Latest news with #SumerIvanD'Cunha
Time of India
29-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Indian Army now using US-Israel style war tactics to understand what enemy like Asim Munir is thinking, reveals top Army official
Recently, the Indian Army has started using a modern war-planning approach known as red teaming to improve its preparedness and decision-making. Lieutenant General Sumer Ivan D'Cunha , in an interview with ANI, revealed that red teaming has already been used in a recent military campaign and is now being adopted more widely across the force. Responding to a question from the interviewer — "Do you study or try to understand the mindset of the person in charge on the other side — like General Munir? Do you conduct a psychological analysis of your adversary? Because predicting their next move is a major part of what the military is supposed to do, right? You have to anticipate how they're planning and what their intentions might be. Is that something you actively do?" Lt Gen D'Cunha, DGMO of Indian Army Air Defence said: 'The United States has long used red teaming, and Israel has applied it to some extent. In India, the Army has recently begun to implement this approach under the current and previous Chiefs of Army Staff.' Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category MBA Public Policy Data Analytics CXO Data Science PGDM Finance Design Thinking Artificial Intelligence Others Management Digital Marketing others Degree Data Science Project Management Leadership Product Management Operations Management Healthcare Cybersecurity Skills you'll gain: Financial Management Team Leadership & Collaboration Financial Reporting & Analysis Advocacy Strategies for Leadership Duration: 18 Months UMass Global Master of Business Administration (MBA) Starts on May 13, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Analytical Skills Financial Literacy Leadership and Management Skills Strategic Thinking Duration: 24 Months Vellore Institute of Technology VIT Online MBA Starts on Aug 14, 2024 Get Details What is red teaming? Red teaming involves forming a group within an organisation to challenge its own strategies and simulate an adversary's thinking. This structured method helps identify risks and weaknesses in plans by taking on the perspective of the opponent. Lt Gen D'Cunha described it as 'a fascinating concept increasingly being adopted by modern militaries, including India.' Also called 'devil's advocacy' or 'alternative analysis,' red teaming tests assumptions and strengthens strategic planning by thinking like the enemy. Also Read: Indian Coast Guard gets fast patrol vessel 'Atal' for guarding India's coastal borders Live Events How US, Israel use this tactic in war games The United States has long integrated red teaming into its military and intelligence planning, using dedicated red teams across the Department of Defense, CIA, and other agencies to simulate enemy actions and challenge strategic assumptions. These teams play a key role in war-gaming, threat assessments, and operational planning. In Israel, red teaming has been adopted selectively, particularly within the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and intelligence services, to evaluate threats from non-state actors and regional adversaries. Both countries use red teaming to improve foresight, reduce blind spots, and enhance overall decision-making in complex security environments. Primary objectives of red teaming Lt Gen D'Cunha said the red team examines how adversaries are likely to think and act, including analysing the psychological impact of operations and potential outcomes such as civil unrest. 'This allows commanders to understand the possible consequences of their actions and prepare for future phases of a campaign,' he noted. Also Read: Pralay: DRDO tests 5,000 kg radar-evading ballistic missile that can be fired from a truck The key aims of red teaming include: Anticipating adversary intent: Understanding enemy capabilities and likely moves. Evaluating operational plans: Testing new tactics and command structures against simulated enemy responses. Testing readiness: Validating technical skills and training of the Indian forces under threat conditions. Avoiding mirror imaging: Preventing assumptions that the enemy will act the same way India would, which was a concern during the Kargil conflict. Applications in threat evaluation and planning Red teaming helps defence planners build a clearer picture of how opponents may operate. Some key applications include: Cognitive profiling: Understanding how adversaries make decisions to avoid faulty assumptions. Threat modelling: Re-creating enemy strategies to expose weak points in India's own defences. Adversary TTP simulation: Simulating enemy tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) to prepare countermeasures. System testing : Identifying gaps in defence infrastructure using red-team assessments. Incident response: Stress-testing military response systems in realistic war-like scenarios. Resource prioritisation: Allocating budgets and capabilities to areas where India is most vulnerable. Flexibility and adaptability: Key features of red teaming Red teaming allows the military to quickly adjust its planning as situations evolve. This approach uncovers risks that fixed strategies might overlook and leads to better-informed decisions. By building this method into planning processes, the Indian Army aims to strengthen its national security and long-term strategic advantage. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
