INDIAN ARMY WANTS COMBAT FLAME-THROWERS

The Indian Army’s Directorate of Infantry has announced its intention to procure an unspecified number of combat disposable-type flame-throwers for fighting units deployed in counter-insurgency areas. The Army has revealed the flame-throwers will be used during conventional and sub conventional operations against hostile elements as well as for training purposes. The shape and size of the flame thrower should be such that it can comfortably be carried and used by a single soldier. It should be stable for storage for the complete shelf life and should not be prone to accidents while in storage or being transported under operational conditions. The maximum and the minimum range at which Flame-thrower (Disposable) can effectively engage targets will need to be produced as information by interested suppliers. The requirement is a surprising one, given that military flame-throwers aren’t much in use anymore. For instance, the US military discontinued the use of flamethrowers for combat operations in 1978, and they do not figure in any current arsenals. Flamethrowers were used in the World Wars and the Vietnam War extensively, but were subsequently found to be ineffective in most operational scenarios, given their close-combat requirement. The Indian Army will be looking to use them against bunkers, fortifications, built-up areas to flush out terrorists etc.