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Saturday, January 21, 2017

BSF Ramping Up Use Of Simulators To Train Its Personnel

Acquiring newer, tools of Technology to train better Guardians of our borders.

The Border Security Force [BSF], with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police [ITBP] & Sashastra Seema Bal [SSB], are primarily tasked with safeguarding India's land Borders during peace time. With the country sharing most of its land boundaries with countries holding belligerent views, challenging would be an understatement to describe their services. Of these, the BSF is the largest of the organisations, performing a lion's share of the border duties. It is, therefore, critical to ensure that its personnel stay in the peak of their performance at all times & are trained to keep their skills sharpened to the hilt.

Mortar Fire Controller - MFC - Simulator

via www.zentechnologies.com

With this aim in view it, recently, put out a requirement for the purchase of 81 mm calibre Mortar Simulators. Likely to be located at its Training Centre & Schools [TC&S], near Hazaribagh, in Jharkhand, the simulators would help train BSF's Mortar Fire Controller [MFC] personnel. The MFC is the Gandhari of any Platoon's Mortar Sections - serving as their eyes, calculating firing data [range, angle, firepower type] & directing assault from Mortar positions on to the target.

The use of training simulators is not only cost-effective, it also allows for more extensive practise, than permitted by use of actual explosives, thereby honing skills within the safe confines of the virtual world. The 81 mm Mortar Simulator would be required to render realistic Computer Generated Imagery [CGI] to help the MFC train in optimal selection, prioritisation & engagement of enemy target. Performance observation & mission parameter setting would be carried out by an Instructor using the vendor-supplied Instructor Control Station.

81mm-Mortar-Firing-Controller-Simulator-BSF-India-02

Based on the CGI displayed target, the MFC would practise calculating firing data which he will, then, convey to the instructor. The instructor will input the data into the system, that will display, on screen, the location where the Mortar will strike on ground, based on computation of the MFC's firing data. If the mortar shell were to strike away from intended location, the MFC would have to re-calculate the firing data, repeating the process.

In real life, the firing data would be conveyed to the Mortar Position Controller [MPC], whose crew would adjust the Mortar setup accordingly, before firing. Curiously enough, no DRDO-undertaken Mortar simulator development project underway. Zen Technologies Limited is one Indian entity, however, that has made significant investments in the development of fully integrated, multi-calibre Mortar simulators, besides other offerings. The BSF, as per current requirement, needs only the MFC module of the simulator. Wouldn't be too difficult for the company to put forth a solution. If finally selected, would be a great boost to private sector Defence initiatives.

Godspeed

Also Read: Nuclear Electromagnetic Pulse [NEMP] Simulator For DRDO's VRDE Facility