Tag: Grey Zone

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IAF STRATEGIES: PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE

 

Article Published in the book on

India’s Military Strategy

 

 

Book released by Gyan Chakra: Western Army Command Think Tank

 

 

IAF STRATEGIES: PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE

 

“The art of winning a war can be learnt by understanding some rules (Strategies) and then applying them in a practical manner.”

―  Chanakya & the Art of War: excerpts

 

Introduction

 

Aerospace power is a decisive factor and a game-changer in the current context of geostrategic uncertainties. The application of aerospace power, although looks simple but is a complex process. Major roles of aerospace power during war include shaping the environment, offensive force application, and synergising the operations with surface forces, but aerospace power plays a pivotal role during peace and transition from peace to war.

 

Military strategy refers to the art and science of planning and directing military operations and campaigns. It involves the development of plans and tactics for the use of military force in achieving specific objectives, whether in a single battle or a larger campaign. Military strategy is based on the analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of both one’s own forces and those of the enemy, as well as the political and social context of the conflict. The military strategy typically involves a number of components, including, objectives, force structure, and deployment, logistics, tactics, intelligence, communications, risk assessment, etc. Effective military strategy requires careful planning and execution, as well as flexibility and adaptation based on changing circumstances. Successful military leaders must be able to think creatively, make quick decisions under pressure, and inspire and motivate their troops to achieve their objectives.

 

Air warfare strategy, a subset of military strategy, is the art of planning and directing overall air operations, and it depends on several factors. Effective air strategy requires careful consideration of these factors and needs to adapt to changing circumstances and situations. 

 

The air strategy of the Indian Air Force (IAF) has evolved over a period of time, reflecting changes in strategic priorities, operational environment, doctrine and technology. While it is worthwhile to trace the evolutionary process of the past, it is also valuable to look at the ones to deal with existing challenges and suggest some future strategies.

 

Air Strategies & Influencing Factors

 

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ECONOMIC SANCTIONS: TWO-EDGED SWORD

 

 

Sanctions as more than verbal condemnation and less than the use of armed forces.

 – UN general secretary Kofi Annan

 

 

The USA has been using economic sanctions as a foreign policy tool. It has imposed economic sanctions against Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, Afghanistan, Venezuela, etc.

 

Besides other countries, the sanctions are also used against members of commercial entities and private individuals, as well as non-state actors such as terror groups, etc. affecting their participation in global trade.

 

Nonviolent Coercive Diplomacy. The sanctions in the conflict continuum fall somewhere midway between censure and armed hostilities. Sanctions are frequently used as part of nonviolent coercive diplomacy to coerce targets away from unacceptable behaviour and restrain them from behaving in those ways in the future as well.  This nonviolent nature of sanctions has made them so appealing in international relations and since the end of the cold war, they have grown very popular.

 

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Q&A: IMPACT OF PLASSF

Pic courtesy: strategicstudyindia.blogspot.com.webp

 

Q 1.  Does bringing together the capabilities in space, cyber, electronic and information domains under PLASSF, provide an edge to China through greater civil-military integration?

 

  • It is a good concept and, it gives an advantage to China for the conduct of operations in these four new and important domains (Cyber, Space, Electronic and Information).

 

  • These domains are intrinsically interconnected and should not be dealt with in isolation.

 

  • It enhances the capability even for grey zone warfare (China has mastered the art and uses anything and everything as a weapon).

 

  • Even USA is studying this model for its reorganisation.

 

  • The Chinese model gives us a preview of future warfare challenges.

 

  • More than Civil-Military fusion it streamlines defensive and offensive operations in these domains.

 

  • It ensures seamless operations in the overlapping areas of these domains.

 

  • It has both support and active function.

 

  • It provides support to the service HQs and the theatre commands.

 

Q2.   What are your views about the formation of JSSF and its progress?

 

  • It was formed in 2015 and work is still in progress.

 

  • A Building block methodology has been adopted for it.

