Category: Military Capability

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417: NEWS AND VIEWS (NATIONAL)

 

NEWS – 1: Border Issues

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said India’s two major borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh will be completely secured in the next two years.

He was speaking on the occasion of the 59th Raising Day celebration of the Border Security Force (BSF).

 

VIEWS

    • The India-Pakistan Border is 2,290 km long and the India-Bangladesh border is 4,096 km.
    • In places, it has long riverine, mountains, and marshy areas where it is very difficult to erect fences.
    • Border fence alone cannot prevent infiltration, it has to be manned and equipped appropriately.
    • India keeps spending money on erecting, maintaining, and manning the fence. This is a slow bleed to its economy and security apparatus.
    • Also, there is the problem of underground tunnels across the fence.
    • A new dimension is the use of small tactical drones coming across for smuggling and attack with small weapons.
    • Hamas’s attack against Israel has opened a new threat of mass infiltration across the border by sub-conventional aerial platforms.

 

 

NEWS-2: Drone Threat at the Border

BSF director general Nitin Agarwal has disclosed that:-

    • 90 Pakistani drones have been shot down on the border in a year.
    • The number of drone sightings on the India-Pakistan border has increased to 300, compared to 268 in 2022, 109 in 2021, 49 in 2020, and 35 in 2019.
    • These drones were within a range of 2-10 km on the border.
    • These drones carry narcotics, arms, and improvised explosive devices.
    • BSF has seized about 1,000 kg of heroin over the last year.
    • BSF has also deployed a hand-held static and vehicle-mounted anti-drone system to counter the increasing threat of drones on the Indo-Pak border.
    • The seized and shot-down drones are largely made in China.

 

VIEWS

    • This subcon threat is here to stay.
    • It is a grey zone activity that would continue even in the no war no peace scenario.
    • Anti-drone systems would be heavy in demand.
    • Cheap Chinese drones are finding their way into Pakistan.
    • China has also supplied armed drones to Pakistan.
    • Pakistan is also collaborating with Turkey for the development of indigenous drones.

 

 

NEWS-3: India Border Talks with China

    • The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India disclosed that a virtual meeting took place under the framework of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC). Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary (East Asia) in the Ministry of External Affairs, led the Indian delegation. The Chinese team was headed by the director-general, of boundary and oceanic affairs in the Chinese foreign ministry.
    • The MEA statement said that the two sides reviewed the situation along the LAC in the Western Sector of the India-China border areas, and engaged in an open, constructive, and in-depth discussion of proposals to resolve the remaining issues and achieve complete disengagement in eastern Ladakh.
    • Both sides decided to hold the next round of senior military commanders’ meetings at the earliest.
    • They further agreed on the need to maintain peace and tranquillity along the border areas, ensure a stable situation on the ground, and avoid any untoward incident.

 

VIEWS

    • The situation has been tense after the Galwan clash in Jun 2020. The Indian and Chinese troops are locked in a confrontation at certain friction points in eastern Ladakh.
    • As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process in 2021 on the north and south banks of the Pangong Lake and in the Gogra area.
    • The Indian side has been strongly pressing for the resolution of the lingering issues at Depsang and Demchok. There has been no breakthrough so far.
    • “Maintain peace and tranquillity along the border areas” are hollow words used by China to delay the process and buy time.
    • China also has mastered the art of confusing the issue with false claims and documents.
    • China cannot be trusted as it continues to keep the pot boiling.

 

 

NEWS-4: Indian Navy Day Announcements About Women Induction

The Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral R. Hari Kumar announced during his speech at a press conference ahead of the Navy Day:-

    • CNS lauded the Agnipath scheme, calling it a much-needed, transformational change.
    • More than 1,000 women agniveers have been incorporated into the Indian Navy. (The first batch of Agniveers graduated from the premier-establishment, INS Chilka, in March this year. And importantly, this batch of Agniveers includes 272 female Agniveer trainees as well. The second batch of Agniveers had a total of 454 women. With the third batch number has crossed 1,000.
    • He asserted that these statistics stand testament to the Indian Navy’s philosophy of all roles and all ranks concerning the deployment of women in the service, both for officers and for personnel below the rank of officer.
    • He also announced appointment of the first woman commanding officer of an Indian naval ship.

 

VIEWS

    • Time will tell about the success or failure of the Agnipath scheme and its long-term effect on the operational preparedness of the forces.
    • Periodic review and midterm corrections are essential for the success of the scheme.
    • This scheme should be extended to paramilitary forces and other central and state government services.
    • Women are being inducted in all three services at the officer level and in other ranks.
    • Army and IAF have already appointed women as commanding officers.

 

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416: INPUTS TO JOURNALIST: RECENT DEFENCE PROCUREMENT

 

NEWS

The defence ministry has cleared acquisition proposals worth ₹2.23 lakh crore for the armed forces, including:-

97 additional light combat aircraft from HAL.

156 light combat helicopters from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL).

A ₹65,000-crore plan to upgrade the mainstay Su 30MKI fighter jet fleet in service with the air force.

 

Q.  A multi-billion dollar acquisition was approved by DAC. But what is absent is the AoN for MRFA. Do you think the government sees the indigenous LCA Mk2 as a viable option instead of 114 MRFAs??

COMMENTS

  • Over the years the IAF capabilities have enhanced manifold.
  • It is the capacity (war endurance) that needs attention, strength of fighter and combat support platforms.
  • Overall the deterrence capability has not kept pace with the existing threat perception.
  • This aspect needs to be addressed urgently.
  • The government is aware of it and trying to address it.
  • Air platforms of the Air Force are technology-intensive, costly, and take time to procure.
  • While building up the capability and capacity, the most important thing to be kept in mind is that the required minimum deterrence value is to be maintained at all times (either by domestic production or by outside procurement.
  • The lesson from all the recent wars is that self-reliance in defence production is essential.
  • Another major factor to be considered is that a balance is to be maintained between the quality and quantity of platforms.
  • IAF has a drawdown mitigation plan, which is reviewed periodically.
  • The amount of money for defence spending is limited and the wish list is long.
  • The government must have taken a decision keeping all the above factors in mind.
  • They have given preference to the domestic defence industry to build up the numbers.

