Army for making jawans technically advanced

Jammu, Jan 18 (UNI) To meet growing warfare needs, Army will continue with its ''never-ending'' modernisation programme to improve the technical competency of the infantry jawans, GOC-in-C Western Command Lt Gen Daljeet Singh today said.

''We want our infantry jawans to be technically more advanced to meet the fast growing information technology and communication world,'' Lt Gen Singh said while talking to reporters.

On world's first integrated Battle Computer, SATHI (Situation Awareness and Tactical Handheld Information), the Army Commander said, ''The modernisation will continue as it is a never-ending process for Army.'' The installation of hi-tech sensors, night vision devices and other equipment along the Line of Control (LOC) and international borders (IB) to check the infiltration was a part of modernisation, he added.

Lt Gen Singh said future warfare would require technically advanced men to meet the challenges.

Nearly 90 handheld SAATHI -- the low-cost hand held device jointly developed with Indian Institute of Science (IISc) professors and Army engineers -- are under trials in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir.

UNI