Underwater breathing gadgets enhance survivability of tank crew during deep fording operations
The survivability of Indian Army's T-90 tank crew is getting a boost with the induction of underwater breathing equipment for emergency use when the tank is submerged while undertaking fording operations.
Known as Individual Under Water Breathing Apparatus (IUWBA), it can be worn by each crew member to escape if a tank gets stuck underwater while negotiating obstacles. The equipment is categorised as a "dual-use" technology, implying that it can also be used by the civilian sector.
The technology of IUWBA had been transferred by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to six industries for commercial production. A contract for production of an initial batch of 947 sets for the Army has already been concluded. Another 3,080 sets are expected to be procured subsequently.
The system has been designed for enabling the T-90 crew for safe escape from the T-90 tank in the event of an emergency situation like tank stalling or the engine switching off during deep fording up to a depth of five metres.
In such a situation, where the crew is unable to restart the engine or free the vehicle from entanglement, there is no alternative for the crew except to flood the tank and escape via the cupola or hatch, according to DRDO officials.
The induction assumes significance in light of an incident in Ladakh last year, when five soldiers were killed after their T-90 tank got stuck while crossing a river. The crew had been marooned for over five hours and after the incident, the Army had reviewed its operating procedures and rescue protocols in such situations. The high velocity of the water was also an issue in Ladakh.
The T-90 has a three-member crew and like most Russian main battle tanks, has the capability to undertake fording operations, for which certain preparations like setting up snorkel for ensuring air supply for the engine and crew when underwater, are required to be carried out in the field.
IUWBA has been developed by DRDO's Defence Bio-engineering and Electromedical Laboratory (DEBEL), an establishment engaged in research in the field of life sciences and personal equipment.
A light-weight modular system weighing about 5 kg, it is capable of providing breathing support up to 60 minutes at a depth of five metres. It regenerates oxygen from the carbon dioxide exhaled by the user.
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by the then defence minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, accorded approval for "progressing the design and development of IUWBA for T 90 tanks", along with several other procurements.
