defence services - Air Marshal's Perspective

November 4, 2023November 1, 2023

Aspects Related to Long-Drawn Air War

Air war endurance, also known as sustainability in aerial warfare, refers to the ability of an air force or a nation’s air power to sustain prolonged operations and maintain a high level of combat effectiveness over an extended period.

Operational Tempo and Intensity. Tempo is the rate at which military power is applied in an efficient manner across part or the entire area of operations. The level of preparation required by the defence forces is determined by the combination of the expected duration of the war and the likely tempo/intensity of operations. Several key factors contribute to air war endurance and affect the duration, effectiveness, and efficiency of air campaigns.

Capability and Capacity Development

Capability vis-à-vis Capacity. Warfighting capabilities and the capacity to sustain operations are both essential.

Aircraft Type and Capability. The type of aircraft being used, their capabilities, payload capacity, and mission versatility significantly affect how effectively and efficiently air operations can be sustained.

Diverse Inventory. Indian military air assets have a very diverse inventory of platforms, systems, and weapons.

Logistics and Supply Chain Management. Efficient and reliable logistics networks and supply chains are crucial for providing fuel, ammunition, weapons, spare parts, other critical supplies, and resources to sustain aircraft operations.

Maintenance and Repair Capabilities. Efficient maintenance operations are essential to ensure the continued availability of air assets for extended periods.

Fuel Availability and Consumption. The energy supply chain is the first casualty in any war. Efficient fuel management plays a crucial role in prolonged air operations.

Training and Personnel Readiness. Intangible factors like morale, training and tactics are very important for military success and more so in long wars.

Protection of Air War Endurance Enablers. This aspect has pronounced relevance in long-drawn wars.

Decision Making & Situational Awareness. In long-drawn wars, it is even essential to make the right decisions. The three most important contributing factors are a high degree of situational awareness, a robust and fast, network system for information sharing, and AI-based decision support systems.

Unmanned Platforms. The use of unmanned platforms and systems is growing in warfare. Drones of various sizes and capabilities are taking over the tasks of conventional platforms.

Employment Philosophy and Airpower Application

Clearly Defined Objectives. A clear and practical definition of objectives, at all levels i.e. political, military and air force levels is very important.

Integrated Conceptualization and planning. Warfare has become multidomain in nature, and to optimise resource utilisation, integration of all capabilities is necessary at conceptual and strategic levels.

Strategic Planning, Adaptability and Flexibility. In long wars, strategic plans need to allow for adjustments and adaptability in response to changing circumstances or unexpected events during a prolonged air war.

Grey Zone Operations/No War No Peace Situations. Grey zone operations are operations in the contested arena somewhere between routine statecraft and open warfare. These are becoming a norm in modern-day warfare.

Airpower Application Strategy. Well-thought-out strategy would have to be employed for the application of Airpower. Relevant aspects would be as follows:-

- - Effect-based operations.

- - Selective dominance.

- - Conservative risk-taking profile.

- - Networked air environment.

- - Precision and Stand-off capabilities.

- - Sortie generation rate.

Larger Vital Aspects

Indigenous Defence Industry. Self-reliance is an absolute necessity in long-drawn wars.

Infrastructure. Adequate infrastructure is essential to increase the war endurance.

Resource Management and Sustainability. Long wars necessitate effective management of available resources, budget, and personnel to sustain a prolonged air campaign without running into shortages or burnout.

Economic Sanctions. The effect of the sanctions especially on air war, needs to be factored into the long-term plans.

Collective Security. Collaboration and sharing resources with allied nations or coalition partners can extend the endurance of air operations by pooling together expertise, assets, and capabilities.

Future Investments. Suggested future investments for the Indian Aerospace power are as follows:-

- - Future Technology. Air Force is a technology-intensive service and converting technology into capability is a time-consuming process.

- - Loyal Wing Man Concept. The thought process for the next generation of platforms is to harness the advantages of both.

- - Hypersonic Weapons. The development of hypersonic weapons is likely to have a significant impact on air strategy.

- - New Domains of Warfare. The domains like cyber, space, electronics and information have come into the influence of warfare. China’s formation of a Joint Strategic Support Force (JSSF) as a separate service, with defensive and offensive capabilities, in above mentioned four domains, indicates future challenges. Reorientation is required to deal with these changes.

