Learning from the 26/11 terror attacks,the Army is buying specialised weapons that enable its commandos to "observe and fire" at the enemy hiding around a corner,an hurdle usually encountered during urban warfare situations. The Army has floated a Request for Information (RFI) seeking details from manufacturers of such hi-tech close-quarter weapons that can be fired without exposing the troops or with minimum exposure of the commando to enemy fire. These urban warfare weapon systems are likely to be supplied to the Army's special forces and para-commando units that go through specialised training for close-quarter warfare and for specialised operations. "The government is desirous of procuring a weapon system for shooting around the corner without exposing the firer or with minimum exposure of the firer. It is envisaged to engage targets effectively beyond 200 metres," an Army officers said today. Though the number of weapon units the Army would procure has not been mentioned,its keenness in having the system in its inventory has been expressed in the RFI that stated that the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) or the Copy Right Holders should be willing to transfer technology to India,obviously for indigenisation purposes. The weapon system would be fitted with a high resolution camera with day and night vision capability with aiming arrangements,to enable the user to view the target clearly while engaging the enemy. The weapon system should also have image downloading and transmission capability so that the enemy could be located and information shared with other troops to enable the commando take the best position to engage the target,the officer said. The RFI has sought a response from vendors of the weapon system by January 30,2010. Such weapon systems are already under use by some of the world's elite special forces and anti-terror units,the officer added. "Such weapons are extremely helpful in neutralising the enemy useful in situations like the Mumbai terror attacks,when armed terrorists hid inside the rooms of important landmark buildings such as the five-star hotels," the officer said. Under such building cover,the terrorists always have an upper hand and are in an advantageous position to open fire at security personnel,who are exposed dangerously," he added. The Army's RFI comes close on the heels of the elite National Security Guard (NSG) purchasing the weapon system,which has a mounted camera that can swivel around to locate the target sheltered behind or inside buildings.
