10-02-2007, 03:26 PM
Indian Army chief says armed forces equipped to fight future battles
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New Delhi, Sep 30,2007
Indian Army Chief General J J Singh today said 75 per cent of the country's land forces along with IAF and Navy were equipped and trained to fight battles of the future.
"Only 25 per cent of the army is engaged in counter terrorism operations and border deployment," Gen Singh said as he hung his boots after a career spanning over 43 years.
"We have kept the bulk of our forces free and have by rotation, been training personnel on advanced weapon systems being acquired and to fight battles in nuclear and chemical warfare environment," the Army Chief said as he was given a colouful farewell guard of honour at the lush green lawns of South Block.
The outgoing chief declared that Indian Army had now fully acquired and assimilated night fighting technology and also futuristic weapons systems like network centric radars, sensors, unmanned aerial vehicles and other force multipliers.
Gen Singh, who also had more than year-long stint as Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee(COSC) said that country's new specialised formations like the Strategic Forces Command, armed to handle the nation's nuclear and missile arsenal, Integrated Defence Staff as well as the Andaman-based Tri-Service Command were fast "coming of age".<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->
New Delhi, Sep 30,2007
Indian Army Chief General J J Singh today said 75 per cent of the country's land forces along with IAF and Navy were equipped and trained to fight battles of the future.
"Only 25 per cent of the army is engaged in counter terrorism operations and border deployment," Gen Singh said as he hung his boots after a career spanning over 43 years.
"We have kept the bulk of our forces free and have by rotation, been training personnel on advanced weapon systems being acquired and to fight battles in nuclear and chemical warfare environment," the Army Chief said as he was given a colouful farewell guard of honour at the lush green lawns of South Block.
The outgoing chief declared that Indian Army had now fully acquired and assimilated night fighting technology and also futuristic weapons systems like network centric radars, sensors, unmanned aerial vehicles and other force multipliers.
Gen Singh, who also had more than year-long stint as Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee(COSC) said that country's new specialised formations like the Strategic Forces Command, armed to handle the nation's nuclear and missile arsenal, Integrated Defence Staff as well as the Andaman-based Tri-Service Command were fast "coming of age".<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->