Business Standard
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Army deployed air defence to protect Golden Temple from Pak drones: Lt Gen
Lt Gen Sumer Ivan D'Cunha says Army deployed guns at Golden Temple to counter Pakistani drone threats; operation was cleared after coordination with temple authorities The Indian Army deployed air defence systems at the Golden Temple in Amritsar to neutralise drone threats from Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, Director General of Army Air Defence Lieutenant General Sumer Ivan D'Cunha has said. In an interview with ANI released on Monday, Lt Gen D'Cunha said the deployment was made after temple authorities understood the nature of the threat and coordinated with the Army. 'The Golden Temple hierarchy realised there was possibly a threat when it was explained to them. They allowed us to deploy guns to protect… the Golden Temple's lights were switched off so that we could clearly visualise the drones as they were coming in,' he said. Debris of Pakistani drones, missiles recovered During a demonstration in Amritsar, the Army showcased debris of intercepted drones and missiles launched from Pakistan and brought down by upgraded systems including the L-70 Air Defence Guns and the AKASH missile batteries. 'These systems allowed for improved targeting and visibility, especially when aided by temple authorities switching off exterior lights,' Lt Gen D'Cunha added. First Published: May 20 2025 | 4:20 PM IST
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
How India prepared to take on Pakistan's swarm of drones
In an interview to ANI, Lt Gen Sumer Ivan D'Cunha said just weeks before the India-Pak near-war, the Army had conducted a border exercise that involved neutralising a very large number of drones. He also underlined how India's decision to retain and upgrade its gun-based air defence system proved to be a strategic advantage
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Business Standard
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Army denies air defence gun deployment at Golden Temple during Op Sindoor
The Indian Army on Tuesday clarified that no air defence (AD) guns or resources were deployed at the Golden Temple premises during Operation Sindoor, countering earlier media reports and a statement by the Army's own Director General of Air Defence. 'Some media reports are circulating with respect to deployment of AD guns in the Golden Temple. It is clarified that no AD guns or any other AD resource was deployed within the premises of Sri Darbar Sahib Amritsar (Golden Temple),' the Army said in a statement. Lt Gen D'Cunha's earlier remarks The clarification came a day after Lieutenant General Sumer Ivan D'Cunha told ANI in an interview that air defence systems were deployed to protect the Golden Temple during Operation Sindoor. 'The Golden Temple hierarchy realised there was possibly a threat when it was explained to them. They allowed us to deploy guns… the lights were switched off so that we could clearly visualise the drones as they were coming in,' D'Cunha said in the interview. His remarks drew immediate denials from the Golden Temple authorities and Sikh religious leadership. Golden Temple authorities reject Army's claim Giani Raghbir Singh, Head Granthi of Golden Temple, stated he was abroad during Operation Sindoor and was never contacted by any Army official. He added that if any member of the SGPC (Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee) was involved, the committee would investigate and take action. Giani Amarjeet Singh, the additional head priest, also denied D'Cunha's claim. He clarified that the temple lights were switched off in line with blackout instructions issued by the Amritsar district administration — not due to any military deployment. The SGPC, the apex Sikh religious body, has also denied granting any permission for Army deployment within the complex. Operation Sindoor Operation Sindoor, the code name for coordinated missile strikes launched on terrorist infrastructure at nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), was conducted in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 people. In retaliation, Pakistan resorted to heavy firing and shelling across the border areas along the Line of Control (LoC). Border districts in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and Rajasthan witnessed blackouts as the tensions escalated between the countries.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
No nod for Army guns at Golden Temple: Clergy
AMRITSAR: Any suggestion that Golden Temple authorities allowed Army to deploy air defence weaponry on their premises to foil Pakistani attacks in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor is "utterly shocking and untrue", the Sikh religious leadership said Tuesday, contesting a statement attributed to air defence in-charge Lt Gen Sumer Ivan D'Cunha. "No such permission was ever granted," Giani Amarjeet Singh , additional head granthi of the shrine, said.. SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami said lights along outer circle of Golden Temple were switched off based on a security-related request from the administration. But he insisted there was "no communication with any Army official regarding installation of air defence guns at Golden Temple". In a statement later in the day, the Army said, "It is clarified that no air defence (AD) guns or any other AD resource was deployed within the premises of the Golden Temple."
