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The ONLY magazine in Asia-Pacific dedicated to Land Forces

>> Lead Story

In This Issue Page 4 Making Indian Army Future Ready

General M.M. Naravane

PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC

21st century battlefields require the Indian Army to have both intra-Service and interServices networking. These needs should be supported by acquiring NCW capabilities at the earliest and the required information systems put in place.

Message

Chief of the Army Staff

am pleased to learn that SP Guide Publications is releasing a Special Issue of SP’s Land Forces on the occasion of Army Day 2022. At a time when the global security paradigm is undergoing profound changes, release of this special edition would undoubtedly generate interest, both amongst scholars and practitioners alike. By virtue of its wide readership and reach, I am confident that this edition too will contribute meaningfully to the strategic thought process in the country and beyond. The COVID Pandemic has ushered in unprecedented changes within a short span of time. Nations and institutions continue to adapt to the new normal imposed by the Pandemic. New geo-strategic alignments driven by the need to preserve the ‘Rules Based Order’ continue to shape the security environment. With the global Centre of Gravity shifting to the IndoPacific, India has been actively engaged with other partners in working towards peace and stability in the region.

Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd) Page 5 Look Beyond Traditional Contact Warfare

The Indian Army has successfully faced the twin challenges of the Pandemic and the situation along our Northern borders with resilience and resolve. It is committed and operationally ready to play its destined role as a critical element of National Power. It continues to rapidly transform into a ‘Future Ready Force’ through significant changes in thought and structures, absorbing niche technologies and fostering indigenous defence production. I am sanguine that this Special Issue will enlighten and inform all readers of the initiatives that are underway in the Indian Army to create a stronger, more responsive and efficient Land Force. My compliments and best wishes to SP Guide Publications for undertaking this initiative. Jai Hind!

Are we prepared today to foil a cyberattack on our Railway Network, Banking System or Power Grid? The nature of cyberattacks is such that it is almost always difficult to pinpoint the source of the attack, giving perpetrating nation-states plausible deniability. Lt General Abhay Krishna (Retd) Page 6 Future of Warfare

The convergence of AI, drones and robotics leading to the fielding of Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS) raise serious questions about the nature of future warfare and the larger question of utility of standing armies. Major General Atanu K. Pattanaik (Retd) Plus Appointments

(M.M. Naravane) General Chief of the Army Staff

“We are Resolved to Show ‘Zero Tolerance’ to Terror” India will “come out victorious” in case of war with China, war stays only as an “instrument of last resort”, General M.M. Naravane said during a press conference, ahead of Army Day celebrations on January 15, 2022  Neetu Dhulia

ndian Army Chief General M.M. Naravane, addressed the Annual Press Conference, ahead of the Army Day on January 15, where he apprised the media about the country’s military preparedness and the current status at the borders.

This was the first Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Press Conference, to be conducted virtually, due to the COVID pandemic and was also hosted Live on the YouTube Channel “ADGPI-INDIAN ARMY”. General Naravane, the 28th Chief of the Army Staff, took charge on December 31, 2019 for a 28-month tenure. Helming the 1.3 million-strong force, his tenure has

witnessed a robust reaction and response of the Indian Army, amidst the unprecedented and challenging Covid situation, evolving security challenges, and restless borders. We are resolved to show ‘Zero Tolerance’ to terror, he stated, the whole of ‘government approach’ has led to a progressive improvement of the situation in the Jammu and Kashmir.

6/2021 SP’s Land Forces

E D I T O R I A L

>> LEAD STORY

This issue of SP’s Land Forces coincides with the Army Day which falls on January 15 and is celebrated as on this day Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa (then a Lt General) took over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from General F.R. Bucher on January 15, 1949.

