|
Current
Affairs
|
News  |
|
Army to set up 72 ranges to train sharpshooters NEW DELHI: The Army has decided to set up baffle ranges to ensure its soldiers can be properly trained to become sharpshooters. The force has been grappling with a steep decline in availability of firing ranges due to rapid urbanization and growing environmental and safety concerns. Civilians being killed or injured by stray bullets from firing ranges has long troubled the Army, which has seen inhabitations come up around its once-secluded 62 cantonments and other military establishments around the country. Consequently, the 1.13-million force has got the defence ministrys nod for construction for 72 baffle ranges, which require less than 50 acres of real estate as compared to about 500 acres needed for conventional small arms practice firing ranges. Apart from less land, baffle ranges use a system of ground barriers, side-walls, baffle walls and stop-butts to stop or trap misdirected or ricocheting bullets. They can prevent casualties and accidents due to stray bullets, said an officer. There are a few baffle ranges in places like Bangalore and Chandimandir, constructed by the Terminal Ballistic Research Laboratory, but the plan is to go in for them across the country, including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Army is also battling a shortage in larger ranges like field-firing ranges (FFRs) and manoeuvre ranges to train soldiers for use of heavier weapons. Of the 104 FFR ranges it once had, it is now left with only 66. With notifications of many ranges steadily expiring, it becomes extremely tough to get re-notification due to environmental laws and safety concerns, said another officer. Back |
|
Created
by SaasVaap Techies pvt ltd