Article Posted on : - Mar 17, 2011

Loitering Attack Missile (LAM). A file photo.

NEW DELHI (PTI): In a bid to upgrade its artillery, the Indian Army is planning to acquire medium-range loitering missile that can strike at a target after hovering over it for 30 minutes and sending in critical data on the enemy installation.

Defence Ministry's Annual Report tabled in the Parliament on Wednesday said the Artillery Fired Medium-Range Loitering Missile can strike a target with a missile's precision and has loitering capability like a unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

"It has the capability for acquisition of targets and precision engagements. Each system can carry out one combat mission and the proposal is under progress," it said.

The army also wants the loitering missile to have a conventional warhead, apart from anti-tank and anti-material warheads with deep penetration against armour capability.

Globally, Israel Aerospace Industries and US' Lockheed Martin are the two major loitering missile developers and manufacturers.

On the induction of Infantry Combat Vehicles, the report said in next two decades, over 2600 such vehicles are to be procured for the Indian Army.

Commenting on the Air Force Network, the report says the project was launched after the "growing demand for launching 3G services in the country and a need to surrender spectrum in the frequency band range of 1.7 to 2 GHz by the IAF."