Indian Army Fast Tracking Modernisation, says Army Chief General

interview
January 2015
January 2015
Indian Army Fast Tracking
Modernisation, says Army
Chief General Suhag
n
n
rtillery, Helicopters, Missiles, Air
A
Defence and Rifles among Key Areas
By Gulshan Luthra
N
Close
interaction
with the
industry
is being
encouraged
wherein
requirements
of the
Services are
highlighted
4
ew Delhi. The Indian Army
has initiated certain “Fast Track
Endeavours” to make up for
the delays and critical gaps in
equipment should be filled in within two
to three years.
Stating this, Chief of Army Staff Gen
Dalbir Singh Suhag told India Strategic
in a comprehensive interview that it
was imperative to maintain the “highest
standards of operational preparedness to
meet present and emerging challenges”
and that “making up for critical deficiency
of weapons and equipment is on fast track.”
H e i d e n t i f i e d To w e d A r t i l l e r y,
Reconnaissance & Surveillance Helicopters,
3rd Generation Missiles, systems for Air
Defence and Mechanised Forces, and Assault
Rifles as the key areas requiring immediate
attention and said the Government was
giving full support.
“Force modernisation incorporating
relevant contemporary technologies will
remain a top priority” and that “the Defence
Minister has promised full support for early
fruition (of various projects) and we are
speedily (also) moving along the (artillery)
mediumisation map.”
Asked about the difficult strategic
environment around India, the General
pointed out that India wants peace in the
region but that “I am fully conscious of
our enhanced role and am ensuring that
the Indian Army takes adequate steps”
to meet any threat.
Gen Suhag stressed jointmanship between
the three Services as the “cornerstone of all
operations” and said that coordination
among them was given requisite impetus.
Infrastructure
The Army Chief said that infrastructure
was as important as the weapons and
“development of requisite capacities and
infrastructure with special emphasis on
our northern and north-eastern borders is
progressing as per envisaged plans.”
He also touched the element of security
consciousness among the officers and
soldiers, and said that the “highest level
of security consciousness among our
rank and file is a very important facet and
optimal enhancement of Human Resource
Development to fully exploit the inherent
strength of the Indian Army.”
Indigenisation and Industry
There is also an emphasis on indigenisation
and a subcommittee has identified 1755
items that can be sourced from within India.
Of these, 732 have been ordered and 368
items have been indigenised till date while
55 items are under an advanced stage
of completion.
Regular interaction with the industry,
both public and private sector, is held
in the form of seminars and exhibitions
and “liaison with industry at all levels of
IndiaStrategic
hierarchy is being encouraged to ensure
seamless integration with the industry.”
Close interaction with the industry is being
encouraged wherein requirements of the
Services are highlighted.
Artillery
Asked about the modernisation of the
Artillery, whose best gun yet is the 1980s
vintage Bofors, the Army Chief said that
mediumisation to 155mm was the standard
and action has been on in this regard since
2012 with “major projects of 155mm Towed
Gun, 155mm Dhanush (upgraded Bofors)
and 155 mm Tracked (Self Propelled) at the
final stages of evaluation.”
Gen Suhag pointed out that the
Government has already given the go ahead
for the procurement of 155mm Mounted
Gun Systems (814 pieces) through the Buy
and Make Indian route.
Notably, Artillery is the second biggest
arm of the Indian Army, and lack of modern
guns has been a major concern. In fact,
IndiaStrategic
every time a decision was taken, some
complaints – apparently from mischievous
elements or competing companies – would
come in, inquiries ordered and the process
was stalled. This fortunately is not likely
to happen as the new Government has
decided firmly to make up for the lost time
in modernisation requirements of all the
three Services, Army, Navy and Air Force.
Gen Suhag pointed out that “both global
and indigenous routes are being adopted to
hasten the progress of the mediumisation
and ensure that self-sufficiency in gun
manufacturing is achieved.”
The writer with the Army Chief
General Dalbir Singh Suhag in
the latter’s office during the
interview
Infantry
The Army Chief observed that it was
important to “enhance an individual
soldier’s capabilities in terms of increasing
his weapon lethality and at the same time
providing him necessary protection for
survivability in the lethal environment.”
Infantry is the largest arm of the Army,
and due “priority is being accorded to
5
interview
January 2015
January 2015
Indian Army holdings.
The Chief disclosed that some proposals
in this regard are under consideration.
The success of future battles would
depend upon acquisition of information
about an enemy and timely utilisation
of own combat power to neutralise
enemy assets. UAVs are important
force multipliers.
Air Defence
Asked about the obsolescence in the Air
Defence, Gen Suhag said that the Corps
of Air Defence is poised for a major
upgradation and modernisation drive.
The L 70, ZU 23 and Schilka AD (SP)
equipment are getting upgraded while a
systematic and phased induction plan for
various types of Surface to Air Missiles
(SAMs) has been put in place.