On this occasion, Chief of the Army Staff General M.M. Naravane held the traditional press conference, this time in virtual mode. Our lead coverage in this issue is the highlights of the Chief’s press conference. He said that with the global Centre of Gravity shifting to the Indo-Pacific, India has been actively engaged with other partners in working towards peace and stability in the region. He emphasised that the Army continues to rapidly transform into a ‘Future Ready Force’ through significant changes in thought and structures, absorbing niche technologies and fostering indigenous defence production. He was forthcoming on terror by stating that there is ‘Zero

Tolerance’ to terror & the current approach to J&K has led to a progressive improvement of the situation. Regarding futurereadiness and procurements, he added that the Indian Army is committed to the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan and has prioritised its procurement from the Indian Industry. In an article on making Indian Army future ready, Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd) laments that India has yet to define a National Security Strategy, has not undertaken a Comprehensive Defence Review or established credible deterrence to the China-Pakistan proxy wars being waged on India. He stressed that Modern militaries envisage future warfare being won and lost in cyber-

space, enabled by artificial intelligence (AI) and space platforms and is India ready? Continuing on the ‘future’ aspects of warfare, in his article, Lt General Abhay Krishna looks beyond traditional contact warfare & asks if we are prepared today to foil a cyber-attack by China on our Railway Network, Banking System or Power Grid and why cyber-warfare capabilities have not been prioritised by India? In his article on the ‘Future’ of warfare, Major General Atanu Pattanaik looks at the convergence of AI, drones and robotics leading to the fielding of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS) and how in the near future, the soldier may be seen as a liability in the battlefield.

Photographs: Indian Army

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“Indian Army has maintained the highest levels of operational preparedness along the Northern Borders and will continue to deal with situations in a firm, resolute & peaceful manner while ensuring the sanctity of our claims”, he said addressing the media. Army Chief General Naravane reiterated that India will “come out victorious” in case of war with China and added that the war stays only as an “instrument of last resort”. “We are well prepared to meet any challenge that is thrown at us. Major efforts are undertaken to see what all dual-use infrastructure is there which can be made use of. Necessary safeguards are in place to take care of any contingencies. Up-gradation and development of infrastructure along the northern borders have been carried out holistically and comprehensively.” He added, “We will continue to deal with the Chinese PLA firmly and resolutely. We have continued to maintain the highest level of operational preparedness while at the same time engaging with the Chinese PLA in dialogue.” Clarifying China’s new land boundary law, he said “the law is not binding on us. It is neither legally tenable nor in keeping with our bilateral agreements in the past. As such, we do not accept it.” Regarding Pakistan, General Naravane mentioned that Pakistan continues to harbor around 400 terrorists at the border launch pads and terror-training camps, exposing its nefarious designs despite the ongoing border ceasefire, but the Indian Army is determined to impose dire costs on any cross-border terrorism. He added, “We are not averse to the demilitarisation of the Siachen Glacier but the precondition is for Pakistan to accept the Actual

SP’s Land Forces 6/2021

(Top) General M.M. Naravane, Chief of the Army Staff, continues to lead from the front as the Indian Army faces unprecedented challenges on all fronts and undergoes restructuring and modernisation; (Above) General M.M. Naravane during his opening remarks at the Annual Army Day Press Conference 2022.

This issue just about wraps up with the Flag Appointments. The 12th edition of DefExpo will be held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat between March 10-13, 2022. Hope to meet you all at Hall 8 Stall 8S.3. We at SP’s wish all valuable readers of SP’s Land Forces, a very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous Year 2022. Jai Hind!

Jayant Baranwal Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

“We will continue to deal with the Chinese PLA firmly and resolutely. We have continued to maintain the highest level of operational preparedness while at the same time engaging with the Chinese PLA in dialogue.” Ground Position Line (AGPL). Pakistan has to accept what are their positions and what are our positions. “Owing to our high standards of training, professional expertise & reliable defence technology, an increasing number of Friendly Foreign Countries have shown keen interest in engaging with us”. COAS mentioned that there is a considerable increase in Defence Cooperation activities. Regarding future-readiness and procurements, he added that the Indian Army is committed to the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan and has prioritised its procurement from the Indian Industry. Significant steps have been taken on leveraging Drones for logistics support, Artificial Intelligence,5G, and Quantum Technology to gain an edge over the adversaries. “Present situation demands new technology and equipment and we should not be found wanting, shall the need arise,” he stated regarding the emerging technology and Swarm Drones, which were part of the Army Day parade last year. He stressed that the Indian Army stands fully committed to collective integration and synergy and that the establishment of Theater Command is being deliberated upon in consultation with the other services. He referred to the permanent commission being given to women in the Army and said, “Army is fully ready to admit women cadets and preparations are underway to induct them from June 2022”. The Army Chief also said common training for both men and women officers at the Officer Training Academy (OTA), Chennai, has ensured “all-around improvement in standard”. He also mentioned that the first batch of women soldiers of the Corps of Military Police have completed their training and have joined their units. He closed his remarks by appreciating the role of Media, “Military and Media have equal roles in building a great nation!” SP

