SP's Land Forces Issue 3 - 2017

June-July 2017

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In This Issue Page 4 Sikkim Standoff — China’s Dilemma?

Photograph: PIB

China has resolved its borders with all its neighbours less India and Bhutan because of its expansionist aims towards the Indian Ocean Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd) Page 6 Theatre Commands — Long Overdue “The functioning of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) has, to date, revealed serious weaknesses in its ability to provide single point military advice to the government, and resolve substantive inter-Service doctrinal, planning, policy and operational issues adequately. This institution needs to be appropriately revamped to discharge its responsibilities efficiently and effectively, including the facilitation of “jointness” and synergy among the Defence Services.”

—GoM Report post Kargil Crisis of 1999 Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd) Plus Full Financial Powers to Vice-Chief of the Army Staff to Maintain Combat-Readiness

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paying homage at the Amar Jawan Jyoti, India Gate, on the occasion of the 68th Republic Day Parade 2017, in New Delhi

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Lt General V.K. Kapoor (Retd) Indian Army Team with T90 Tanks Participate in Tank Biathlon 2017 in Russia

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NDA’s Achievements in Defence Sector in Three Years India adopted the current dispensation of defence acquisition organisation, structures and procedures in 2002  Lt General V.K. Kapoor (Retd)

News in Brief

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he Modi Government which completes three years on May 26, 2017, is planning to celebrate their achievements by putting out a report card giving out statistics of their achievements in the last three years of National Democratic Alli-

ance’s (NDA) governance. This analysis aims to highlight some of the important steps taken by the government while noting the challenges facing us in the defence sector and is by no means a comprehensive coverage of the subject.

Defence Sector Reforms: Backdrop India’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) party

won a landmark victory in the country’s general elections. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi inherited from the outgoing United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government a defence ministry besieged by scandal and Armed Forces desperately short of critical assets. The situation was such that as per media reports even ammunition of tanks and artillery guns was in short

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As India strives to emerge as a strong regional power it faces formidable security challenges. The most formidable of these stems from terrorism, in both its external and internal dimensions — the transnational and home-grown, against which India has long waged a relentless fight. Despite efforts from the Indian side to ensure peace and tranquility through dialogue and negotiations, the democratically elected government of Nawaz Sharif in Pakistan has not been able to deliver. In the meanwhile on July 28, 2017, Nawaz Sharif was asked to step down on the verdict of disquali-

fication to hold public office pronounced by the Pakistan Supreme Court due to his alleged involvement in Panama Papers case.

The real power in Pakistan lies with the military and democracy is really a façade as the Kashmir policy is dictated by the military.

Pakistan has adopted the strategy of “bleeding India through a thousand cuts”; waging a proxy war which indeed takes a heavy toll on a defensive India.

From July 2015 to September 18, 2016, when the terrorists conducted the Uri attack, five major terror attacks took place. These attacks prompted the government to become more proactive and aggressive in their approach to terrorism emanating from Pakistan. On night September 27/28 the Army’s Special Forces carried out surgical strikes across the Line of Control to eliminate seven terror launch pads and caused considerable casualities to the terrorists and the Pakistan army personnel involved.

Killing of the young militant Burhan Wani in Kashmir by the

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supply affecting training of personnel and operational preparedness of units and formations for war.

A few years prior to the present NDA regime taking over the reins of the government, the country witnessed various scandals such as the Ordnance Factory Board scam, Tatra-BEML military vehicle procurement, VVIP choppers (AgustaWestland Helicopters) and the the Rolls-Royce-HAL kickback scandal. As a result, nine OEMs including four major international companies were blacklisted by the government.

Since then through various procurements including import of some categories of ammunition and missiles and streamlining the indigenous manufacture of certain categories of ammunition, the situation has been stabilised.

As far back as June 2014 according to the Strategic Defence Intelligence report The Future of the Indian Defence Industry – Market Attractiveness, Competitive Landscape and Forecasts to 2019, the market was expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.83 per cent during the period 2015-19 with a cumulative spending of $241.2 billion.

India was expected to present ample business opportunities for OEMs in the areas of multi-role aircraft, training aircraft, infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), frigates, ballistic missiles, submarines, ammunition, air defence systems, military infrastructure and military rotorcraft among many others.

One can say with certainty that while there have been many ideas and plans that have been mooted and deals put into the pipeline covering all three services, however on the ground the situation remains unchanged. While many new systems have been earmarked for procurement in ‘Buy and Make’ category but by the time they are inducted into the combat units another five to 10 years time will elapse.

Indian security forces on July 8, 2016, started a new phase of restlessness of the youth in the Kashmir valley. Stone pelting became a way of life in the valley where the youth took to pelting stones at the security forces, without any provocation and quite often to provide an escape route for the terrorists being hunted by the security forces. The stone pelting by the youth in the valley became a new phenomenon which had to be countered by the police and security forces without use of lethal force, which in itself proved to be a unique challenge.

This resulted in a changed strategy by security forces.

The government, in the meanwhile, has tasked the National Investigation Agency to probe the huge amounts of money transferred to various groups of separatists in Kashmir. Pakistani intelligence agency ISI has established a network of donors in foreign countries who donate money for Kashmir insurgency to feed the unrest in the Valley.

In the meanwhile, in the

An expert committee under Dhirendra Singh was constituted on May 1, 2015.

The Committee was tasked to evolve a policy framework to facilitate ‘Make in India’ in defence manufacturing and align the policy evolved with DPP-2013; and to suggest the requisite amendments in DPP2013. DPP-2016 was thus formulated with the experience gained by the government in the defence procurement process and the recommendations of the Dhirendra Singh Committee. It came into effect from April 2016.

