The ever optimistic DRDO was in full flow at the Republic Day parade and showcased five weapon systems it is developing for the armed forces. While most of these are in various stages of development, one—an anti-submarine warfare technique—has more or less been rejected by the Navy. The DRDO tableau showed an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) dunking a sonar into the sea for detecting the enemy submarine. However, excessive vibration problems on the ALH have already forced the Navy to float a global tender for anti-submarine warfare helicopters. Interestingly, another weapons system displayed by the Army—the up gunned 155 mm/ 45 mm Soltham artillery gun—was described as ‘indigenous’ at the parade. Soltham, incidentally, is the name of the Israeli armament company that has upgraded the system from the obsolete 130 mm field guns to the modern 155 mm Howitzer.