>> FUTURE TRENDS / OPERATIONS

Making Indian Army Future Ready 21st century battlefields require the Indian Army to have both intra-Service and inter-Services networking. These needs should be supported by acquiring NCW capabilities at the earliest and the required information systems put in place. Photograph: US Army

 Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

Opening of the Pakistani front – possibly in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (POK). l Continued proxy war on India in conjunction Pakistan but with heightened intensity and possible use of chemical, biological or radiological weaponry with the aim of spreading panic in public and try to force the forward troops to look back. l

ike many militaries around the world, the Indian Armed Forces including the Indian Army too are modernising albeit at a slow pace due to multiple hiccups. We are yet to define a National Security Strategy (NSS), have not undertaken a Comprehensive Defence Review (CDR), and have not established credible deterrence to the China-Pakistan proxy wars waged on India. The overall transformation including establishment of Integrated Theatre Commands (ITCs) and Integrated Functional Commands (IFCs) has been left to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) instead of going for a comprehensive Act of Parliament for holistic transformation in time bound fashion like America’s Goldwater-Nichols Act and Germany’s Berlin Decree that ushered the required revolution in military affairs (RMA). Our military transformation is being looked at in bits and pieces not holistically whereas RMA implies a major change in the Nature of Warfare brought about by the innovative application of technologies, which combined with dramatic changes in military doctrine and operational concepts that fundamentally alters the character and conduct of operations. Ironically, our approaches to military transformation will unlikely change given the primacy of the bureaucracy in the Indian setup and the politicians dependent on the advice of bureaucrats. Establishment of the CDS (a four-star General) as Secretary, Directorate of Military Affairs (DMA) in the MoD has been lopsided. It did not merge HQ Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) into the MoD as should have happened, reduced the stature of a four-star General who is otherwise senior to a bureaucrat of secretary rank, and subordinated the CDS functionally to the Defence Secretary.

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Future Wars Wars are a continuous affair and not confined to conventional operations alone, which implies war waged on multiple levels simultaneously. Sub-conventional wars would continue to be waged in conjunction with other forms of hi-tech wars. Modern militaries, particularly the US and China, envisage future warfare being won and lost in a cyberspace, enabled by artificial intelligence (AI) and space platforms. China’s Strategic Support Force looks at space, electronic warfare and cyber capabilities. Offensive cyber attacks (both disruptive and predatory), termed ‘sub-threshold warfare’ in western parlance, have become a regular affair – almost on daily basis. AI is helping militaries enhance multilayered capabilities in handling a spectrum of undefined war situations or hostile environments. AI enables rapid decision-making capabilities in a dynamic information dense environment as well as in information sparse situations. AI has enabled deployment of Lethal Autonomous Weapons (LAWS), AIenabled drones, AI-powered killer robots, Integrated Speech Solution (leveraging automatic speech recognition (ASR), machine translation and speech-to-text to translate multiple languages), and AI-based landmine detection systems. On another level, AI impacts algorithmically-driven social media connections by radicalising public opinions. Hypersonic missiles are a reality that can attack satellites and hit targets at land

SP’s Land Forces 6/2021

Future Readiness of Indian Army

Sub-conventional wars would continue to be waged in conjunction with hi-tech wars. AI is helping militaries enhance multilayered capabilities in handling a spectrum of undefined war situations or hostile environments.

