Indian Army (IA): Equipment and News

Ok. However, T-72 and T-90 are used by the Indian Army in the high altitude areas bordering China as well. Not just in the hot, dry deserts of Western India.

Most combustion engines suffer at altitude due to the reduced oxygen content, but if they operate there continuously then it should be possible to modify them to make them better suited to the conditions.

Indian Army's SAMAR SAM system is basically a R-73E that has been converted into a SAM system. Interesting flight profile (in the video)

The R-73 is a potent missile that should not be underestimated, and is intended to be used with a helmet mounted queueing system so it would be rather easy to get a lock and launch on many targets.

Obviously being ground launched its effective range and altitude limits would be reduced, but it packs a decent HE payload giving it an advantage over your average MANPADS.

Have seen modifications with a solid rocket booster to improve performance in the ground launched role.

This system can use R-27T, too.

That would be interesting...

Engagement range is like a manpad IMO.

Much better speed and ability to turn because of its thrust vectoring rocket motor, and of course its high quality IR sensor and wide field of view allowing lockons to be easier and probably at greater ranges than most MANPADS can achieve... and of course a bigger boom.

The R-73 and R-27T would use a helmet mounted system to lock and engage targets.

As an ambush system this would be rather good... a single rail and an IRST on the ground with a connected helmet mounted sight and you could engage all sorts of targets. Attaching a solid rocket booster could restore flight range and altitude if you wanted.

Didn't the Houthie use something like this to shoot down Saudi aircraft?