Army to replace animals with allterrain vehicles
NEW DELHI :The Indian Army’s mules could soon be retired with the force working on a proposal to deploy all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) in mountainous areas to ferry weapons and ammunition. It is also exploring the possibility of using drones to support its high-altitude deployments.
The mules of the army’s animal transport units are currently assigned responsibility of supporting some of the most remote outposts.
The animals played a crucial role during the 1999 Kargil war, ferrying stores to posts as high as 19,000 feet.
The suggestion to retire them and use vehicles was made by the Army Design Bureau (ADB).
“A mule can carry only 40kg load. The army has to find smarter solutions to transport stores in high altitude,” said Lieutenant General Subrata Saha, who retired as the army’s deputy chief on March 31. The ADB reports to the deputy chief.
In two back-to-back reports, the ADB listed 78 problem areas that need to be addressed for the best protection to soldiers on frontlines and to develop new systems for battlefield superiority.
“At present, the troops operating in rugged areas are required to traverse vast distances on foot, which imposes time penalty and exposes troops to undue fatigue,” said the 119-page report on Future Core Technologies and Problem Statements.
The army has made some improvisations for transport in remote areas, having locally built ropeways and modified load carriers. But the methods have only been partially successful.
On the need to solve the problem on priority, the report said: “During active operations there is a need for small teams to deploy rapidly… Need for air-portable, light-weight, ATVs is felt to speed up the movement of these troops with their stores and equipment.”