By IANS
New Delhi : A variety of new equipment like an indigenously-developed Experimental Tank, the awesome T-90 Main Battle Tank (MBT) and a mobile launcher for the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile will be on display for the first time during the Republic Day Parade here Saturday.
This is will also be the first time a woman, President Pratibha Patel, will be taking the salute at the parade.
“We’ve got quite a bit to show to the public for the first time,” Maj. Gen. K.J.S. Oberoi, the General Officer Commanding of the Delhi Area, who will command the parade, said at a preview of the Indian Army contingent here Wednesday.
The Experimental Tank is an attempt by its developer, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), to quickly operationalise the Arjun MBT that has been over 35 years in the making.
“It incorporates the chassis of the Arjun and the gun and fire control system of the (Soviet-era) T-72 MBT (which the army inducted in the early 1980s)”, a DRDO official explained.
As for the T-90, the army had begun inducting 300 of the Russian-origin tanks in the early years of this decade and another 1,000 are to be manufactured within the country.
The BrahMos launcher has been developed within the country while the missile itself has been co-developed by Indian and Russian scientists. Capable of carrying three missiles, it can fire these in a salvo or individually, an army officer pointed out.
Among the other equipment on display during the parade will be a 12-barelled Smerch rocket launcher, a Tanguska air defence gun, a Sarvatra bridge-layer tank, an upgraded 155mm Soltom howitzer and a mobile system that enables the conduct of network centric warfare.
“As in past years, the army contingent will be by a mounted column of the 61 Cavalry,” Oberoi said. This is the only operational horse-mounted cavalry in the world.
Following this will be 10 mechanized columns, eight marching contingents and a flypast by the indigenously developed Dhruv advanced light helicopters of the Army Aviation Corps.
“A total of 13 serving, retired and civilian Param Vir Chakra & Ashok Chakra awardees have confirmed their participation,” Oberoi said.
The Param Vir Chakra is the highest gallantry award during wartime and the Ashok Chakra is the highest gallantry award for operations conducted during peacetime.
The marching contingents have been drawn from the Punjab Regiment, the Grenadiers, the Rajputana Rifles, the Sikh Light Infantry Regiment, the Assam Regiment, the Mahar Regiment, the 58 GTC (Gurkha Training Centre), and the Territorial Army.
“Four band contingents drawn from eight regiments will provide the music for the march past,” Oberoi said.
Before the start of the parade, President Patil will posthumously award the Ashok Chakra to three army personnel – Col. Vasanth V, Capt. Harshan R, and Naib Subedar Chuni Lal, all of who laid down their lives during counterinsurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir.
Vasanth’s widow Suhasini, Harshan’s father K. Radhakrishnan Nair, and Chuni Lal’s widow Chintha Devi will receive the awards.