov
Cartridge: 7.62mm x 54mm Rimmed.
Operation: Gas regulator, self-loading.
Feed: 10-round detachable box magazine.
Sights: Open, optical and night sight.
Maximum Effective Range: Open sight; 1200 metres.
......................................Optical sight; 1300 metres.
......................................Night sight; 300 metres.

7.62mm H&K MSG-90
Cartridge: 7.62mm NATO.
Operation: Semi-Auto, Roller Delayed Blowback.
Feed: 5 or 20-round detachable box magazine.
Sights: Not Known.
Maximum Effective Range: Not Known.


Combat Grenades

30mm AGS-17 Plamya AGL

36Mk.1 rifle grenade

36M hand grenade


Mortars &
Ammunition

MORTARS

51mm Mortar E1
Calibre: 51mm.
Range: Minimum; 200 metres.
............Maximum 850 metres.
Rate of Fire: Normal fire; 8 rounds per minute.
....................Rapid fire;12 rounds per minute.

81mm Mortar E1
Calibre: 81mm.
Maximum Range: 5000 metres.
Rate of Fire: With relaying; 6 - 8 rounds per minute.
....................Without relaying; 20 rounds per minute.

120mm Mortar E1
Calibre: 120mm.
Maximum Range: 6650 metres.
Rate of Fire: Drop fired; 5 - 10 rounds per minute
....................Trigger fired; 3 - 6 rounds per minute.

MORTAR AMMUNITION

51mm HE Bomb
Weight: 950 kg.
Maximum Range: 800 metres.

81mm HE Bomb
Weight: 4.2 kg.
Maximum Range: 5000 metres.

81mm Smoke Bomb
Weight: 4.4 kg.
Maximum Range: 5000 metres.

81mm Illuminated Mortar Bomb
Weight: 4.2 kg.
Maximum Range: 4350 metres.
Luminosity: 10,000 cd.

120mm HE Bomb
Weight: 13.2 kg.
Maximum Range: 6650 metres.

120mm Illuminated Mortar Bomb
Weight: 13.2 kg.
Maximum Range: 6700 metres.
Luminosity: 11,000 cd.


Anti-Tank Weapons

Milan-II
Type: Anti-Tank Guided Weapon.
Time Of Flight: To maximum range - 12.5 sec.
Maximum Range: 2000 metres.
Chance Of Hit: From 0 to 250 metres - 75% average.
.............................From 250 to 2000 metres - greater than 98%.
*SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) reports that 17,500 Milan-II anti-tank weapons were built from 1993 till 2000. Production is still continuing.

9K11 Malyutka (AT-3 Sagger)
The 9K11 Malyutka can be employed as a man-packed missile, on vehicles or helicopters. The AT-3a/b versions uses manual-command-to line-of-sight (MCLOS) guidance where the operator literally flies the missile down his line of sight to the target. The missile is also slow; it takes 25 seconds to reach its maximum range of 3000 metres. The AT-3c version was refitted using semi-automatic command line of sight guidance (SACLOS) to serve as an interim until the AT-5 Spandrel and AT-6 Spiral came in to widespread service. This ATGW has a high explosive anti-tank warhead and has an armour penetration of 400mm.

9K11 Fagot (AT-4 Spigot)
The AT-4 is a tube-launched, wire-guided, command-to-line-of-sight, semi-automatic ATGM system, similar in many respects to the American TOW system. The system consists of three major components; the missile, the launch tube and the missile launcher. The tripod-mounted launcher for ground-launched employment has a periscope sight attached to its left side.
The sight and missile tracker comprise a single unit, which is mechanically attached to the launch tube connecting the rail so both move together in elevation. The crew loads the missile by sliding the tube onto the launch supports from the rear until the electrical contacts and a mechanical catch engage, then the system is ready for launch.

It was originally designed as a ground launched weapon system. However, turrets of the BMP-1 and others can mount the AT-4b launcher. This ATGW has an improved sustained motor which increases the maximum range to 3 km and a HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank) warhead, with armour penetration of 500mm. The missile's extremely narrow field of view makes it more difficult to decoy, since the decoy source must be inside the field of view. SIPRI {Stockholm International Peace Research Institute} reported that between 1992-1994, around 900 missiles were licensed produced.