Most of the deals signed recently such as the 145, M777 155mm howitzers, Kamov Ka-226 helicopters, Apache (attack helicopters) AH ID, and Airbus C295 transport aircraft, are under the category ‘Buy and Make’ which means initial procurement of limited quantity in fully formed state, followed by indigenous production through Transfer of Technology (ToT). However none of these deals have fructified on the ground so far and the time frame for realisation of equipment would vary from 5 to 10 years once the initial deliveries start. An example can be taken of the M777 155mm howitzer. Two guns have reached India which would be used by the Army for making range tables with indigenous ammunition. The induction will commence from March 2019 onwards. Induction schedule includes five guns per month from March onwards till all 145 are inducted by June 2021.

Notwithstanding the delays that have occurred during the UPA regime what is heartening is that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has started working and reacting to the Services requirements ending the risk averse Antony era lethargy. The functioning of the Defence Ministry has been scam free so far.

Defence Procurement Procedure 2016

Strategic Partnership with Indian Industry

India adopted the current dispensation of defence acquisition organisation, structures and procedures in 2002. During the last 13 years, India has not been able to sign a single major defence contract in an open competitive environment under the provisions of the much trumpeted defence procurement procedure (DPP). Despite the fact that DPP has been subjected to six major reviews/revisions, no improvement has been discernible.

Breaking new ground, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) under the Chairmanship of the Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, on May 20, 2017, finalised the broad contours of a policy aimed at engaging the Indian private sector in the manufacture of high-tech defence equipment in India. The policy, which was developed through extensive stakeholder consultations with Indian industry, envisages the establishment of

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Eastern theatre, in the area of tri-junction of Sikkim, Bhutan and China another situation was developing. On June 20, 2017, Bhutan served a demarche to China against the Chinese arbitrary action of constructing a road in the Doklam Plateau, which is property of the King of Bhutan.

They have asked China to stop road constructions and refrain from changing the status quo.

The Chinese have long nibbled at Bhutan’s borders without India doing too much about it in the past. At the Dokalam plateau the Chinese army has been making motorable paths, and converting them into roads and slowly encroaching on the Bhutanese claim area. The Indian military are quite clear this plateau matters to them. If China were to take it over, the tri-junction of the India-ChinaBhutanese border would actually move southward several kilometers and thus be a threat to the territory of India. Much of Beijing’s outrage is its surprise that, India has unilaterally changed the rules of the game.

long-term strategic partnerships with qualified Indian industry majors through a transparent and competitive process wherein the Indian industry partners would tie up with global OEMs to seek technology transfers and manufacturing know-how to set up domestic manufacturing infrastructure and supply chains. The policy will give a boost to the ‘Make in India’ policy in the Defence sector and set Indian industry on the path to acquiring cutting-edge capabilities which will contribute to the building of self-reliance in the vital national security sector. The policy is expected to be implemented in a few selected segments to begin with, namely, fighter aircraft, submarines and armoured vehicles. In future, additional segments may be added. Appropriate institutional mechanisms will be set in place to implement the policy.

One Rank One Pension (OROP) The government has fulfilled its promise to implement the long-pending OROP scheme for over 21 lakh veterans. The present scheme, however, does not entirely fulfill the recommendations of the Koshiyari Parliamentary Committee which had defined

The defence and security requirements, in light of the current and future threats and challenges, need to be analysed very carefully by the government taking the help defence experts in the field. The work required to be undertaken in this field is so enormous that delays would be disastrous for national security.

The only solution to the Chinese pressure tactics is that Indian stands firm on the principle that the only viable solution is simultaneous withdrawal from the standoff region.

This issue of SP’s Land Forces contains informative articles on NDAs achievements in the Defence Sector in three years, Sikkim Stand-off and Theatre Commands.

Corrigendum In the previous issue of SP’s Land Forces (2/2017), the illustration showing China Pakistan Economic Corridor inadvertently reflected incorrect international boundary between India and Pakistan. The error is deeply regretted!

Lt General V.K. Kapoor (Retd)

OROP as ‘One Rank One Pension’ (OROP) implies that uniform pension be paid to the Armed Forces Personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service irrespective of their date of retirement and any future enhancement in the rates of pension to be automatically passed on to the past pensioners. Hence disgruntlement still remains and the government will have to truthfully and sincerely look into the issue of ‘uniform pensions’ between the old and the new which has not been achieved despite the fact that the NDA Government has done more in this field than any other government in the past.

Chief of Defence Staff/Permanent Chairman COSC The CDS is vital not only for providing single point military advise to the Cabinet but also to usher in synergy vertically and horizontally between the three Services which is not satisfactory at the moment.

Moreover in an era of scarce resources he will have to ensure judicious allocation and utilisation of defence budgets and prioritisation of procurements according to threats and challenges facing the country. He would also ensure organisational reform to achieve closer jointmanship and integration of the three services and to transform the three Services into networkcentric warfare (NCW) force capable of undertaking operations in the digitised battlefield of the future. This reform is awaiting the political nod.

Ammunition and Spares The beleaguered armed forces were empowered to procure emergency stocks of ammunition and spares to ensure that they could undertake at least 10 days of intense fighting if operations had to be undertaken with our potential adversaries at short notice though the existing policy lays down 30:30 concept which requires the nation to have ammunition stocks equivalent to 30 days intense rates and 30 days normal rates of expenditure.

Critical Deficiencies in Modern Equipment Each service has a rather long list of obsolescent weapon systems which need replacement urgently to retain the ability to fight modern wars in the future, especially in our

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the new supreme commander of the indian armed forces

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lawyer, veteran political representative and long-time advocate of egalitarianism and integrity in Indian public life and society, Ram Nath Kovind was born on October 1, 1945, in Paraunkh, near Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. His parents were Maiku Lal and Kalawati.

Before assuming charge of the office of the 14th President of India on July 25, 2017, Kovind served as the 36th Governor of the state of Bihar from August 16, 2015, to June 20, 2017.