- - Space-Based Capabilities. Space-based systems are becoming increasingly important in air warfare, providing capabilities such as navigation, targeting, communication, early warning of missile launches and space-based surveillance.

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October 13, 2023

WOMEN IN ARMED FORCES: PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES

Women’s participation in the armed forces has evolved significantly over the years worldwide, with a growing recognition of their valuable contributions to the defence and security of the country.

Many countries now allow women to serve in the armed forces in numerous roles. The extent of participation and roles vary from country to country, depending on cultural norms, legal frameworks, and military policies.

Traditionally, Indian armed forces have also been predominantly male-dominated however, the inclusion of women was inevitable with changes in the societal norms and perceptions.

The roles and opportunities for women have expanded over the years with associated changes in military policies, preceding or succeeding these decisions.

While the inclusion of women in the armed forces brings several benefits, certain challenges and barriers still exist.

Related Aspects: Analysis

Benefits of Inclusion. The inclusion of women broadens the pool of selection. It not only improves the quality of intake but also offsets the falling recruitment and retention rates. Women who have served in the services find themselves to have a high degree of self-confidence. They become self-reliant and are better equipped to cope with or face difficult situations in life.

Performance. Studies and observations from countries that have integrated women into combat roles suggest that their performance is generally consistent with the standards set for those roles. Many women have achieved high ranks and distinctions within defence services, proving their competence and dedication.

Cultural and Societal Factors. Cultural and societal norms play a significant role in determining the extent to which women are integrated into the armed services. Some countries including India have more traditional gender roles and do face resistance to women’s participation. In Indian society generally, the protection of women from external aggressors is considered important. Prospects of women falling prey to an enemy as a prisoner of war or a hostage, and the threat of physical abuse and torture create an apprehensive about the induction of women in combat units involved in direct contact combat with the enemy. (Current example – treatment of Israeli women by HAMAS).

Legal Interventions. Like many countries in the world, even in India, Women in defence services have knocked on the judicial doors to redress their grievances related to gender equality and opportunities. In 2010, the Delhi High Court gave a decision, granting permanent commissions to women serving as short service commission (SSC) officers in the Army and Air Force. The Supreme Court on February 17, 2020, said that women SSC officers are also eligible to get permanent commission in the Army, which till now was only granted to male officers. In the following judgment on March 17, 2020, the Supreme Court said that women SSC officers of the Navy can be granted permanent commission. This judgment also entails that all officers and soldiers have to go through the same selection criteria – toughness schedule, promotion exams, command criteria assignments, and appointments with no concessions. The Supreme Court has unequivocally stated that women officers who volunteer for combat action must comply with the standards ensured and that the standards should in no way be lowered just to make room for women officers; or else this will compromise the “Operational Effectiveness” of the force.

Policies and Regulations. Countries have different policies and regulations regarding the participation of women in defence services. Some countries, like the United States, have gradually expanded the roles women can serve in, including combat roles, while others have more restrictive policies. The Indian government has been working on policy changes and reforms to address various challenges and concerns related to the deployment and accommodation of women in defence services. Over the years, there have been significant legal and policy changes aimed at promoting gender equality and enhancing the role of women in India’s defence services. These changes have opened up more opportunities for women to serve in diverse capacities across various branches.

Women in Combat Role. Many countries allow women in combat roles. The United States, Israel, North Korea, France, Germany, Netherlands, Australia, Norway and Canada are among the global militaries that employ women in front-line combat positions. The United States allowed women to serve in combat roles in 2013. Some countries now allow women to serve in infantry, artillery, armoured, and even Special Forces units. Globally the number of women in combat roles is low due to an inadequate number of volunteers and secondly, their inability to meet the selection criteria. Combat role in the Indian Armed has for long been an exclusive domain for men. In recent years, India has started opening up combat and operational roles to women. In 2015, the Indian Air Force for the first time decided to induct women into the fighter wing. The Indian Navy followed suit with the first naval women being commissioned as pilots of the Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft in the year 2016. As of now, there are 18 women who are flying fighters like MiG-21s, MiG-29s, Sukhois, and new Rafales in the IAF, and there are also over 145 women helicopter and transport aircraft pilots. Indian Navy has deployed 30 women officers on frontline warships and plans to give them more opportunities to serve on warships. Indian Army has enabled women to operate helicopters and earlier this year, the first five women officers were also commissioned into the artillery regiments and are now being trained to handle howitzers and rocket systems.

