05 March,2009 11:16 AM IST | | Subroto Roy
The system will aid soldiers to emerge as weapon systems
According to several people associated with India's Defense Research Development Organisation (DRDO), numerous strategic weapon systems especially the human soldier system was refused to India by all the countries leading in the technology.
However, the rejection has motivated the 10 armament research laboratories under DRDO to develop these technologies, including the soldier weapons system.
Shubhananda Rao, director of High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), said, "They (nations that have strategic weapon systems) will not give us the strategic military technology." Several heads of armament lab echoed his statement.
Likewise, A M Datar, director of Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), said, "As no nation would give us the strategic technology in mines, missiles and ammunition, we ourselves have developed the human soldier weapon system, which will prove to be a boon in times ahead."
He added that the Gen X system, which is being developed by the laboratories under the DRDO, has a system that would assist the human soldier weapon system in unknown terrains.
The soldier will be equipped with individual protection, anti-splinter goggles, anti-mine shoes, communication system, helmet with display and water source.
Satish Kumar, director of Ballistics Research Laboratory (BRL) in Chandigarh, said, "We had to keep the collective weight of all these equipment below 27 kg as a soldier can't carry more than that.
He added that with this development, a soldier would also be able also carry a multi-caliber weapon with grenade launcher."
Access denied
It may be recalled that the Indo-US nuclear deal was signed proactively by the USA last year. However, the USA has not shared the strategic missile technology that enables soldiers to emerge as weapon systems.
