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Time to transform to military theatre commands: Former Indian Army General
M M Naravane
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The post of a Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) was formally created in December 2019, with the appointment of General Bipin Rawat as the first CDS. The necessity of a CDS had been first mooted as a recommendation of the Kargil Review Committee led by K Subrahmanyam after the 1999 Kargil War to address the issue of the lack of jointness among the three Services. Subsequently, in 2001, a Group of Ministers report reiterated the need for a CDS to ensure better coordination and integration among the armed forces. However, this major reform was kept in abeyance by successive governments
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The Print
15 hours ago
- The Print
India's amphibious operations depend on contingencies. Can the Armed Forces adapt?
The command and control structure envisaged in the doctrine looks into the role of undertaking joint operations by all the services, keeping in mind the current organisational structure of the Indian Armed Forces. Dual hatting provisions, that is, a military commander taking on multiple responsibilities and shifting between operations, is also a sign of change that probably stems from India's past experiences in amphibious operations. To leverage existing interservice coordination, the doctrine advocates for the establishment of Amphibious Force Headquarters while raising specialised capabilities at a steady pace. The doctrine highlights interoperability, rapid response capability and jointness to undertake such operations. Its focus on jointness with unprecedented civil-military fusion is part of India's ongoing effort to plan for mobilisation at the national level. The timing of the declassification is particularly crucial given the recent challenges India faces from both Pakistan and China at land and sea. While there exist several constraints in the operationalisation of the doctrine, capability development in niche technical areas, institutional adaptation, and strategic signalling will be the most challenging of all. The Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, along with the three services chiefs, formally released India's Joint Doctrine for Amphibious Operations earlier this month. As per the official statement, the declassified doctrine outlines the framework for planning and execution of amphibious operations by integrating maritime, air and land domains. Emphasis is also accorded to component commanders during the planning phases. This is followed by clear hierarchical authority during the execution of an operation, thus prioritising an evolved understanding of joint planning. This serves to operational effectiveness when unity at the command level becomes paramount. This approach also acknowledges the domain expertise that each of the services brings while ensuring decisive leadership during critical phases of the operation. The doctrine also puts emphasis on the idea of Ships Taken Up from Trade (STUFT) and civilian aircraft requisitioning in times of crisis to build amphibious capability within the budget constraints. Understanding characters of modern warfare as inclusive from the global experiences, the doctrine also approaches modern warfare's total-national character, where military and civilian resources must be seamlessly integrated. The detailed procedures for civil integration suggest intense institutional planning for large-scale operations that would require national mobilisation at the highest level. Integration of specialised capabilities, such as the Amphibious Beach Units (ABU) and medical support teams, is aimed towards capability development. What is particularly interesting is the idea of an alternative organisation 'in the absence of' specialised units that will undertake certain specific tasks in an operation within the current force structure. With respect to the sustenance of abled fighting troops and civilian contingencies, detailed medical support provisions, including surgical teams and hospital ship concepts, are part of comprehensive planning for humanitarian aspects of military operations. This is particularly with respect to the casualty care and evacuation considerations, human costs of amphibious operations and the need for robust medical support infrastructure. Also read: China wants to create new order in Myanmar. India must switch gears or be dealt out of the game Operational environment challenges The emphasis on 'over the horizon' operations and Ship-to-Objective Manoeuvre (STOM) capabilities understands modern threat environments rather than operational limitations. The detailed operationalisation of stand-off beaching techniques is to have real-time awareness of contemporary anti-access capabilities of the adversary, while developing credible responses to them. This is in consonance with the changing nature of amphibious operations that will occur in contested environments against technologically sophisticated adversaries. Given the nature of multiple threat vectors, including unmanned systems, cyber warfare, and electronic countermeasures, the doctrine addresses operationalising effective measures to counter them. This positions India ahead of many nations in preparing for multi-domain threat environments. Network Centric Operations (NCO) and advanced C4ISR systems also find specific mention to aid real-time information sharing and integrated battlespace awareness. The requirement for a communications system 'sufficiently hardened' against electronic countermeasures shows realistic planning for operations in contested battlefields. The integration of cyberspace operations considerations places India among the leading nations in recognising cyber as a critical domain for amphibious operations. The directive to address adversary cyber capabilities during planning phases is also an important aspect of modern warfare's multi-domain character. The role of intelligence is central to almost all amphibious operations. The Joint Intelligence Preparation of the Operational Environment (JIPOE) will be playing a critical role in an actual operational environment. The emphasis on fusion of multi-source intelligence and deployment in a forward operational environment of intelligence capabilities is of paramount importance. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) is tasked with centralising strategic intelligence while maintaining tactical flexibility. The Joint Doctrine for Amphibious Operations is timely and futuristic. It balances between the operational requirements and the current realities that the Indian Armed Forces face. As an operational guideline, the doctrine will provide a basis to both immediate and long-term capability development agendas, like civil-military fusion and integration of emerging technologies for the Indian Armed Forces. It will drive institutional changes. However, the doctrine's extensive dependence on contingency plans and arrangements like from forming headquarters 'as deemed fit' to alternative organisations 'in the absence of' specialised units, suggests that many critical capabilities are yet to be developed. What is important here is to see how the Indian Armed Forces adapt to the massive structural overhaul without compromising current structures and hierarchies. Harsh V. Pant is Vice President, Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi. Ankit K. is an Assistant Professor of Security Studies at the Rashtriya Raksha University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Views are personal.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Defence spending is not a waste, it is insurance against war: Former Army chief