Special Forces. Special Forces (Para-SF of the Indian army, Marine Commandos of the Navy, and Garud Commando Force of IAF) are specially trained units, equipped with specialised weapons, deployed for clandestine warfare or special operations like counter-terrorism, anti-hijack, hostage rescue, intelligence-gathering, surgical strikes, and covert operations behind enemy lines. The voluntary force undergoes extremely arduous physical and mental training. Women in the armed forces are eligible to volunteer for induction into the Special Forces without any gender bias, provided they meet selection qualitative requirements (QRs) and successfully complete the training. A few women have volunteered to join the Special Forces, with some of them being selected to undergo the training. So far none have succeeded in completing the training.

Challenges. Women in the armed forces have made significant progress in many countries. Despite these advancements, women in armed forces can face unique challenges, due to prevailing societal norms, and gender biases. Although the number of occurrences may be rare, unfortunately, such incidents get wide publicity influencing public opinion adversely.

Acceptance, Gender Bias and Stereotypes. Acceptance of women in the military has not been smooth in any country. Every country had to mould the attitude of its society at large and male soldiers in particular to enhance the acceptability of women in the military.

Physical Fitness Standards. Physical attributes have played a major role in denying women an active role in combat over the years. Some argue that physical fitness (strength and stamina) standards for certain roles, may disadvantage women due to physiological differences. Striking a balance between maintaining necessary standards and accommodating gender differences is a matter of debate.

Work-Life Balance. The demanding nature of work in the armed forces, including long deployments and frequent relocations, can make it challenging for women to balance their military duties with family responsibilities.

Harassment and Discrimination. Women in the armed forces, like in any other organisation may experience sexual harassment, gender-based discrimination, or bullying. All Defence services have adequate checks and balances, procedures, and systems (backed by legal provisions) to curb these occurrences. The Indian armed forces follow a policy of zero tolerance for such acts and award severe punishment to the defaulters.

Lack of Support Services. Access to gender-specific support services and infrastructure is another challenge. While it is easy to address this issue at so-called peace locations, it may be a challenge at forward bases with harsh conditions like Siachin, or a submarine in the Navy etc.

Way Ahead

“My personal experience has been that the (principles) of leadership and team building apply equally to women as to men. As long as you protect qualification standards and give no impression that anyone is getting a free ride, integration, while not without bumps, will be much less dramatic than people envision.”

– Major Eleanor Taylor

Canadian Military

(The first woman to lead an infantry company in combat).

Women have become a part of the defence services in India. Most of the teething problems have been addressed to a large extent however, their integration is an evolutionary process. The related policy changes need to take into account the changing nature of warfare and the role of technology. It needs to be an evolutionary process while maintaining a balance between personal and organisational aspirations, growth, necessities, and concerns. Some suggestions are as follows:-

- Lessons could be drawn from the policies and experience of foreign militaries for female enlistment, training, terms and conditions, and management.

- The policy decisions should be made based on facts and realities rather than presumptions and preconceptions.

- The rules and standards should be absolutely gender-neutral without any fixed quota or reservation.

- Women officers should be adequately trained to prepare them for combat and command roles and to lead men in peace and war.

- Gender-specific or gender-neutral physical fitness standards for men and women should be based on scientific realities. Operational preparedness should not be compromised at the cost of relaxed medical standards.

- Aspects related to women in defence services should not be politicised as a vote bank tactic.

- Disciplinary standards should not be compromised at any cost. The defaulters should be dealt with appropriately with equal severity.

- The work-life balance issues should be accommodated subject to service exigencies.

With future warfighting becoming more sophisticated and technologically advanced, there is a growing need to tap into the large pool of human resources including women. While women have been inducted into the Indian defence services, their full integration is a slow and evolutionary process. The future prospects of women in the defence services will depend on continued policy reforms, social change, and the commitment of the defence establishment to provide equal opportunities to both men and women.

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