Kovind also served as Member of the Board of Management of the Dr B.R. Ambedkar University, Lucknow, and Member of the Board of Governors of the Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata. He was part of the Indian delegation at the United Nations and addressed the United Nations General Assembly in October 2002.

Positions Held • 2015-17: Governor of Bihar • 1994-2006: Member of the Rajya Sabha, representing the state of Uttar Pradesh • 1971-75 and 1981: General Secretary, Akhil Bharatiya Koli Samaj • 1977-79: Union Government Advocate at the Delhi High Court • 1982-84: Union Government Junior Counsel in the Supreme Court

Educational and Professional Background Kovind completed his school education in Kanpur and obtained the degrees of B.Com and L.L.B. from Kanpur University. In 1971, he enrolled as an Advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi.

Kovind was Union Government Advocate in the Delhi High Court from 1977 to 1979 and Union Government Standing Counsel in the Supreme Court from 1980 to 1993. He became Advocate-on-Record of the Supreme Court of India in 1978. He practised at the Delhi High Court and Supreme Court for 16 years till 1993.

Parliamentary and Public Life Kovind was elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh in April 1994. He served for two consecutive terms of six years each till March 2006. Kovind served on various Parliamentary Committees like Parliamentary

case as we need to equip ourselves for facing two opponents on two widely separated fronts against China in the North and East and Pakistan in the West.

In the recent times the government has to their credit hastened the process of acquiring some of the critical deficiencies of the three services. However they will fructify over the next 5 to 10 years. These include government to government deals like the ones for 36 Rafale fighters from France, 145 M777 ultra-light howitzers, and 22 Apache attack and 15 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters from the US. Contract negotiations are also on for procuring 56, Airbus C295 transport aircraft to replace the Avro fleet. The aircraft will be made in India by the Tata group and the requirements may go up due the needs of the Coast Guard and the DRDO who are likely to configure the platform for multi mission maritime roles.

In the Indian Army there is an urgent need to induct new assault rifles with night fighting capabilities, carbines, sniper rifles, fourth generation anti-tank guided missiles, air defence guns and missiles; night fighting capability for tanks and infantry combat vehicles, about 3,000 assorted artillery pieces of 155mm calibre; specialised equipment for Special Forces Operations; and last but not the least about 200 light helicopters for observation, reconnaissance and surveillance, and liaison missions.

The Indian Navy urgently requires additional submarines, anti-submarine helicopters and helicopters for search and rescue, observation and reconnaissance and liaison. The navy also requires two more aircraft carriers for its operational capabilities on the western and eastern sea board thus totaling the requirement of aircraft carriers to three.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) requires to urgently build up its fighter strength. The original requirement for Rafale fighters was pegged at 126. However, the present government decided to induct 36 fighter aircraft at the earliest as the squadron strength of the IAF was falling below the acceptable limits. The production of Tejas (light combat aircraft), which is to makeup the fighter strength of the IAF, is still not at the desired 16 planes-per-annum mark and it will take at least three to four years for new foreign collaborated jets to fructify.

Personal Details The new President of India, Ram Nath Kovind

Committee on Welfare of Scheduled Castes/Tribes; Parliamentary Committee on Home Affairs; Parliamentary Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas; Parliamentary Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment; and Parliamentary Committee on Law and Justice.

He was Chairman Allisson Creative 2.pdf of the Rajya Sabha House Committee. Allisson Creative 2.pdf

Former Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, addressing media persons at the 11th Aero India in February 2017, said: “Talks for single-engine and twin-engine fighter jets are in advanced stages and we want to get them done in during current calendar year (2017)”. He listed the needs as “300 to 400 fighters”. On ramping up production of the Tejas, Parrikar said: “We are putting in a second line at a cost of `1,359 crore. Work will start in three months and production in two years.”

Kovind married Savita Kovind on May 30, 1974. They have a son, Prashant Kumar, and a daughter, Swati. An avid reader, the President has keen interest in reading books on politics and social change, law and history, and religion. During his long public career, Kovind has travelled widely across the country. He has also visited Thailand, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, Germany, Switzerland, France, the United Kingdom and the United States in his 1 25/10/16 3:44 PM SP capacity as a Member 1 25/10/16 3:44 PM of Parliament.

organisations of each service to weed out the non essentials thus utilising the budget to achieve the required combat edge over the adversaries, and ensuring jointness and integration to improve our war waging

potential. The tasks involved place an onerous responsibility on the shoulders of the Defence Minister and hence it is essential that a full time Defence Minister is nominated at the earliest. SP

Full-time Raksha Mantri Not having a full-time Raksha Mantri at a time when the nexus between China and Pakistan stands fully established and is impacting on India’s security scenario within and at the borders does not augur well for the country. Arun Jaitley, the current Defence Minister, has held dual charge for almost six months in 2014, when the finance ministry was his first priority.

Manohar Parrikar took over the charge for a little over two years, and after fully understanding the functionality of the Defence Ministry, he put the procurement process on rails. However with his returning to Goa as Chief Minister, the uncertainty continues.

Arun Jaitley who is dual-hatted once again cannot be expected to handle two vital ministries both of which require fulltime attention of its Minister.

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Conclusion The NDA government has certainly brought in more dynamism in the defence sector with faster decision making, but this advantage will be lost if we allow the situation to drift as was the case during the UPA regime.

The defence and security requirements, in light of the current and future threats and challenges, need to be analysed very carefully by the government taking the help defence experts in the field. The work required to be undertaken in this field is so enormous that delays would be disastrous for national security.

Some of the tasks that need to be completed expeditiously are: pragmatic and adequate allocation of defence Budget to ensure the making up of critical deficiencies in each Service at the earliest, modernising the obsolete equipment of all three Services, establishing the post of the CDS/ Permanent Chairman COSC, pruning the

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>> Indo-china relations

Sikkim Standoff — China’s Dilemma?

