Question : FIRING RANGES FOR MILITARY EXERCISES

(a) whether the Government has evolved a strategy to ensure full utilisation of Field Firing Ranges for military exercise;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the corrective measures proposed to be taken in future programmes?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE (SHRI A.K. ANTONY)

(a) to (c): The Army has a strategy to ensure full utilisation of Field Firing Ranges (FFRs) for field firing and conduct of unit/sub-unit level exercises. The review of this strategy is an ongoing process. The main aspects of the strategy are as follows:-

(i) planned allotment of FFRs so that units and formations derive optimum training value;
(ii) sectoral division of large size acquired FFRs for firing different equipments to achieve simultaneous utilisation by a number of units of Army and Air Force;
(iii) bulk allotment of large size FFRs at Army Headquarters level and sub-allotment of FFRs to lower formations at Command Headquarters level for optimum utilisation of FFRs throughout the year; and
(iv) de-centralisation of control of other FFRs to the lower formations for maximum utilisation.