and sea at incredible speeds of five to 27 times the speed of sound that are difficult to defend against and carry conventional or nuclear warheads. China’s Dong Feng 17 missile carries a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) that can manoeuvre through the atmosphere with an almost unpredictable trajectory, making it hard to intercept. The impressive win by Azerbaijan over Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict using armed drones supplied by Turkey highlighted the importance of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs). Today, drones are being freely used by states and terrorist organisations. Swarm drones are on the scene, China has a large drone industry and Pakistan is acquiring Chinese and Turkish drones to augment its own drone programme. Wars no more target the military of the adversary alone but the country at large including the public/society and the critical infrastructure. The defender’s military would experience jammed communications, surveillance degraded and weapon platforms subjected to cyber, electronic and electromagnetic attacks. Quantum communications which are immune to jamming are increasingly required. According to media reports, the following equipment are helping the Pentagon fight more effectively with fewer troops; rail-gun, smart-scope rifle, minesweeping drone, unmanned sub hunter, enhanced combat helmet, wearable batteries and night-vision contact lenses. The results of future wars will likely be decided in the realm of high-speed information-networking, software upgrades that include artificial intelligence, long-range sensing, stealth, precision weapons and, perhaps most of all, sensor-to-shooter decision cycles. To add to this, is China’s biologi-

Modern militaries, particularly the US and China, envisage future warfare being won and lost in the cyberspace, enabled by artificial intelligence (AI) and space platforms

cal bombing of the world with the Wuhan Virus. This brings us to the situation where precise and directional biological weapons may be used on the enemy in addition to all that has been mentioned above. This would seriously impact the fighting potential and morale of the defending troops.

Conflict Environment - Indian Context There is much in the media about the internal disagreements in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and possible weakening of the position of President Xi Jinping. But we may be in for a further round of hostilities from China sooner than expected – probably within 2022. The 20th Congress of the CCP is scheduled in October 2022 and Xi would like to showcase specific gains for ensuring China’s sovereignty (euphuism for illegal territorial claims) in addition to what the PLA has already achieved in Eastern Ladakh from its aggression during 2020. Weakening Chinese economy is of little consequence because China is not looking for all out war – only specific thrusts for strategic gains. Besides, it is not only Xi but the strategy of the CCP which is clearly offensive. PLA’s build up along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), its feverish upgrading of the border infrastructure including launching a bridge over the Pangong Tso for offensive purposes indicates that China would not like to wait for India to build its military capabilities further. China has already integrated Pakistan into its offensive plans against India. That is why it has been arming Pakistan and is now giving 25 x J-10C fighter jets despite Pakistan’s weak economy. In the event of conflict with China, the IA could be faced with the following: l Cyber attacks as prelude to the conflict. l Jamming of communications. l Blinding of surveillance systems, l Extensive use of AI-enabled drones and AI-powered killer robots. l Long range systems to target enemy support systems, communication and logistics nodes including airfields and heliports. l Possible use of directional biological weapons. l Sudden attack on multiple fronts (something like India’s cold war doctrine) with sufficient force to swiftly capture the designated objectives. l Simultaneous attacks in depth using Special Forces, heliborne forces or swarm drones.

The Indian Army (IA) is aware of the dynamic battlefield environment and what additions are coming in the future though we have long distance to cover. In recognition of the rapid advancement in the emerging military technologies, the IA, with support from the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), has recently established the Quantum Laboratory to spearhead research and training in this field. Research in Quantum Technology will help leapfrog into next generation communication and transform the current system of cryptography in the IA to Post Quantum Cryptography (PQC); key thrust areas being Quantum Key Distribution, Quantum Communication, Quantum Computing and Post Quantum Cryptography. In addition, the IA has also established an AI Centre with over 140 deployments in forward areas with active support of the industry and academia. Training on cyber warfare is being imparted through a state of art cyber range, and cyber security labs. During a seminar on ‘Electromagnetic Spectrum and National Security’ held in October 2021, electromagnetic operations by the IA were discussed, as also the need for the IA to acquire electromagnetic operations capability in conjunction the industry and academia. Since then, an impetus has been given to IA’s Technology Institutions for investing in AI, Quantum and Cyber. No doubt China has a major lead in these spheres but there is no reason that with accelerated focus, the IA will not be able to catch up given the requisite budgetary support. 21st century battlefields require the IA to have both intra-Service and inter-Services networking. Ironically, the IA’s pursuit for acquiring network-centric warfare (NCW) capabilities has been stymied by inadequate support and hurdles by the DRDO on grounds of secrecy; even though the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR) under the DRDO acknowledged on record it cannot develop secrecy algorithms and resorts to outsourcing. In addition, certain Operational Information Systems (OIS) were shut down because of budgetary constraints and indecision at the hierarchical level despite spending years and large amount of money in developing them. The IA needs to be supported in acquiring NCW capabilities at the earliest and the required information systems put in place. Lack of networking creates avoidable gaps in information availability and duplication of tasks. At critical moments of national security, there is no scope for any breaks in downtime. Increase in networking is achieved by investing in networks, and by education and training of soldiers who operate the network and fight another networked force. Operations in an NCW environment will mean that the engagements will be intense and the speed of weaponry will need almost instantaneous response. This will create a Continued on page 7...