Pune: Former Army Chief General M M Naravane on Monday underlined the critical importance of sustained defence spending and dismissed perceptions that money allocated for national security is a "wasteful expenditure". "Defence preparedness does not come cheap. It comes at a cost. Many times, people wonder — can't we do without it? After all, at the cost of one Rafale aircraft, you can build 20 schools and run them for a year. But the defence of a country cannot be outsourced. It is the govt's primary responsibility," Gen Naravane said while addressing a gathering during the launch of his book 'Cantonment Conspiracy' at the Ramchandran International Institute of Management in Baner. Drawing a parallel with personal insurance, the former chief of Army staff said defence spending should be seen as a premium to ensure safety. "Unlike insurance, which comes into play after an incident, defence preparedness prevents an incident — prevents a war — from happening. If you look weak or seem weak, your adversaries will exploit it," he said. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune | Gold Rates Today in Pune | Silver Rates Today in Pune Naravane cited Ukraine as a cautionary tale, stressing that neglect of military preparedness can prove disastrous. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Health and comfort: the comfiest slip-on shoes of the year Ultra-Comfortable Shoes Undo "Ukraine neglected its defence. As they were seen as weak, Russia thought it could take advantage. Within a year of the 2022 invasion, a World Bank report estimated reconstruction costs at $400bn. If they had spent even a fraction of that on defence earlier, they may not have faced this situation." While govts must balance priorities like education, healthcare and infrastructure, adequate defence allocation is indispensable, he added. "You can outsource the security of a campus, not the security of a country. The more threats, the more you will have to spend. It is not a waste; it is a worthwhile investment to prevent conflict. Therefore, defence expenditure should not be seen as preparing for war, but as ensuring that a war is never forced upon the nation. " The former COAS said inimical powers will try to divide us on grounds of religion and caste, and we have nothing in common with each other. "National security is not just about the armed forces. National security has many facets, including food security, energy security, water security, and health security," he said. India needs to be prepared with a policy and strategy on US tariffs to deal with any situation that may arise due to the global geopolitical situation, said the former COAS. US President Donald Trump has imposed 25% tariff on Indian exports — higher than rivals — and proposed to slap secondary sanctions, resulting in 50% tariff, citing India's purchase of arms and oil from Russia. Uncertainty persists over the fate of additional tariff on Indian exports to the US after Trump's recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "The meeting has very mixed outcomes. European countries are not happy with what they think may have transpired behind closed doors. We do not know what has happened," he said. European leaders, such as the prime ministers of the UK and Italy, are concerned that there should not be a backdoor, under-the-carpet deal between US and Russia, he added. India has always said disputes should be resolved through dialogue and discussions, not through force, Gen Naravane added. "This is why Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been saying this is not an era of war. It is preferable to resolve disputes through discussions, and war should be the last resort." he said. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
India.com
2 days ago
- India.com
Why is Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visiting Pakistan right after his India trip, he wants to meet Shahbaz Sharif and Munir to discuss...
NSA Ajit Doval and foreign minister Wang Yi- File image New Delhi: In a significant set of development, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is set to visit India between August 18–19 where he is expected to hold crucial bilateral meeting with External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar. The visit of the Chinese foreign minister is of utmost significance due to the increasing trade tensions between India and the US due to President Donald Trump doubling tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent. However, it has also been reported that the Chinese foreign minister will also be visited Pakistan after the India trip, pushing a lot of questions about the visit. Here are all the details you need to know about the India visit of Chinese foreign minister and why he is visiting Pakistan after the India trip. Why is Chinese Foreign Minister visiting Pakistan? The visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister to Pakistan cannot be ignored as it is expected to finalize Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's upcoming trip to Beijing for the SCO summit (Aug 31–Sep 1, Tianjin). Experts also say that the timing of the visit is significant as it comes after the India–Pakistan military conflict in May and amid Pakistan's growing engagement with the Donald Trump led US government. Therefore, it is said that Pakistan's recent realignment towards the US may prompt clarifications to China. Notably, the Chinese Foreign Minister is also expected to meet Pakistan Chief of Defence Staff to discuss some issues between the two countries. Why is Chinese Foreign Minister's visit important for India? During the visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister, India and China are expected to discuss new confidence-building measures for durable peace and tranquillity, a report by IANS news agency said. Alos, the visit is significant as it comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's expected China trip later this month. (With inputs from agencies)
