New Delhi: The Indian Army is engaged in increasing the combat capability of its artillery units along the border with China. For this, the army has procured several weapon systems including 100 K9 Vajra guns, group drones and surveillance systems.

Lieutenant General Adosh Kumar, Director General of Artillery in the Army, said that various equipment are being purchased to enhance the capabilities of artillery units in view of national security challenges. Ahead of the 198th anniversary of the Artillery Regiment on September 28, Adosh Kumar said that today we are modernizing at a pace that has never been done before.

Deployed modern weapons

A large number of 155 mm gun systems including K9 Vajra, Dhanush and Sharang have been deployed to increase the firepower of the army on the northern border. The army has already deployed 100 K9 Vajra guns. At the same time, the process of purchasing 100 more guns is underway.

Adosh Kumar said that the K9 Vajra guns were primarily bought for deployment in the desert area, but after the standoff in eastern Ladakh, the army has deployed a large number of these guns in these high-altitude areas. He further said that we are also in the process of inducting other 155 mm gun systems, including Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System, Mounted Gun System and Towed Gun System.

India is developing hypersonic missiles

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is in the process of developing hypersonic missiles for the armed forces. Hypersonic missiles can fly at speeds of up to Mach five or five times the speed of sound. The army is now planning to induct long-range cruise and ballistic missiles.

These include the 2,000 km range Nirbhay and 400 km range Pralay missiles. Lieutenant General Adosh Kumar, Director General of Artillery Regiment, said that the army is also considering long-range rockets and is planning to increase the range of the indigenous Pinaka rocket to 300 km in the coming time. The army has received approval from the Defense Acquisition Council to acquire Pralay and Nirbhay missiles.