Army getting new family of anti-tank, anti-personnel mines: Gen Naravane

Pune (Maharashtra) [India], December 21 : The Indian Army is set to receive a new family of indigenous land mines which are going to replace the vintage mines in its arsenal, Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane said on Tuesday.
In an exclusive interaction with ANI after inducting the first set of 14 of the 53 Armoured Engineer Reconnaissance Vehicles, General Naravane said the family of these mines developed by DRDO in partnership with a private sector firm would be inducted as and when they meet the requirements of the users.
"A new range of mines is under development right from anti-tank and anti-personnel mines. This has been necessitated as all our mines were of vintage and new protocols for mine warfare," he said.
On the induction of these mines in service, the Army chief said: "Each type of mine will get inducted as and when it meets user requirements which will be soon."
Indian Army's Corps of Engineers under Engineer in Chief Lt Gen Harpal Singh is getting the new set of anti-personnel and anti-tank mines for acting as the first line of defence against enemy infantry and armoured columns or terrorist trying to infiltrate into own territory.
The anti-tank and anti-personnel mines are part of a display here where the Corps of Engineers is showcasing the indigenous equipment that has been inducted into the Army by it for carrying out operations against the enemy and defending its own areas.
"Indian Army is going to induct 7 lakh indigenously developed 'Nipun' anti-personal mines which carry a potent mix of RDX," an Army officer said. He said the mine has been developed by an Indian firm in partnership with the DRDO.
For taking care of the enemy tank regiments, the corps of engineers is carrying out trials of the Vibhav and Vishal next generation made in India anti-tank mines. These highly effective mines have been developed for the Indian Army by DRDO, and are at an advanced stage of user trials.
The new anti-tank mines have greater stopping power against enemy tanks due to their advanced design and sensors, Army officials said.
Prachand, Ulka and Parth are also some of the new mines that are coming up for induction into the services in the near future, the officials said.
The Indian Army has also started the induction of the high head water pumps to provide water to troops deployed on the high altitude areas along the Line of Actual Control with China.
"Indian Army started inducting 200 high head water pumps which can help pump water and fuel to locations at higher altitudes in those areas. 200 of these pumps are being inducted into the Corps of Engineers under the emergency procurement powers," said the officials.