Army gets DRDO's NBC-attack detection vehicle

New Delhi, Jul 5 (PTI) The Indian army has for the first
time inducted a Defence Research and Development Organisation
(DRDO)-built, low-cost vehicle to detect attacks on the
country using nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) weapons.

The indigenous vehicle, developed by DRDO's five labs,
will now be used in reconnaissance missions to detect nuclear
radiations, and chemical or biological agents in the
environment inside the country's territory, DRDO officials
said here Sunday.

Based on a BMP-IIK Infantry Fighting Vehicle chassis, the
vehicle would cost the Indian defence establishment a fourth
of that of the imported varieties, saving the country's
precious foreign exchange, the officials said without giving
details.

The BMP-IIK, which has a cross-country capability and
adequate shield for the crew members, was fitted with nuclear,
chemical, biological, meteorological and positional sensors
for monitoring any contamination.

The vehicle would be used for demarcating the
contaminated zones with a flag-marking system and samples of
soil and water collected using an in-built scooping device.

It could also display and store NBC contamination data in
its control console and transmit it to the Army's Command
Headquarters on request through Communication Link Controller
and Star-V radio set.

Troops on the vehicle could also perform personal
monitoring of the contamination using various nuclear and
chemical monitors in dismount-mode.

NBC hazardous zone could be predicted by personnel on
board the vehicle using the software available for the
purpose.

"The data transmitted by the vehicle after a
reconnaissance mission can be used by the Command Control
Centre for further planning for management of any NBC
eventuality," the DRDO officials said.

The Army has placed orders for eight limited series
production of the NBC Reconnaissance Vehicle, which were at
present under production at the ordnance factory at Medak and
Pune-based BEL factory by involving private sector industries
in the project, officials said.

The first of these NBC recce vehicles was handed over to
Army on June 27 this year in the presence of Engineer-in-Chief
Lt Gen Gautam Dutt, DRDO chief M Natrajan, DRDO chief
controller D Banerjee, 12 Corps Commander Lt Gen A M Verma.

In addition to these specialised vehicles, the DRDO has
also developed 60 other projects specifically for NBC defence
and have been introduced into the armed forces, officials
said.

"India is now almost self-reliant for equipment and
products relating to the strategic area of NBC protection,"
the officials added. PTI NCB
AM
NNNN