July 13: The Army is evaluating proposals from various radar manufacturers to upgrade the Soviet-made Schilka weapon systems at an estimated cost of Rs 540 crore. The Schilkas are fitted with ZSu 23-mm guns which have four barrels to enable a high rate of fire. They are mounted on tracked PT-76 battle tanks with radars to track enemy aircraft. Used to protect armoured columns, comprising tanks, from aerial attack, they were used by the Iraqi Army during Operation Desert Storm to inflict casualties on the Allied multinational forces.

The radar manufacturers who have made a bid for the Schilka upgrade include HSA, Netherlands, Oerlikon Contraves, Switzerland, Denel, South Africa, Israeli Aircraft Industries, Israel, Ericsson Microwave, Sweden, and Rosvoorezenhie, Russia, besides the State-owned Bharat Electronics Ltd, Bangalore.

The Russians had earlier offered to execute a comprehensive Schilka upgrade covering the transmission system of the PT-76 tank chassis. But this would prove extremely expensive.

Till now the Army has spent over Rs 20 crore in establishing indigenous facilities at the Base Workshop, Meerut, to undertake the overhaul. The investment includes facilities like test machinery, tooling and all the equipment necessary to strip the Schilka completely.

In addition, around 200 civilian technicians, ranging from telecom mechanics to specialist fitters and electricians, have been recruited to operate these repair facilities. Only 25 of the 90 Schilkas with the Army have actually been overhauled after the then Defence Minister K C Pant inaugurated the engineering facilities in 1986. In 1988, the Russians -- being the manufacturers of the original equipment -- helped set up the facility and demonstrated to the Indians by overhauling four Schilkas themselves.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.