12-27-2007, 03:22 PM
Fresh Strategy, Four-Pronged
Source:Outlook
<i>Towards a robust military: fortified cadre, integrated services, a new-age corps, efficient airlift.</i>
In the light of the new conventional war doctrine, the Indian military is planning a major restructuring of its force. Pending at various stages is a slew of proposals that seek to add more muscle to the armed forces.
A CCS (Cabinet Committee on Security) note is being prepared by army headquarters, seeking more divisions to maintain its conventional superiority against Pakistan and match Chinese troop strength in the Chengdu and Lanzhou military regions that face India.
The army top brass is banking on the government to accept their rationale for the changes.
The Union defence ministry is also looking at setting up 'theatre commands' which will integrate all three servicesâthe army, navy and air forceâinto a single fighting unit.
This is significant as the Indian armed forces have so far operated in separate watertight compartments, planning their posturing in isolation in the absence of a chief of defence staff.
In keeping with the theatre command concept, the Indian army has shelved its plans for a North-West Command in the Jammu region, presently manned by the Nagrota-based 16 Corps. Most military experts agree that in an era of joint operations, the three services must be integrated and this can be achieved by 'theatre commands' that will ensure greater mobility as well as fluidity in planning and integrated operations.
A third move is to try and build a mountain strike corps, a concept that has been validated by several military think tanks. A study group set up after Operation Parakram had underscored the idea of a dedicated mountain strike corps being imperative since a large part of India's vulnerable borders with Pakistan and China are in the mountains.
Finally, plans are afoot to add more muscle to India's airlift capabilities to ensure that it can rapidly build up troops in the event of a conflict on the Sino-Indian border. Also there is the urgent need to build roads in Arunachal Pradesh.
Source:Outlook
<i>Towards a robust military: fortified cadre, integrated services, a new-age corps, efficient airlift.</i>
In the light of the new conventional war doctrine, the Indian military is planning a major restructuring of its force. Pending at various stages is a slew of proposals that seek to add more muscle to the armed forces.
A CCS (Cabinet Committee on Security) note is being prepared by army headquarters, seeking more divisions to maintain its conventional superiority against Pakistan and match Chinese troop strength in the Chengdu and Lanzhou military regions that face India.
The army top brass is banking on the government to accept their rationale for the changes.
The Union defence ministry is also looking at setting up 'theatre commands' which will integrate all three servicesâthe army, navy and air forceâinto a single fighting unit.
This is significant as the Indian armed forces have so far operated in separate watertight compartments, planning their posturing in isolation in the absence of a chief of defence staff.
In keeping with the theatre command concept, the Indian army has shelved its plans for a North-West Command in the Jammu region, presently manned by the Nagrota-based 16 Corps. Most military experts agree that in an era of joint operations, the three services must be integrated and this can be achieved by 'theatre commands' that will ensure greater mobility as well as fluidity in planning and integrated operations.
A third move is to try and build a mountain strike corps, a concept that has been validated by several military think tanks. A study group set up after Operation Parakram had underscored the idea of a dedicated mountain strike corps being imperative since a large part of India's vulnerable borders with Pakistan and China are in the mountains.
Finally, plans are afoot to add more muscle to India's airlift capabilities to ensure that it can rapidly build up troops in the event of a conflict on the Sino-Indian border. Also there is the urgent need to build roads in Arunachal Pradesh.