The Bhutanese army has 10,000 people, including 7,000 from the King's Army, 2,000 from the King's Guards, 1,000 from the armed police, and approximately 40,000 to 60,000 from reserves and militia, all of which are provided with training and weapons by India, In terms of heavy weapons, except for the Mi-8 helicopters, small-caliber mortars and a small number of old Soviet-made armored vehicles aided by India, the Bhutanese army is fully equipped with light weapons and does not recruit female soldiers.
armored vehicles
27 BTR-60 wheeled armored personnel carriers, donated by the Indian army. This type of equipment is very old and retired. It is mainly used by the Indian military to assist Indian Ocean countries. The maximum road speed is 80 kilometers per hour. The maximum range is up to 500 kilometers, and it has strong cross-country capabilities. It can also carry 8 soldiers at the same time, and can carry up to 14. It was considered a relatively advanced equipment at that time. The model with the largest production did not install top armor but used canvas. It has certain degree of amphibious warfare capabilities.
15 First Win mine-resistant and anti-ambush vehicles produced in Thailand. The vehicle weighs 10 tons. It can be equipped with additional armor and can withstand direct shooting of small-caliber bullets such as 7.62. The is made in Thailand and is mainly used to equip special police forces. With an all-welded steel body, the Bhutanese government deploys these vehicles in the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic and is not deployed within the country. The firepower is a 12.7 or 7.62 mm heavy machine gun with a shield and a roof.
mortars
33 L16 81mm mortars, aided by India, suitable for mountain operations. The prototype is the British medium mortar, with a maximum range of 5.8 kilometers and a rate of fire of 15 rounds/min. It can be dismantled by three soldiers. It can be carried separately and deployed more flexibly. It is mainly attached to the Royal Guards of the King of Bhutan. Recently, this piece of equipment has been recognized by many netizens not in major wars, but as a weapon used by British Air Force soldiers to invade.
The foreign garrison
is mainly the 20th Mountain Division of India, which is under the command of the 33rd Army of India. It is dispersed in the border areas between China and India. is mainly Sikh soldiers. It has 3 infantry brigades and does not carry large calibers. Heavy weapons such as howitzers have poor firepower. The main infantry is equipped with RPG rocket launchers and recoilless rifles , mainly to deal with conflicts that break out in the middle area. The Indian 17th Mountain Division and 27th Mountain Division are also deployed at this location, with a total strength of about 60,000 people.
At the same time, India has garrisons in the four areas of Ha Dzong, Paro Dzong, Thimphu and Chukha Dzong in Bhutan, mainly to train the main combatants of the King of Bhutan, because in Bhutan Due to the better treatment of its soldiers and the domestic recruitment policy, Bhutan has a large number of militia organizations with a total population of 700,000.
Haszong India has built a training center with the largest number of people stationed there. It houses the Indian Army Military Advisory Group Headquarters in Bhutan (IMTRAT) and Wangchuk Lodzong Military Academy, which mainly teaches basic abilities such as the use of light weapons and jungle warfare. The main area where India projects influence to Bhutan has built a large number of military facilities and entertainment equipment, and has more than 500 troops stationed there.
India once sent garrison troops to Paro Dzong, Bhutan. This location is the city of Yadong in the border area of our country. This area extends southwards in a wedge shape between neighboring India and Bhutan. It is the border protrusion of our country, As long as we attack from Yadong, we can control the Siliguri Corridor and cut off India's control over the northeastern states.
The India-Bhutan Friendship Hospital has been mainly built in Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. The capital unit of the Indian military advisory group in Bhutan has also been deployed here. Barracks, reinforced fortresses and various sports facilities have been built. The environment is good and can Quickly respond to various emergencies in Bhutan.
Chukha Dzong is the main gateway for importing food and other materials from India, and is also the main channel for India to enter Bhutan. In order to prevent being cut off, checkpoints and military bases have been built in Nedabu, the capital of Chukha Dzong in India, and in the surrounding areas. The total population of this area is approximately 60,000.
