Equipment Wish-List of ITBP

As a border guarding force deployed on the most sensitive border with China, ITBP routinely operates in high altitude areas, at heights ranging from 9,000ft to 18,000ft. The altitudes can go to the heights up to 21,000 feet for some border outposts. The task of sustaining troops at altitudes with minus 45 degrees temperature is a challenge in itself. The patrolling duties and the constant vigil at such extreme cold weather conditions drastically affect the health of the ITBP personnel. Here is their wish-list.

Creature Comfort and Safety at High Altitude

•             Down feather jackets that can be worn in the extreme cold conditions

•             Thermals

•             Snow goggles

•             Sleeping bags: light weight ones which are easy to transport

•             Snow boots and gumboots that can be used in operations in the high altitude areas with extremely cold weather conditions. It is very essential that the boots are very light and yet provides maximum safety from the snow. In-built heating system would be an add-on that the ITBP officer wishes.

•             Light hiking boots (Salomon boots), which are water proof and something that can be used in trekking as well.

•             Avalanche detector and locator

•             Thermal jackets: There are some jackets, which are attached with a device to circulate warm water inside the jacket to maintain a particular temperature. More of such jackets to be put in use.

•             Portable water purifiers

•             Light weight woollen caps

•             Gloves and socks that can sustain the extreme cold conditions

•             Room heating devices

•             Trekking equipment

Weapons

•             SMG 9mm MP-5 (five different Markas)

•             Beretta 9mm Carbine

•             Galil: 7.62mm Sniper Rifle

•             Steyr sniper Rifle: 7.62mmx51 SSG 69

•             Arsenal Assault Rifle: 7.62mm (with attached 40mm under barrel grenade launcher)

•             Glock: 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 (different) pistols

•             Multi Grenade Launcher: This big revolver like grenade is being used by Rashtriya Rifles in Kashmir for counter insurgency operations. This comparatively light weapon works on the principle of a ‘revolver’ and grenades can be fired easily with the aimed fire provisions.

•             Long Range Sniper rifles to be used in ambush

Accessories

•             Helicopters up to the level of frontier headquarters

•             Air ambulances

•             Micro UAVs

•             Light protective head gears/ helmets

•             Light weight bullet proof jackets

•             Extremely light weight foldable camouflage tents to protect moving troops from rain and other extreme climatic conditions. Troops can also sleep in these tents during routine operations.

•             Satellite for digital mapping of the terrain

•             Telescopic sights to increase the effectiveness of long range flat trajectory weapons such as LMG and MMGs.

•             All terrain Anti Landmine Armoured Personnel carrier vehicle; something like an infantry combat vehicles that are fitted with light and medium machine guns.

Although in India, ICVs have not been used by the army for counter insurgency operations but given the fact that Maoist corridor is heavily mined terrain, ICVs become imperative. These vehicles are also called ‘amphibious’ because in addition to negotiating the tough terrains they can swim across the river also. They can be equipped with night vision facility as well as with jammers, mines and explosive vapour detectors.

•             Night vision navigation equipped vehicles so that troops can move without switching on the vehicle lights

•             Night sights for all kinds of rifles

•             Hand-held thermal imagers and night vision binoculars

Border Surveillance Equipment

•             Long range telescope with recorder facilities

•             Ground control systems to monitor and process information coming from the different stations

•             Aerial surveillance devices like UAV

•             Binoculars which can be used in low visibility conditions and some variant that can even be used in the night times

Communication Equipment

•             High end wireless communication equipment with scrambler facility

•             GPS with long duration battery

•             Mobile and wireless communication interceptor

•             Light weight and compact satellite phones

Source: http://www.forceindia.net/newsyoucanuse_Equipment_ITBP_Desires.aspx