 

  • Initially, existing structures were reorganised, giving some new charters to them.

 

  • Thereafter, new structures were added.

 

  • Besides, the military and even some of the civil organisational structures were included in it.

 

  • Operating in expeditionary mode is still a challenge.

 

  • It still has lots of challenges that are being dealt with and the whole concept is evolving.

 

  • It is being exercised during training and live situations, and the lessons learnt are being implemented to make it a viable and efficient service.

 

Q3.   How would the service (JSSF) be used during hostilities?

 

  • Intelligence and information gathering and analysis is a continuous process.

 

  • It would also be used during peacetime for grey zone covert operations with some degree of deniability.

 

  • It would also be used during tense situations for strategic coercion.

 

  • During hostilities, the trend these days is to initiate war with disruptive operations to create chaos. This is followed by attacks by long-range precision vectors to disrupt command, control and communications, adding to the chaos. Kinetic contact force is applied in the prevailing chaotic environment.

 

  • The targets for offensive action in these domains would include ISR capabilities (especially space-based surveillance), military command and control centres and networks, and networks of national importance in sectors like railways, power, banking, health, maritime domain, transportation etc.

 

  • Information warfare would be used to influence the minds of decision-makers in particular and the general public at large.

 

  • The extent of effect (degradation) would depend upon several factors like defensive capability and measures, existing architecture providing alternatives and redundancy, and ability to recoup etc.

 

  • JSSF will provide support (Intelligence and information) and carry out offensive and defensive actions in all four domains, throughout the period of hostilities.

 

Q4.   Do you think China will succeed in building a credible narrative against India, using JSSF and media campaigns (print, electronic, social media), and will such propaganda affect the morale of our defence forces and the civilian population?

 

  • China believes in and follows the three-war theory.

 

  • Media and info war to create a false narrative is a very common practice and China would try.

 

  • It also believes in twisting history to its advantage and creating doctored documents to support its narrative.

 

  • China generally creates two narratives, one for domestic consumption and the other for international use.

 

  • Three major factors in our favour are the high morale of our forces, the high degree of legitimacy of actions by India, and the high nationalistic/patriotic feelings of the general public and citizens.

 

  • Due to the reasons, covered above, the effect will be minimal.

 

  • Even the civilian population can see through the Chinese design and would not get waylaid.

 

  • At the moment the credibility of China in the world is low, and in my opinion, China may not succeed in its endeavour.

 

  • However, it would be prudent to be ready for it and take some proactive steps.

 

  • International opinion is another area to look at.

 

Q5.   What remedial measures need to be implemented to mitigate the threats emerging from this service (JSSF) of PLA?

 

  • The threat of offensive action exists in all four domains.

 

  • Not only the military but a whole government approach (All the stakeholders) would be required.

 

  • It would have to be dealt with at three levels, individual service and stakeholder, at the tri-service level and sector/zone level and the national level.

 

  • Besides fortification of our systems and networks by firewalls and other security features, a Multi-pronged approach is required.

 

  • A multi-layered defence system is required.

 

  • It is not a one-time fix but requires continuous monitoring and upgrades.

 

  • A multi-domain monitoring system is needed.

 

  • A round-the-clock operating, operations room would have to be set up.

 

  • In addition, a Quick Reaction Team concept is required at different levels to contain the effects of any attack.

 

  • An audit and research structure would help in identifying weak areas, vulnerabilities, new developments, and future challenges.

 

  • A Proactive Approach (using electronic, print and cyber media) to counter adverse propaganda.

 

  • Development of counter-offensive capabilities.

 

Bottom Line

The nature of warfare is changing at a very fast pace.

Adapt or Perish

 

Question

Are our proposed changes future looking?

 

Suggestions and value additions are most welcome

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Information and data included in the blog are for educational & non-commercial purposes only and have been carefully adapted, excerpted, or edited from sources deemed reliable and accurate. All copyrighted material belongs to respective owners and is provided only for purposes of wider dissemination.