China has resolved its borders with all its neighbours less India and Bhutan because of its expansionist aims towards the Indian Ocean Illustration: Anoop Kamath

 Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

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he Sikkim standoff between PLA and the India Army is persisting. China has tried every trick in psychological warfare, using its official spokespersons and media, which is all state-owned, to cajole, bully and threaten India with “dire consequences” in case India does not withdraw but India has stood fast. Even after the visit of National Security Adviser Ajit Doval to Beijing, Chinese media spread the fake news that India has reduced its presence in the standoff area but External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has refuted this lie in Parliament.

CHINA

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Deliberate Chinese Intrusion Over the years, China managed to construct a Class 9 un-metalled road leading to the Doklam Plateau but trouble began when Chinese troops started advancing through the Doklam Region towards Doka La. On June 20, 2017, Bhutan served a demarche to China against the Chinese arbitrary action of constructing a road in the Doklam Plateau, which is property of the King of Bhutan. The demarche, a formal statement, was served through the Chinese embassy in Delhi on June 20 since Bhutan and China do not have diplomatic relations. Major General Vetsop Namgyel, Ambassador of Bhutan to India, told the media, “The PLA started motorable road construction in the Doklam area towards Bhutanese Army camp at Zomphlri. We are in boundary resolution talks with China and have written agreements that pending final boundary settlement, peace and tranquility be maintained along the boundary and both sides refrain from unilaterally altering the status on ground. Bhutan has conveyed to China that road construction is not keeping with

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Pasamlung

Doklam Plateau

INDIA

Thimphu Paro

Background China has resolved its borders with all its neighbours less India and Bhutan because of its expansionist aims towards the Indian Ocean. In successive border talks with Bhutan, China has successively expanded its claim lines, akin to what it has been doing with India, never handing over a map marked with what its ultimate claims are.

For past several years, PLA (People’s Liberation Army) troops have forcibly intruded into the post of the Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) in Doklam Plateau, staying put for an hour or so, and telling RBA troops to vacate the plateau, claiming it as Chinese territory. The mere fact that a big country like China is indulging in such antics against a peaceful country like Bhutan that gives prominence to the happiness index of its citizens, shows to what extent China can stoop to illegally occupy territory, slicing it off salami-style, as she has been doing with India. China wants to capture the Doklam Plateau because it overlooks Chinese Posts in Chumbi Valley of China Occupied Tibet (CoT). But for India, the strategic importance of Doklam Plateau lies in the fact that this high ground not only overlooks the sensitive Siliguri Corridor, its occupation by China will turn the flanks of India defences in Sikkim, making them vulnerable.

Jakarlung

CHINA

BHUTAN

INDIA Bangladesh

the agreements between two countries. We have asked China to stop road constructions and refrain from changing the status quo.

Doklam area is near the tri-junction is part of the boundary talks between Bhutan and China.” This belied China’s claim that by stopping PLA troops from the blatant construction, Indian troops were violating sovereignty of Bhutan.

China timed this deliberate intrusion and road construction activity in the Doklam Plateau with Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the US knowing full well that Indian troops will be forced to react, giving excuse to China to snub India by closing the pilgrimage route to Kailash-Mansarovar via Nathu La. Considering the strategic importance of the Doklam Plateau, unarmed Indian troops blocked the advance of PLA troops, witnessed world over. What China claims the Tri-Junction is not the one recognized by India — China has mischievously shifted it southwards by couple of kms in order to expand her claims. China claims the tri-junction at Mount Gipmochi but the ridge line on Himalayan terrain supports India’s claims that it lies on Batang La. In fact, Tibetan history specialist Claude Arpi states that “According to Sikkimese records, Gipmochi is Batang La, 5 km north of Doka La.” This is what India claims. In addition, India has categorically told China that India has military agreement with Bhutan and that altering status quo is not acceptable to India. To China’s sly reference to 1962, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley bluntly reminded China that today is not 1962.

China is mad that India has refused to join the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which possibly was taken as granted by the Communist Party of China.

Without India joining, the economic viability of the CPEC is under cloud. But then China went ahead with its CPEC project completely bypassing strategic, security and territorial sensitivities of India, especially when CPEC is running through PoK, which is Indian Territory. The Indo-US relationship also apparently scares China. The state-owned Chinese media says that India “needs to be taught the rules”. China under Deng Xiaoping invaded Vietnam in 1979 “to teach Vietnam a lesson” but instead

Disputed areas between Bhutan and China

learnt a lesson themselves. Xi Jinping was then Secretary in the Chinese Ministry of Defence under Deng Xiaoping. Again during the 1986 Sumdorong Chu incident, Deng Xiaoping threatened to “teach India a lesson” but eventually had to retreat. All that India needs to do is remain resolute.

As far as China’s threat that India “needs to be taught the rules”, there sure is scope.

India cannot stop Chinese goods coming into India, but the Indian public certainly has the choice to shun Chinese products.

The $60 billion bilateral trade imbalance in favour of China must be eliminated. Bully or rogue, China must understand she can’t keep clapping with one hand.

China’s Dilemma, Bullying and Subterfuge China’s dilemma is the fake aura of invincibility that the Chinese Communist Party has built around itself, putting China in a tight corner. To top this, having usurped total power unto him, President Xi Jinping is in tearing hurry to realize his pet project, the ‘China Dream’ in order to put himself on the same pedestal as Mao Zhedong. India has suggested mutual meltdown from the standoff area, as was done during the Sumdorong Chu incident, which is the only viable and respectable option but so far China has not agreed. China wants India to withdraw first but India has bluntly told China this is not acceptable; withdrawal from the area has to be simultaneous.