>> FUTURE TRENDS / TECHNOLOGY

Look Beyond Traditional Contact Warfare Are we prepared today to foil a cyber-attack on our Railway Network, Banking System or Power Grid? The nature of cyber-attacks is such that it is almost always difficult to pinpoint the source of the attack, giving perpetrating nation-states plausible deniability.  Lt General Abhay Krishna (Retd)

ur preparedness to take on the two neighbouring adversaries, repeatedly announced by our Service Chiefs over the last few years, has perhaps successfully conveyed a message to not only our Nation but maybe, the world at large that we are well placed to take on both the adversaries simultaneously.

attack in the physical domain and will be retaliated in all domains. Notwithstanding, one must not overlook the fact that even though, there are pacts in place wherein countries have committed to not using cyber warfare against one another, but the nature of cyber-

attacks is such that it is almost always difficult to pinpoint the source of the attack. Thus, giving nation-states plausible deniability. Like the 2015 attack on Ukraine’s port infrastructure and power grid, was very evidently at a time which was favourable to Russia’s strategic interests, even

after multiple attacks it could never be traced back to Russia. As reported by Indian Express on January 15, 2022, the US has once again accused Moscow of sending saboteurs into Eastern Ukraine to Continued on page 7...

China’s Capability Build-up We are well aware that China has been investing heavily in military modernisation for the last two decades. It is a fact that they enjoy technical superiority in many domains like anti-ship missiles, cyber and space capabilities, even to the extent of posing threat to the US as well. Besides developing anti-access denial and long-range attack capabilities, China, today, is far ahead in the domain of non-contact warfare to include electronic, cyber and space domains. It is believed that in 2019, as part of a cyber campaign, the US utility companies and financial institutions were targeted by the Chinese State-sponsored hacking group APT10. China has, reportedly, also test-fired the S-400 long-range SAM system besides developing HQ-19 with ballistic missile defence capability. China thus, looks well beyond the confines of our ‘Northern Borders’, with total emphasis on ‘non-contact warfare’ based on a credible plan in the electronic, cyber and space domains with emphasis on winning wars under informatised conditions duly supported by an overwhelming superiority of force multipliers. China is moving rapidly towards modernising the PLA by 2035, creating a world-class force by 2049.

Cyber Warfare Are we prepared today to foil a cyber-attack by China on our Railway Network, Banking System or Power Grid? There is, somehow, a belief prevailing that State-sponsored cyberattacks leading to catastrophic failure of critical infrastructure are unlikely to take place as most countries have mutual as well as collective pacts confirming that cyber weapons will not be used against critical information infrastructures. Moreover, country like Russia has also specifically stated that any attack in the cyber domain will be constituted as an

Technology is the backbone of any military power. While we have a strong IT sector in the civilian arena but somehow, cyber-warfare capabilities have not been prioritised for far too long 6/2021 SP’s Land Forces

>> FUTURE TRENDS / UNMANNED

Future of Warfare The convergence of AI, drones and robotics leading to the fielding of Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS) raise serious questions about the nature of future warfare and the larger question of utility of standing armies  Major General Atanu K. Pattanaik (Retd)

bituaries for standing armies have been written many times before the inflection of Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS) as technology’s newest challenge to mankind reignites the debate. The perception fight has been on the necessity for a large standing army in times of peace or whenever we are able to establish a friendly neighbourhood through deft diplomacy, alliances or by virtue of absolute economic supremacy.

Ethics and Morality Abound The debates hinged on ethical, moral or doctrinal principles thus far. Advent of technologies such as LAWS, drones, robots, hyper missiles and cyber capabilities take the debate to a new plain altogether. The convergence of AI, drones and robotics leading to the fielding of LAWS raise serious questions about the nature of future warfare as such and the larger question of utility of standing armies as we know them. LAWS are keeping many awake around the world, including the UN. These machines, robots and drones, seen in sci-fi movies like ‘The terminator’ have now been tested and possibly some used in actual combat, raising serious ethical dilemmas. The development is far more seismic than all other technological inventions the humankind had known so far in the sphere of warfare. The Convention of Certain Weapon Systems (CCW) has framework of rules that bans or restricts use of weapons that cause indiscriminate suffering and damage, such as incendiary explosives, blinding lasers and booby traps that don’t distinguish between fighters and civilians. The convention has no provisions for killer robots though. Admittedly, the CCW provisions were not effective in achieving the purpose for which they were framed even before the LAWS emerged in the horizon. Umpteen drone strikes across a wide swathe of territory in the middle-east by the US have caused heavy civilian casualties in the past two decades. Despite the fact that they are ultimately controlled and operated by real people though from locations thousands of miles away, thousands of innocent lives have been lost due to a number of reasons including crew fatigue and reliance on half-baked intelligence. If the people who man these control stations far removed from the scene and who choose targets and decide whether to shoot can make such ghastly errors, what about systems that eliminates the intervention of the human altogether relying solely on sensors, software and machine processes?

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Changing the Face of Battlefields Technology is altering the nature of warfighting with breath-taking speed as the innovation cycle shortens and capacity to process data becomes even more faster and bigger with blockchain and AI. With inexpensive, combat-ready drones proliferating on battlefields all over the world, in the not-too-distant future unsuspecting soldiers might get killed just by getting out of their positions for a moment to go to the bathroom. Moderating for the bluff and bluster that may have been part of propaganda and perception manage-

SP’s Land Forces 6/2021

ment, the shenanigans raise the possibility that in the not-too-distant future, the soldier may be seen as a liability in the battlefront and best replaced with machines like the LAWS.

Technology Adaption by Indian Army The Indian Armed Forces continue to face grave challenges both from China as well as Pakistan. In order to squarely meet those challenges, the Armed Forces continues to modernise and induct sophisticated weapon systems and sensors albeit with focus on indigenisation with an eye on achieving a reasonable degree of strategic independence. Rafale MMRCA aircrafts and S-400 missile defence systems have added the much-needed heft to our skies. As is the trend discussed, the Indian Army has focussed on precision guided munitions, missiles, rocket systems and drones. It is planning to buy Medium Range Precision Kill Systems (MRPKS) so that it can destroy enemy targets with minimum collateral damage. They are unmanned combat vehicles (UCAV) that can provide a breakthrough against dynamic and well protected static targets by real-time acquisition and precision strike. MRPKS once launched can loiter in the air and provide real-time imagery to the operator on the ground. In September 2021, the Army has also inked a contract to acquire 120 payload-capable ‘Skystriker’ drones made by Elbit Systems of Israel. However, with increasing automation, AI, robotics, drones, sensors and stand-off delivery systems, sooner or later, the Army will have to grapple with the debate on its manpower. Or even the basic organisational structures as we know them. This is a doctrinal challenge. The COAS General M.M. Naravane recently explained how disruptive technologies are now driving doctrinal cycles like never before. “It may not be inaccurate, therefore, to infer that technology itself is steadily emerging as a core combat capability,” he pointed out.

LAND AND AIRLAND DEFENCE LA N CDUA AN ND D A SE R II R TL YAENXDH D I BEIFTEI N OC NE AND SECURITY EXHIBITION

13-17 JUNE 2022 / PARIS 13-17 JUNE 2022 / PARIS THE DEFENCE & SECURITY THE DEFENCE & SECURITY GLOBAL EVENT

GLOBAL EVENT

Conclusion For all the advent of technology and standoff systems and cyber weapons, the real-life situations of a hand-to-hand combat as seen in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 taking scores of lives of soldiers of both sides or the victory march of a medieval looking Taliban into Kabul in August 2021 throwing out the mighty hi-tech warfighting machinery of the sole superpower the US after 20 years, or the ongoing massing of tens of thousands of Russian troops on the Ukrainian borders tell a different tale. The armies continue to stand guard at the frontiers, while the frontiers themselves are said to have become diffused. There is no putting the clock back as far as technology is concerned. Generations have tried and failed in taming the tide of time. The world has constantly evolved and innovated. New technologies kept altering the way of life, some in very disruptive ways. Yet, the humankind continues to prosper, numerically as well as in terms of wealth and comfort, absorbing the innovations in its stride and with an unsatiated appetite. So, while the advent of long-range hypersonic missiles, directed energy weapons, satellite killers, UCAVs, LAWS, robots and cyber weapons pose varying challenges, the human link will likely remain supreme, as far as we can see. SP

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>> FUTURE TRENDS Making Indian Army... Continued from page 4 dilemma where in our country, the politicobureaucratic hierarchy wants to control all decision making. This can result in avoidable casualties, loss of opportunities and even failure at tactical level in certain cases. Therefore, as the level of networking increases the IA must decide (and impress upon the national hierarchy) how much decisionmaking should be devolved to subordinates when that decision-making vitally affects military personnel on the battlefield. The above is also necessary when enemy resorts to jamming our communications. Fortunately at the younger levels, especially battalion commanders, there is enough initiative provided the seniors hold their hands and themselves don’t look back for every decision – though not all are doing so. In terms of communications, it is good to focus on quantum communications and postquantum cryptology but it is high time the IA’s Tactical Communications System is put in place which has been delayed by more than a decade since it was to be ‘fielded’ in year 2000. The IA would already be holding exercises to cope with contingencies an environment enemy cyber attacks, jamming of communications and enemy degrading our surveillance capabilities, as also the counter action of quid-pro-quo to the enemy. Exercises under chemical and biological attacks would also be useful. Adequate focus is already on for acquiring advance weaponry, drones and armed drones, counter-drone systems and the like though under budgetary constraints. Luckily, the Chinese aggression in Eastern Ladakh has kicked us awake. Hopefully, the next defence budget will provide requisite allocations to the IA keeping in mind the looming China threat. The IA is making changes in the uniforms and combat dress. But more emphasis is required to equip every soldier with better and lighter equipment, exoskeleton

APPOINtMENTs

gear with integrated communications and integrated batteries, decreasing his overall battle load, increasing his survivability, surveillance capability, firepower and mobility. The IA has established Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs) whose efficacy will be known when tested in battle. However, the organisational mechanics of their establishment is not known; whether they are the same troops that were applied earlier and have been merely grouped together with the same aim, equipment and capabilities? If that be so, it is only an exercise in semantics by naming them IBGs but will unlikely give any added advantage. To that extent, the concept of IBGs may require to be given a relook. We need to see the application of IBGs holistically.

Establishing Credible Deterrence Both China and Pakistan understand power and nothing else. Deterrence to conflict whether at the sub-conventional level or conventional under the nuclear backdrop not only should be proactive, it must be suitably demonstrated to convey the effectiveness to the enemy. The fact is we have not established the required deterrence till now. At the sub-conventional level, the war must be carried into the enemy territory, not just an odd surgical strike, Balakot strike or a raid on terrorist camps in Myanmar, which anyway were reaction to suffering casualties and do not classify in the category of pro-active operations. There is need for Army’s Special Forces to be used proactively (not in our territory only) against the enemy. Similarly, the Armed Forces Special Operations Division (AFSOD) remains unemployed though not under the Army. Faced with the Chinese aggression in Eastern Ladakh during 2020, we have hardly done anything pro-active other than occupying the Kailash Range within our own territory, which too we were forced to

Eastern Army Commander Lt General Manoj Pande has taken over as the Vice Chief of Army Staff from Lt General C.P. Mohanty who superannuated on January 31, 2022. Lt General Upendra Dwivedi took over as GOC-in-C Northern Command from Lt General Y.K. Joshi who superannuated on January 31, 2022. Northern Command is responsible for LOC, LAC & a small portion of the IB. Lt General Rana Pratap Kalita took over on February 1, 2022 as GOC-in-C Eastern Command from Lt General Manoj Pande who took over as Vice Chief. Eastern Command is responsible for China & Myanmar border. Lt General Anindya Sengupta took over as the General Officer Commanding of 14 Corps from Lt General P.G.K. Menon on January 5, 2022. 14 Corps has the responsibility of Ladakh Sector. Lt General Manoj Kumar Mago took over as the 34th Commandant of National Defence College, New Delhi from Air Marshal D. Choudhury who superannuated on November 30, 2021. Lt General G.A.V. Reddy assumed the appointment of DG Defence Intelligence Agency and Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Intelligence) on February 1, 2022.

vacate by China. Keeping aside the in-house media rhetoric, our image in both China and Pakistan is that of a ‘soft’ state, which in turn reflects on the IA as well. Chief of Army Staff, General M.M. Naravane is also presently the Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC). He could impress upon the political hierarchy the virtues of deterrence, present a pro-active plan and ensure its implementation, bringing home to our adversaries that India means business, will brook no nonsense and cannot be bullied. SP

Look Beyond Traditional... Continued from page 5 stage an incident that could provide the Russian President with a pretext for ordering an invasion of the country.

India’s Non-traditional Combat Capabilities Interestingly as quoted by Economic Times, in the year 2015 winter session of Parliament, a BJP Rajya Sabha member Tarun Vijay demanded setting up of a separate ministry

be given training on various aspects of cyber security and suggested setting up a proper cyber laboratory in the country. Technology is the backbone of any military power. While we have a strong IT sector in the civilian arena but somehow, cyberwarfare capabilities have not been prioritised for far too long. Besides the land, sea, air and space, the cyber domain has become a very critical dimension of today’s warPhotograph: erdc.usace.army.mil

Enhancing National Cyber Security measures should be a matter of priority

for cyber security, warning that the Third World War would be a ‘cyber war’, and that India was the “second largest victim” of these cyber-attacks in the world, totalling nearly 50,000 cyber-attacks in just five months of that year affecting nearly half of India’s internet population. He further added that India despite being a software capital of the world, still did not have a state-of-the-art cyber lab in the country. He suggested all MLAs and MPs

fare. Today, all major developed countries are rapidly enhancing their capabilities in cyber, space, robotics, directed energy and electronic warfare. Though, India is slowly moving forward through developing risk mitigation strategies, building firewalls and recovery systems as well as integrating cybersecurity resources of the Army, Navy and IAF to counter China’s capability to launch dev-

astating cyber-attack, the major difference lies in our absence of cyber-attack capabilities. Indian Army has taken some initiative to establish cyber labs to start training the younger generation and help them to master this domain. This is a good initiative to educate our officer cadre to be able to grasp and understand better the changing dynamics of the hidden threat. While this will definitely help in increasing the awareness within the rank and file, but what is actually needed to be done is that young boys from the civil domain must be identified who are found excelling in hacking capabilities and be clandestinely hired and built as a team. Put ten of such guys in a room together with the best equipment and see the kind of ideas they will come with. It will be very interesting to read about Frank Abagnale, a convicted felon, who worked for FBI and draw lessons. It goes without doubt, saying that, if we are looking at continuing with the initiative of maintaining strategic autonomy without falling to any binding alliance, then we have no option but to emerge as a regionally dominant power rising well above our current fixation with two front land border war since the “frontlines” have now become blurred. We could be looking poignantly at the mountains, waiting for the enemy to attack, but the enemy would have already penetrated our defences in the cyber domain. We thus need to look beyond traditional contact warfare developing Cyber and Digital capabilities as a robust response to emerging threat from the adversaries in this domain SP

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