Non-Subscriber Extract
India seeks to counter China with strengthened border presence
By Rahul Bedi
15 February 2008
The Indian Army is raising two new mountain divisions of around 15,000 personnel each to boost its ability to mount offensive and defensive operations along the disputed northern and northeastern borders with China.
The formation of the two divisions, which was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, comes in response to China's strengthening of military infrastructure along the undefined 4,057 km line of actual control (LoAC) between the two countries.
Presently, 10 of the army's 35 divisions are mountain formations and six of those are based in the northeast, having been trained for dispersed high-altitude operations and equipped with adequate fire-support elements.
Senior army officers in Delhi told Jane's that the two proposed mountain divisions - likely to be operational by 2015-16 at a cost of around INR14 billion (USD358 million) - will be equipped with medium- and heavylift helicopters that are in the process of being acquired to enhance the army's mobility.
The army will also receive 155 mm/39 cal lightweight howitzers, for which the service issued a tender in January.
"India is finally taking up the challenge thrown down by the People's Liberation Army by raising its own rapid reaction force with both offensive and defensive capability," said retired Lieutenant General V K Kapoor.
Image: Indian Army soldier during a special forces display (Jane's/Patrick Allen)