Amid some signs of thaw at the Doklam Plateau, China suddenly escalated its rhetoric over the standoff, warning India of “serious consequences” if it did not pull back its troops. Liu Jinsong, China’s deputy chief of mission at New Delhi stated, “The crossing of the boundary line by Indian troops into the territory of China using the pretext of security concern for a third party (Bhutan) is illegal. The troops should be withdrawn immediately, otherwise there will be serious consequences.” Earlier reports in Indian media quoting government sources talked of indications that the Chinese could be winding down their offensive posture on the plateau where they had brought troops and heavy machinery to build a road on Bhutanese territory but

added that intent of China is unclear. Subsequently, speaking in Parliament, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was firm in stating that it was China which had triggered the crisis, adding, “Our concerns emanate from Chinese action on the ground which have implications for the determination of the tri-junction boundary point between India, China and Bhutan and the alignment of the India-China boundary in the Sikkim sector.”

While China had been shouting that no meaningful dialogue is possible unless Indian troops unilaterally and unconditionally withdraw, which India has refused, it has now issued a 15-page statement clarifying its position. Though the language is vitriolic, China perhaps wants a resolution to the dispute, even de-escalate. The document lies that India has started withdrawing troops from a high over 400 to about 40 (India maintains its troop strength is constant at 350). It further alleges that over 270 Indian troops, carrying weapons and driving two bulldozers, crossed the boundary in the Sikkim sector and advanced more than 100 metre into the “Chinese territory” to obstruct the road building of the “Chinese” side. These are again blatant lies.

It was Chinese who were using bulldozers.

India rejected these false Chinese claims, the Ministry of External Affairs statement reading, “India’s position on this issue and related facts have been articulated in our press statement of June 30. India considers that peace and tranquility in the IndiaChina border areas is an important prerequisite for smooth development of our bilateral relations with China.”

The Future There are many possibilities that the future holds. The state of the Chinese economy should not logically favour war and China knows very well that India is no pushover, especially with the advantage India enjoys in the Indian Ocean. Moreover, the world opinion over the Doklam Standoff is in India’s favour, the mask of China’s “peaceful rise” torn-off already. Worse, China’s instigation and support behind North Korea’s antics and Chinese support to Pakistani terrorist leaders has become more than apparent. China has upped its excursions in Barahoti area of Uttrakhand, including helicopters intruding into Indian Territory. These again could be pressure tactics, intimidating India into withdrawing from the Doklam standoff. Such intrusions in other areas including Arunachal Pradesh could well be undertaken, even at larger scale, given the unpredictability of the Chinese and the corner they have got themselves in. As mentioned above, the only viable solution is simultaneous withdrawal from the standoff region. This can be followed by a trilateral India-Bhutan-China discussion about the correct location of the tri-junction to sort out the deliberate confusion created by China. The fact remains that the tri-junction has be along the ridgeline, which is Batang La – as claimed by India. Meanwhile, India obviously should be geared up for similar deliberate intrusions anywhere along the LAC, especially in areas illegally claimed by China. SP

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Full Financial Powers to Vice-Chief of the Army Staff to Maintain Combat-Readiness Considering the prevailing threats across the Line of Control (LoC) against Pakistan and the Line of Actual Control (LAC) against China, the Government has finally woken up and extended full financial powers to the Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS) to maintain adequate stockpiles and combat readiness for “short and intense wars” Photograph: PIB

 Lt General V.K. Kapoor (Retd)

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n recent times availability of ammunition has been a matter of great concern because the shortages take time to be replenished and the procedure for the same is quite lengthy due to limited financial powers given to the army for procurements through revenue budget. This had led to a situation where the ammunition reserves of the army had dwindled alarmingly and even training ammunition had to be curtailed thus affecting soldiers training.

Such a situation if it continues for a longer duration then a backlog is built up due to which the annual revenue budget for procurement of munitions is not enough to cater for the current years requirements as well as the deficiencies built up over a period of time. It implies that a short fall in one particular year has a multiplying effect in the next year and if the deficiencies persist year after year then the short fall affects the availability of war wastage reserves which impact the fighting capability of the armed forces.

In India, since independence, the concept and availability of war wastage reserves, called WWR, has always been calculated at 30:30 i.e. thirty days intense rate and 30 days normal rate of consumption during war. However over a period of time this figure was reduced to 20:20 and now as per media reports this figure has been reduced further. Notwithstanding the figure (ratio), whatever it may be, every year a fair quantity of ammunition is also used up for training of this one million strong army which includes, tank ammunition, artillery, air defence artillery and small arms ammunition and various categories of missiles both ground to air and the anti tank variety. In

past the Ministry of defence has never able to meet the requirements of the army fully and the defence budget could not make up the shortfall thus a Catch-22 situation developed. This is the reason that considering the prevailing threats across the Line of Control (LoC) against Pakistan and the Line of Actual Control (LAC) against China that the Government has finally woken up to its own weaknesses and extended full financial powers to the Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS) to maintain adequate stockpiles and combat readiness for “short and intense wars”.

The cease fire violations on the LoC, the terrorist challenge in the border areas, and the overall threats and challenges perceived have been instrumental in bringing about this change. After the Uri attack in September 2016, where the army lost 20 soldiers, it was reported by the media, that the armed forces had signed emergency deals worth

over `20,000 crore — primarily with Russia, Israel and France to ensure that the forces (warships, fighter aircraft, tanks and artillery etc) could undertake at least 10 days of “intense fighting” without worrying about ammunition and other reserves.

The present government had set up empowered procurement committees under the Army, Navy and Indian Air Force Vice-Chiefs with emergency revenue financial powers to “make up deficiencies and operational voids” by inking deals over a three-month period at a time. As per media reports the Army, on its part, had identified 22 armaments, 46 different types of ammunition, half a dozen types of mines as well as spares for 10 weapons systems ranging from tanks to artillery guns as “critical requirements”, which together would cost `35,000 to `40,000 crore.

The Armed Forces have already inked

19 contracts worth `12,000 crore, which includes 11 kinds of ammunition since then. Out of 19 contracts, 10 contracts are with Russian companies for supply of engines, anti-tank guided missiles and Smerch rockets. Some reports suggest that the armed forces are satisfied with these fasttrack procedures to ensure availability and serviceability of existing weapon systems and platforms. It has been reported that the Comptroller Auditor General of India had also taken a note of this alarming state of affairs in a report tabled in Parliament.

This development of extending full financial powers to the Vice Chief of the Army staff is a step in the right direction because it will now give the army the much needed flexibility of being able to procure the vitally needed ammunition through revenue budget without waiting for clearances through the normal chain of procurement. This will also put the onus on the army for any shortfall in any category of critically deficient ammunition for want of which our operational capability is impaired. However these financial powers alone do not solve the overall problem of a fighting force which is constantly deployed for operations. The defence budget must be adequate so as to exercise these powers.

Moreover such powers of fast tracking the procurement must exist with the army for procurement of a variety of smaller weapons and equipment whose requirement is small in numbers such as night vision aids, electronic surveillance and sighting devices, specialist weapons such as sniper rifles and specialist vehicles for the special forces and anti material rifles whose requirement is in limited numbers. We need not wait for years together to procure them. SP

Indian Army Team with T90 Tanks Participate in Tank Biathlon 2017 in Russia

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he Tank Biathlon commenced with the opening ceremony of International Army Games at Alabino Ranges, Russia on July 29, 2017. Nineteen nations with three crews each are competing with each other in the Stage I individual races to qualify for the Stage II which will be a relay race. Top twelve teams will be selected for Stage II relay race out of which top four teams will qualify for the final stage relay race scheduled on August 12, 2017.

Presently, one crew each of all nations has participated in the first two days of the competition wherein the Indian crew’s race was conducted on the July 30, 2017. The individual race of balance two Indian crews is scheduled on August 4-6, 2017. The top twelve teams for stage II will be selected on the basis of least aggregate time of all three crews.

The Tank Biathlon competition is an international event conducted as part of the International Army Games held every year since 2013 at Alabino Ranges, Rus-

Photograph: Indian Army

sia. International Army Games involve 28 events organised in five Countries i.e. Russia, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and China. The Indian Army team has been participating in the competition for the past three years since 2014. The team stood 6th in the previous year out of the 17 coun-

tries which participated in the event in July 2016. This year, for the first time, the team would be participating with their own T-90 tanks which have been shipped to Russia.

A total of 19 countries including China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Israel and South Africa will showcase their prowess,

skills and endurance on the tanks in this prestigious event this year. The competition involves firing by tanks on the move by conventional machine guns and anti tank projectiles at a range of 2 km, whilst negotiating rugged obstacles. The competition simulates actual battle field conditions involving driving at high speed and entails switching from one mode of operation to another at a fast pace which requires mental mobility and exceptional level of physical fitness and training.

The team has been selected through a rigorous selection process on the basis of technical expertise, physical fitness, mental endurance and consistency in accuracy of firing the tank weapons while driving the tanks through a replica of the original circuit in Russia, at Babina Field Firing Ranges in central India. The tanks were transported to Russia by sea and the team moved to Russia on July 20, 2017, for participation in the competition from July 29, to August 12, 2017. SP

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>> Viewpoint

Theatre Commands — Long Overdue “The functioning of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) has, to date, revealed serious weaknesses in its ability to provide single point military advice to the government, and resolve substantive inter-Service doctrinal, planning, policy and operational issues adequately. This institution needs to be appropriately revamped to discharge its responsibilities efficiently and effectively, including the facilitation of “jointness” and synergy among the Defence Services.”

—GoM Report post Kargil Crisis of 1999  Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

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n January 2017, media reports again emerged of Tri-Service Commands and other measures like appointing a singlepoint military adviser, without elaborating about the latter whether it will be a Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) or a Permanent Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee (PP COSC). What powers the CDS/PP COSC is to have also remains vague. If the government was serious and recognised the urgency, some measures at least would have been initiated in this respect to include this in the list of achievements up to May 26, 2017, – date of completion of three years rule of NDA II. Ironically, other than ‘Make in India’ defence continues to remain at low priority.

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Strategic Security Formulation It is common knowledge that India does not have a cohesive National Security Strategy (NSS). In fact, this was admitted in Parliament in May 10, 1995 by the then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao when he stated, “We do not have a document called India’s Defence Policy. But we have several guidelines which are followed, strictly followed and observed…

This policy is not merely rigid in the sense that it has been written down, but these are the guidelines, these are the objectives, these are the matters which are always kept in view while conducting our defence policy”.

He did not amplify what these several guidelines were that were strictly being followed and observed, but the fact is that the defence of India remained in dire neglect including pathetic equipping of the military and its operational components certainly proves that these so called guidelines and their follow up was grossly inadequate to put it mildly. Yet no government has ever bothered to bridge this vital void that adversely impacts India’s national security at the strategic level. The present government’s effort towards equipping too is patchy and limited to some bigticket projects only.

Our greatest weakness is that the government has made no effort to reorganise the higher defence organisations, particularly Ministry of Defence (MoD) which has no military professionals and institutional set up for strategy security formulation, besides the military is not part of such strategic deliberations.

HQ IDS has emerged as another HQ above but akin to Services HQ with little authority.

The GoM had recommended integration of Service HQ into Ministry of Defence (MoD) with progressive decentralisation of decision making powers and delegation of financial powers. This too has not been affected i- only renaming the Services HQ as IHQ of MoD (Army/Navy/Air Force). Service HQ, though notionally integrated with the MoD, lack any executive authority. All operational and administrative authority rests with the MoD, which unnecessarily extends the decision making process.

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SP’s Land Forces 3/2017

Inadequate Military Synergy General S. Padmanabhan, former Chief of Army Staff had said, “There is no escaping the military logic of creating suitably constituted Integrated Theatre Commands and Functional Commands for the Armed Forces as a whole.”Years later post the Kargil Conflict, Indian Army Chief General V.P. Malik went on record to say. “It is not my case that the Service Chiefs do not cooperate in war. Were they not to do so, it would be churlish. But in war, cooperative synergies are simply not good enough.” The battlefield requires Effect Based Operations (EBOs). EBOs can best be progressed through application of all the instruments of the nation state. What this implies is that EBO can only succeed if all components of national power are brought to bear, which in turn means that Defence Forces must have full spectrum joint operations capability and an integrated approach. It is also important to understand that this synergistic application of power is to be applied at all levels of warfare, be it tactical, operational or strategic.

In the overall jointmanship paradigm of our defence forces today, it would not be wrong to say that true jointmanship exists mainly within HQ IDS. The balance is at an extremely nascent stage, with complete absence at the cutting edge/tactical levels.

Lack of jointness in the organisational structures leads to lack of joint training, joint exercises and common procedures at the tactical and operational levels. We have a very long way to go considering that our so called existing “patchy jointness” has to go through the stages of “de-conflicted operations” to “joint operations” and thereon achieve the desired capability of “integrated operations”.

Chief of Defence Staff Appointment of a CDS is essential as catalyst

Our greatest weakness is that the government has made no effort to reorganise the higher defence organisations, particularly Ministry of Defence (MoD) which has no military professionals and institutional set up for strategy security formulation, besides the military is not part of such strategic deliberations

The biggest challenge to jointness is to bring about an attitudinal shift by turning the sense of insecurity and mutual suspicion into a sense of belongingness amongst the Services as well as the politico-bureaucratic establishment. for jointness and integration of the Services.

Some sections of the polity perhaps fear that a unified military may become too strong for the constitutional establishment and may undermine its status. This factor perhaps contributes the most to the failure to appoint a CDS. Perhaps military rules/attempted coups in neighbouring Pakistan, Myanmar and Bangladesh add to such fear. A second reason perhaps is the intransigence and apathy of the bureaucrats, some of whom revel over inter-Service rivalry. The fact is that the COSC is no substitute for a CDS, which is very apparent from the extracts of the GoM Report given above. Our political class needs to demonstrate strategic sense and appoint a CDS without further delay. Without a CDS, the military’s capacity building for network centric capabilities will continue to lag, as will the required revolution in military affairs.

Theatre Commands Creation of the Andaman & Nicobar Command (ANC) and the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) undoubtedly are significant milestones albeit the former has to look over its shoulder to the mainland for resources. Hopefully, Future of the Aerospace Command, Cyber Command and Special Operations Command recommended by the Naresh Chandra Committee remains ambiguous with indications the only MoD ‘directive’ reportedly to work on smaller organizations headed by two-star level officers - typical bureaucratic idiocy of delay tactics. Both ANC and SFC have proved capable of integrated operational planning.

HQ ANC performed commendably during the Tsunami relief operations.

The vast expanse of India requires identification of geographical theatres that are of military security concern. Conceptually, a theatre should include within its geographical boundary the entire geographically contiguous territory of a competing entity or an adversary including geographically contiguous territories of those entities or states which, in the event of hostilities, may col-

laborate either with the adversary or with own country. It must also include adjoining seas and space above that may be essential for manoeuvre of own forces to address the threatening entity/adversary and its geographically contiguous collaborator(s). Fortunately, this has already been thoroughly addressed by HQ IDS through five comprehensive studies during year 2005.

Integrated Theatre Commands (ITCs) need to be established encompassing the entire operational spectrum with two to three Integrated Functional Commands (IFCs) that maybe Bi-Service or Tri-Service under each ITC; existing 17 single Service Commands need to be reorganised accordingly. Studies prove all three Services will actually benefit from such reorganization, also enhancing promotional avenues. Re-alignment of operational geographical boundaries will obviously need to be undertaken. Need of the hour is that all single Service Commands gradually evolve into either ITCs (akin to ANC) or IFCs (akin to SFC). Command and staffing of all ITCs and IFCs should be tri or bi-Service.

Hackneyed Bureaucracy Under the Allocation of Business & Transaction of Business Rules Act 1961 that follow the British legacy of Defence Secretary (not Defence Minister) charged with defence of India and the Services Headquarters continue to officially remain “attached offices”, the MoD bureaucrats continue to enjoy power without responsibility and accountability. In order to maintain this status quo, hackneyed suggestions are projected through media, like: instead of rehauling MoD completely, some “middle-level” posts being looked at in MoD to be manned by military officers; and, permanent chairman of COSC without operational powers. The bottom-line is that if we are not going in for establishing a CDS with full operational powers and then establish ITCs and IFCs in cohesive manner, it would be fruitless exercise.

But that is not all, concurrent to appointing a CDS, HQ IDS must be fully merged with the MoD. But then this last essential requires a rare quality of political leadership.

Conclusion Jointness and integration of the military is an inevitable requirement for the modern day battle field. The biggest challenge to jointness is to bring about an attitudinal shift by turning the sense of insecurity and mutual suspicion into a sense of belongingness amongst the Services as well as the politico-bureaucratic establishment. The change will need to be implemented top down for it to take root and be effective. While there is urgent need to appoint a CDS, we should get on with initiating the process of establishing ITCs and IFCs in the larger interest of achieving jointness and integration. SP The writer is former Director General of Information Systems, Indian Army.