My recommendations are:-

  • While the domestic production of Tejas would cater to the numbers, there is a requirement for newer-generation multi-role aircraft to maintain a balanced force (till the domestic Tejas MkII and AMCA come up).
  • MRFA aircraft needs to be procured (maybe in the next instalment of defence spending).
  • These should be procured in phases (maybe two to three squadrons at a time.
  • This would spread the expenditure over some time and we would get later and better technology and features.
  • Keeping the diverse inventory of the IAF and the associated challenges it would be prudent to go in for more Rafael aircraft.

 

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415: Q & A SERIES: INDIA’S FOREIGN POLICY, DEFENCE DIPLOMACY AND MILITARY POWER

 

Q-1   Has Indian foreign policy become more assertive about India’s interests? 

A-1

  • The trend for foreign policy is changing worldwide.
  • Multilateralism is changing to mini-lateralism.
  • The engagements between countries have become interest and issue-based.
  • India’s policy has changed from a policy of non-alignment to a policy of equidistance.
  • The engagements are governed by own interests, needs, and gains.
  • The world is accepting Indian stand on various issues.
  • Indian assertion level is appropriate, generally in take it or leave it mode without thrusting it upon others.

 

Q-2   Comments about India’s focus on Asian region and neighborhood.

A-2

  • Focus on Asia and the neighborhood has come a bit late with China having made inroads into our neighborhood adopting the string of pearls policy.
  • We need to be magnanimous in our approach towards our neighbours to retain them with us.
  • Like any other country, our global engagements are based on our interests first and then on ideology and principles.

 

Q-3.  Comments on India’s moral-based foreign policy, with a principled approach, and not using its military power for foreign policy objectives.

A-3

  • In agreement with the statement that “India foundationally remains a pacifist state, following moral based foreign policy, the strength of soft power and principled approach”.
  • It is not necessary to use force and military might to attain one’s foreign policy objectives.
  • Hard power can be used as a soft power as well using Military Diplomacy to achieve one’s objectives.
  • Foreign policy and military diplomacy need to work cohesively.
  • Notwithstanding the above, India has in the past used its hard power to attain its foreign policy objectives. Examples include Bangladesh liberation, Sri Lanka and Maldives operations.

 

Q-4.  India needs to spend more on its conventional military forces, building military capabilities and deterrence, due to its regional and global aspirations.

A-4

  • At the moment India’s necessity to invest in building conventional military power is governed more by its threat perception and need to guard its interests.
  • Regional and or global aspirations come next.
  • Military capability and deterrence are essential to be considered as a major regional power.
  • Military power alone is not sufficient, it has to be backed by economic clout and strength.

 

Q-5   In an age of comprehensive security, is military power by itself adequate?

A-5

  • While it is true that, military power is a significant ingredient of power projection it greatly impacts international dynamics and relations between nations.
  • It alone cannot achieve national objectives. It has to be backed by economic clout and a balanced all-round deterrence capability.
  • Earlier the debate used to be between money being spent on development or military capability.
  • Military power is essential even for unhindered growth.
  • The nature of warfare is changing. Firstly, hostile actions do take place even in no-war scenarios and secondly, the hostilities are not limited to the military alone.
  • New dimensions of warfare have emerged that affect the entire nation and demand a whole of national response.
  • The question of choice is not as simple as “either one or the other”. A balanced approach is required for multi-dimensional holistic capability enhancement.
  • Balance has to be maintained between:-
    • Military power and other tools of statecraft.
    • Conventional military power and other dimensions of warfare.
    • Military capability and capacity to wage war.
    • Quality and quantity of platform, weapons, and war-waging wherewithal.
  • Military capability and adequate deterrence are required first and foremost for safeguarding own interests, thereafter comes regional/global responsibilities and aspirations.

 

Q-6   India with its present stage of development, can ill afford to suffer a military setback, due to loss of deterrence as a result of inadequate defence funding.

 A-6

  • In agreement with the statement.
  • The minimum credible deterrence value of the military needs to be maintained at all times.
  • The minimum deterrence value depends upon, the number of enemies, their military capabilities, and their attitude.
  • In India’s case, the enemy’s capabilities are racing ahead creating a wide gap and the attitude has become more belligerent and aggressive.

 

Q-7. What does a ‘credible military capability’ entail?

A-7

Credible military capability to my mind would entail the following in sequence:-

  • Adequate deterrence.
  • The ability for strategic coercion.
  • Punitive capability.
  • Ability to wage war if required,
  • Adequate war endurance.
  • Ability to provide human assistance and disaster relief (HADR) domestically as well as externally.
  • Capability to exploit Defence Diplomacy.

Collective security is valid not only during the war but also to deal with grey zone operations during the time of peace.

 

Q-8.   What capabilities are required for military hard power to become an effective means of state-craft?

A-8

The military alone cannot achieve the national objectives. Besides aspects mentioned earlier areas which need attention are:-

  • Ability to meet challenges in the nonconventional and new domains of warfare including Nuclear, Biological, Space, Cyber, Electronic, and Information.
  • Any reorganization should be to cater for future challenges in these domains.
  • A robust defence industry and production eco-system are essential.
  • Intangible factors like morale and training are very important along with doctrine, strategy, and tactics.
  • Reach, precision, standoff, and a robust supply chain are equally important.

 

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Disclaimer:

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