In addition, he disclosed, “the Air
Defence Control and Reporting System (AD
Commanders and detachment numbers
at various levels need to be effectively
night-enabled. “Due importance is therefore
given to equip the weapons with a mix of
image intensifiers and thermal imaging base
night sights.
He d isclosed that the Request for
Proposals (tender) had been issued to
some companies in November 2014 for
procurement of Image Intensifier Sights
for Carbines.
Gen Suhag said that all facets of
modernisation for the Infantry soldiers are
looked at, and procurement of Ballistic
Helmets and Bullet Proof Jackets is also at
an advanced stage.
Army Aviation
(Above) Ready to Shoot;
(Below) BrahMos missile
6
weapon systems, enhancing night vision
and mobility capabilities.” There were
some critical voids, but they were being
addressed. For instance, ‘the procurement
process of Close Quarter Battle Carbine,
Assault Rifles and Light Machine Guns is at
an advanced stage.”
Asked about the induction of Attack
Helicopters and the Army’s requirement of
39 AH 64E Apache helicopters reportedly
agreed to by the Government, the Army
Chief observed that future wars will be
fought in an integrated combined arms
environment. “It will be critical for the field
force commander to be able to concentrate
IndiaStrategic
(Above to below) Bofors gun
deployed at Siachen Base
camp; Indian Army and US
Army personnel during a joint
exercise; Indian soldiers on
a patrol at the FLB (Forward
Logistics Base) above the
Siachen glacier
resources and firepower at the critical point
and time. Attack Helicopters provide the
requisite punch and in “a short and intense
battle with enhanced ability to Look, Move
and Strike Deep.”
He said: “In order to optimally integrate
the application of Attack Helicopters in the
Tactical Battle Area and provide organic
fire support at critical phases of the battle,
the Ministry of Defence has vested their
responsibility with the Army. .. Their
induction will be carried out in accordance
with the capability development plans of
the Indian Army.”
Significantly, he noted, plans for training,
support and infrastructure for operational
and maintenance requirements are already
underway.
Gen Suhag said that a Request for
Information (RfI) has already been floated
for the replacement of vintage Cheetah
and Chetak helicopters to identify Indian
vendors (companies) who can provide
the helicopters “followed by licensed
production/ indigenous manufacture in
the country.”
Unmanned Aerial
Vehicles (UAVs)
UAVs would play a vital role in future battles
and there is a requirement to enhance the
IndiaStrategic
7
interview
January 2015
India StrategIc
Mechanised Forces
Gen Suhag said that in-service equipment
is being night-enabled while modern fire
control systems and better power packs are
being installed.
Significantly, he pointed out, “indigenous
development of future combat vehicle
platforms is also being progressed.
w w w. i n d i a s t r a t e g i c . i n
Reach. Respect. Dominance.
Officer Shortage & Training
The Chief of Army Staff acknowledged
that there was an officer shortage in the
support cadre at the level of Lieutenant
Colonel and below, impacting manning at
the unit level. This has resulted in additional
responsibilities being shouldered by officers.
“While high level of operational readiness
and efficiency are being ensured with
available officers, we are proactively
addressing the issue in conjunction with the
Ministry of Defence. A positive trend has
been witnessed in the last few years as the
overall deficiency has been reduced from 26
per cent to 17 per cent in 2014.”
This gap should systematically reduce
further in the coming years.
About training, he said that due to the
changing security environment in the region,
the training syllabi is periodically reviewed
“to keep pace with the changing threat
spectrum and future battlefield scenarios”
and there is scientific application of modern
training techniques to enrich skills of officers
and men to meet any challenges.
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Gen Suhag said that tangible steps have
also been taken to fast track processing of
key Electronic Warfare (EW) systems and
Communication projects.
“A project for procurement of Tactical
Communication Systems (TCS) for the
Tactical Battle Area (TBA)” requirements
is under way. This will be based on a grid
communication network.
An RfP for a Mobile Cellular
Communication System (MCCS) for northern
and eastern regions has already been issued.
8
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COLLABORATIO
Joint Exercises with
US and China
Gen Suhag observed that exercises with US
and China “are being conducted with the aim
of building, strengthening and promoting
positive military relations, interoperability
and undertaking joint operations in counter
Terrorism environment.”
Such exercises, he said, “fulfil an
important role in enhancing mutual
trust and understanding between two
armies, in synchronisation with the
strategic benchmark agreed to” between
the countries involved at the highest
political levels.
Terrorism is a common threat, particularly
from the unstable Af-Pak region to both
India and China. Joint exercises “allow us
to project the high morale and defence
preparedness.”
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C&RS), based on the state-of-the-art sensors
and satellite based communication system
is also being inducted.
The Corps is taking major strides in
upgrading its gun, missile and radar systems.
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