>> News in Brief CSR by Defence and Aerospace Leader BAE Systems

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trengthening its commitment to invest in the communities in which it operates, BAE Systems will support 300 girls to complete secondary school through Room to Read’s Girls’ Education Programme. BAE Systems is partnering with Room to Read, a global non-profit organization focused on improving literacy and gender equality in education with its largest region of operations in India. BAE Systems’ investment will provide material support, mentorship, life skills training, and family and community engagement activities with the goal of encouraging young women, in grades 8-12, to complete their secondary education.

This partnership is aligned with Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao or Save the girl child, Educate the girl child, an initiative of the Indian Government which specifically targets universal enrolment of girl students in schools, decreased drop-out rates, girl child-friendly standards in schools, and implementation of Right

to Education (RTE).

Nik Khanna, Managing Director, BAE Systems India, said: “The education of girls has a profound and long-lasting impact on communities. Room to Read’s Girl Education Programme is transformational in its focus on life skills as the key to secondary school completion and success beyond. We are delighted to join forces with Room to Read to launch this new phase of community investment complementing the national effort on Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao.”

Sourav Banerjee, India Country Director, Room to Read, said “Room to Read seeks to transform the lives of millions of children in low-income countries by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education. Institutional support is critical to our success. BAE Systems’ inspired action under Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao blends its organization’s goals with Room to Read’s objectives and will ensure more girls have the power of choice and are ready for the doors of opportunity that follow.” SP

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Jayant Baranwal Editor Lt General V.K. Kapoor (Retd) Senior Editorial Contributor Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd) Senior Technical Group Editor Lt General Naresh Chand (Retd) Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd) Assistant Group Editor R. Chandrakanth Contributors India General V.P. Malik (Retd), Lt General Vijay Oberoi (Retd), Lt General R.S. Nagra (Retd), Lt General S.R.R. Aiyengar (Retd), Major General Ashok Mehta (Retd), Major General G.K. Nischol (Retd), Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal (Retd), Brigadier S. Mishra (Retd), Rohit Sharma Chairman & Managing Director Jayant Baranwal Executive Vice President (Planning & Business Development) Rohit Goel Administration Bharti Sharma Asst-Admin, HR & Infra Pooja Tehlani

Unified Commanders’ Conference Deliberates on Tri-Services Synergy

The two day Unified Commanders’ Conference was held on July 10-11, 2017, at New Delhi. The conference, which was attended by the RM, RRM, NSA, Service Chiefs and senior dignitaries from Tri-Services Establishments and the Ministry of Defence discussed all relevant issues including functional and operational synergy, enhancement of training curriculum in Armed Forces Training Institutes among others.

Earlier during the conference, the Defence Secretary apprised the audience that the Defence Cyber & Space Agencies and Special Operations Division will soon become a reality.

On Day Two of the Conference, one of the highlights was the presentation on ‘Big Data towards Insightful Decision Making’, by the prestigious College of Defence Management. This concept has already been introduced in training curriculum of select senior military officers.

The Joint curriculum in the prestigious Defence Services Staff College, one of the oldest Tri-Services Institutions in the world, has been increased to over 60 per cent, thus paving the way for an enhanced shared per-

spective in executing joint operations.

With the purpose of making the military physical training even more scientific, a decision to incorporate sports medicine in the methodology of training cadets, recruits and combat soldiers was also taken. The audience was also informed of the decision to introduce B Tech in the National Defence Academy which will further the technological threshold of future military leaders.

In his closing remarks, Chairman COSC and Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba stressed on the significance of synergised execution of operational plans and encouraged all to ensure rigorous cost benefit analysis while creating any new structures. After a fruitful discussion on several other functional Tri-Services issues, Lt General Satish Dua, the Chief of Integrated Staff, thanked the gathering for actively participating in the Joint Services deliberations.

Exercise Maitree 2017 — Joint Indo-Thailand Military Exercise

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Thailand Army and an equal number of Indian soldiers from the Northern Command will participate in the exercise. The aim of the exercise is to build and promote bilateral Army-to-Army relations and enhance interoperability between the two armies.

The two week long exercise is scheduled to be conducted in multiple modules in order to achieve complete integration between the two contingents at every stage. As part of the exercise the two Armies will jointly plan and execute a series of well developed drills for neutralisation of likely threats that may be encountered in counter terrorism environment. Conduct of Ex Maitree 2017 would go a long way in enhancing defence cooperation between the two countries.

The contingent from the Royal Thailand Army landed at Gaggal Airport on July 2, 2017. The exercise is designated to enhance multiple evel cooperation between the two armies and improving understanding of each other’s tactical drills and actions for countering insurgency and counter terrorism.

Maintenance of enhanced military to military contact will be mutually beneficial.

Maitree series of bilateral exercises have been one of the major defence cooperation initiatives between India and Thailand.

So far, since the start of the Exercises, they have held display of unarmed combat, and modus operandi of establishing mobile check posts, to neutralize the terrorists escaping in a vehicle. After the above demonstrations, troops from both the armies rehearsed the drills jointly and shared each other’s minor tactical drills. In addition, the Royal Thailand Army troops were also familiarized with the handling of INSAS Rifle before commencing the live firing which is scheduled to be organised in the coming days of the exercise. On July 4, 2017, in the evening evening, troops from Royal Thailand Army enjoyed learning Cricket from their Indian counterparts. SP

APPOINtMENTs l Lt General Abhay Krishna, has been

Indo-Thailand relations are multifaceted and founded on historical linkages. Both countries have a history of extensive cooperation. Taking it forward, Armies of India and Thailand have been conducting the yearly Joint Training Exercise named Ex Maitree. This year the Exercise is being conducted from July 3 to 17, 2017, at Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh.

Approximately 50 troops from Royal

appointed the GOC-in-C Eastern Command and has taken over from the outgoing incumbent Lt Gen Praveen Bakshi on August 1, 2017.

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l Lt General Cherish Mathson has

taken over as GOC-in-C of South Western Command (SWC) from outgoing incumbent Lt General Abhay Krishna on August 1, 2017.

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