9K113 Konkurs (AT-5 Spandrel)
The 9K113 Konkurs is considered to be the equivalent to the American TOW missile. This ATGW is similar to the AT-4 in most respects except in it's weight and maximum range, with the latter being 4 km. The AT-5 is intended for use on vehicles only. It has a HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank) warhead, with armour penetration of 600-700mm. SIPRI {Stockholm International Peace Research Institute} reported that between 1992-2001, around 4300 missiles were licensed produced.


Recoilless Weapons

106mm RCL M40
Calibre: 105mm.
Maximum Range: 1372 metres - direct fire.
Armour Penetration: At 0º it is 620mm.
..............................At 30º it is 515mm.
..............................At 60º it is 400mm.

84mm Carl Gustav

The 84mm Carl Gustav can combat heavy armour, armoured personnel carriers, landing craft, etc. The key to its versatility is the new generation of highly effective ammunition:

1) The HEAT 751 round has a combined effect of explosively formed penetrator and hollow charge, strikes and penetrates ERA tiles without initiating them, and its main charge blasts through the armour protection leaving massive internal damage. It has an armour penetration of 500mm.

2) The HEAT 551 round knocks out approximately 90% of all armour vehicles at ranges up to 700 metres. It is also highly effective against other hard targets, such as concrete bunkers, landing craft and aircraft. It has an armour penetration of 400mm.

3) For target practice there is the 84mm TP 552 round. This is ballistically matched to the 84mm HEAT 551 round but has an inert warhead.

4) The Illuminating 545 round rapidly illuminates target areas, helping ground forces to complete their mission. Has a maximum range of 2100 metres.

5) The HEDP 502 round is a dual-purpose HE and HEAT round optimised for combat in urban areas. It is effective against light armoured vehicles, concrete and brick walls, field fortifications and ground forces.

6) The SMOKE 469B round develops a smoke screen instantaneously on impact.

7) The HE 441B round can be set to either impact detonation or air burst, to combat troops in the open or behind cover, soft-skinned vehicles and similar types of targets. Has a maximum range of 1100 metres.

Comments: The 12.7mm NSV heavy machine gun is used on the T-72M1 and the 14.5mm KPV, also a heavy machine gun, is used on the OT-62/64. Around 200,000+ INSAS 5.56mm Assault Rifles have been issued. The 7.62mm FN-FAL rifles were bought from Belgium. Variants of the legendary AK-47 rifle are used by COIN (counter-insurgency) troops and also by Special Forces. The Army does not use the Russian 7.62mm AKM but rather models from Poland, Bulgaria, Romania and the former East Germany. Around 200,000 are in service. Also in service is the Czechoslovakian V.58 rifle, which resembles the 7.62mm AKM, but are not the same. Snipers use the 7.62mm Dragunov and the 7.62mm Mauser SP66 sniper rifles which have dedicated sniper scopes for day/night sniping.

It was reported in late 2002, that 200 interactive firearm-training simulators were ordered from Bharat Dynamics Ltd. (BDL), Hyderabad at a cost of $75,000 each. These state-of-the-art simulators will be utilized to train soldiers and paramilitary forces in using pistols, revolvers, assault rifles, machine guns and mortars. The system simulates scenarios of up to 32 guns firing, including realistic sound and moving target applications. Globes Online reported in December 2004, that an Israeli company - Star Night Technologies - was awarded a $4.8 million contract by the Indian Army. The contract involves miniature night vision sights for rifles and testing systems. 80% of manufacturing will take place in Israel and 20% in India.

It was reported in December 2004, that the Indian Army was conducting final user trials of a handheld computer - developed by Encore Software - known as SATHI (Situational Awareness and Tactical Handheld Information). The system is an integrated battle computer (based on an open source Linux platform) with a Global Positioning System (GPS) and radio, customised Geographical Information System (GIS) enabling field sketches with a customised symbol library for map marking, an internal radio modem, encrypted software and capabilities to send text messages. Weighing just 875 grams, it can easily fit into a soldier's palm and also has a remotely operated self-destruction and activation feature for preventing misuse by unauthorized persons. The Army has already acquired 90 systems in a pilot project at Jammu & Kashmir and will extend it other areas.

No comments: