Issue 4 • 2008
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SP’s
LandForces AN SP GUIDE
P U B L I C AT I O N
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T h e O N LY j o u r n a l i n A s i a d e d i c a t e d t o L a n d F o r c e s
In This Issue
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Vo l 5 N o 4
“Musharraf’s short sighted policies have led to Pakistan losing much of its territorial sovereignty. The rising tide of Islamic militancy threatens to tear the country asunder.”— General (Retd) V.P. Malik, former Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army, comments on the ? crisis in Pakistan.
LT GENERAL (RETD) PRAN PAHWA
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ALAN H. MERBAUM ?
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“Multi-dimensional air threat is increasing exponentially and will be the most potent threat in the tactical battle area.”—Director General of Army Air Defence Lt General K.S. Dogra tells SP’s Land Forces, outlining plans and strategies to combat ? such threats.
Ones pt eo cO Per t invee
EEddiitorial torial
‘Thrust on development of Photographs: Sharad Saxena
Internal security in India is greatly challenged by the ugly face of terrorism. In the last 20 years, India has seen the emergence of six types of terror operations. Most significant being cross-border insurgency and terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, which, despite its highs and lows, has been largely controlled by the sacrifices of the Indian Army and other security forces. The second ripped through Punjab in the 1980s and early 1990s, aided and abetted, again, by our neighbour, and was crushed when the people themselves became disillusioned with the movement. The third emanated from a severe crisis in Sri Lanka and in the south from the LTTE. The Indian Army had to dispatch a peacekeeping force to Sri Lanka and it now stands greatly diluted. Insurgency thrived in several parts of the Northeast since the 1950s. The latest terror module to fuel internal conflict has been the Maoists whose threat has cast a shadow upon 16 states of the Indian Union. No less severe, is the sixth variety, the home grown variety, of the country’s misguided youth, who, disgruntled by the misdeeds of poor governance and influenced by fundamentalist mentors across the border, are bent upon taking revenge on innocent people. The centrality of Pakistan in sponsoring terrorism and in providing the infrastructure for training, logistical support, hardware and money, and at times even regulars from their security forces cannot be denied. However, Pakistan continues the pretence of pristine conduct. Nevertheless the most astonishing aspect is the official response which is uninspiring, listless and sluggish to say the least. We are indeed passing through a phase of unprecedented internal upheaval. Poor governance and lack of political will to keep national interests upper most, is laying the foundation for self-destruction. Corrupt officials are bleeding the nation, home to one-third of the world’s poor. The law and order system has been reduced to a mockery. The unethical and unbecoming conduct of a large number of government functionaries is a part of the daily diet of news for an ordinary citizen. All fringe groups and self-serving political groups are holding the nation to ransom through violent protests while the official machinery both at the Centre and the states is either sedentary or indulging in appeasement in the name of democracy. Elected political elite are thus loosing credibility and the right to govern. Most people wonder, is this the democracy India had desired?
Integrated Air & Missile Defence Architectures: The US approach to missile defence, relationships with other allies and approaches that Washington and Delhi might take to meet the intent of the Indo-US Defence Framework.
C4I2 systems’
Director General Information Systems Lt General P.C. Katoch, UYSM, AVSM, SC elaborates on the Indian Army’s efforts at transition from conventional warfare to information-enabled warfare SP’s Land Forces (SP’s): Network Centric Warfare (NCW) is an information superiority-enabled concept at the heart of which lie digital communication networks. How is the Indian Army (IA) visualising transformation to this type of warfare?
Director General Information Systems (DGIS): The IA is in a phase of transition from conventional warfare to informationenabled warfare, that is, from platform centric to network centric warfare. The full realisation
of any such revolution is possible only with technological development, organisational adaptation and, most importantly, a national will. An effective and technologically sound information technology (IT) force, along with robust communication networks, have been created to facilitate real-time sharing of information and quick decision making so as to achieve information superiority. A road map has been formulated by which we can progress steadily towards being a potent IT force.
Next, we have identified development of C4I2 systems as a major thrust area for modernisation of the army. Development and fielding of automated operational information systems for various levels of operations from Army HQs to Battalion HQs and down to individual soldiers is in progress. Command Information Decision Support System, Artillery Combat Command Control System, Battlefield Surveillance System, Air Defence Control and Reporting
EDITOR
Lt General (Retd) V.K. Kapoor 4/2008 SP’S LAND FORCES
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