AVAIL YOUR COPY NOW! December 2020-January 2021 Volume 17 No. 6 `100.00 (India-Based Buyer Only) INDIAN SP’s ARMY DAY Military SPECIAL Yearbook 2019 AN SP GUIDE P UBLICATION SP’s 2021 www.spsmilitaryyearbook.com WWW.SPSLANDFORCES.COM ROUNDUP THE ONLY MAGAZINE IN ASIA-PACIFIC DEDICATED to LAND FORCES IN THIS ISSUE >> EXCLUSIVE CHIEF OF THE ARMY STAFF PAGE 4 “We are transforming and restructuring our- selves to meet the challenges of the future” General M.M. Naravane PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC MESSAGE Chief of the Army Staff Chief of the Army Staff General M.M. Naravane in his opening remarks during am pleased to learn that SP Guide Publications is releasing a special issue of SP’s Land Forces on the occasion of Annual Army Day Press Conference 2021. Army Day 2021. IArmy Day 2021 assumes special significance for the Indian Army, as the Nation is celebrating Swarnim Vijay Varsh : PAGE 7 Indian Army in Nation Building 50 years of India-Pakistan War of 1971, which resulted in the largest military surrender after World War-II. There have been significant changes over the past five decades as new and unique challenges to national security continue to shape the threat paradigm. The Indian Army has always risen to the occasion as a critical element of National Power. Our Army is at the cusp of major transformation. Emerging technologies have the potential to disrupt traditional norms and create new normals which are gradually changing the character of warfare. COVID-19 has been a stark reminder of the impact of non-traditional threats in the overall security paradigm. Above all, the intransigence of our adversaries continues to strengthen our resolve and determination to play a meaningful role in ensuring that our Nation retains its importance and position in global and regional affairs. As we celebrate Army Day 2021, the somber price of these celebrations shall never be forgotten. I am confident that this special issue would inform all readers, not only of the Indian Army’s past achievements but also the initiatives that are underway to create a stronger and more efficient land force. The secure environment provided by the Army, ensuring the path to prosperity and I wish SP Guide Publications, the very best in its endeavours. development for the country as a whole, is ‘Jai Hind’ only a part of the larger and ubiquitous role played by the Indian Army in nation building. (M.M. Naravane) Lt General Pradeep Bali (Retd) General Chief of the Army Staff PAGE 8 1971 – India’s Greatest Victory “The era of single services operations has faded and a As India celebrates 50 years of victory in the 1971 war with Pakistan, SP’s Land systems approach, that is, Forces looks at how the Indian Army with the support of the IAF and the Indian Navy, achieved one of its greatest victories. Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd) joint integrated operations PAGE 10 Scholar Warrior Ethos of Indian Army — Morals, Ethics and Values across multiple domains is the The future battlefield scenarios require that we be competent warfighters, but we cannot be competent fighters unless we are as intelligent and mentally tough as we are aggressive and physically rugged. way ahead” Major General Yash Mor (Retd) PLUS 73rd Army Day Celebrated 6 —General M.M. Naravane, Chief of the Army Staff, in an interview with Jayant Grey Zone Threats – Baranwal, Editor-in-Chief, SP’s Land Forces, talks about how the Indian Army Implications on Force Structuring 12 Lt General Dushyant Singh (Retd) continues to face challenges across the spectrum of conflict and is developing its News in Brief 15 capability and operational readiness in light of these threats 6/2020 SP’s LAND FORCES 1 INDIAN ARMY DAY >> EXCLUSIVE CHIEF OF THE ARMY STAFF SPECIAL 2021 The highlight of this special issue the Chief of the Army Staff said also the largest contributor to pushing the use of unconven- to mark the Indian Army Day, is that the war also showcased ex- UN missions. tional warfare. Called hybrid, an exclusive interview of Chief cellent inter-services integration The article on Scholar War- proxy or irregular warfare, they of the Army Staff General M.M. and professional civil-military rior Ethos of Indian Army by all fall under the umbrella of Grey Naravane. He stressed that the relations, both of which are re- Major General Yash Mor (Retd) Zone warfare. In an in-depth ar- Indian Army continuously and quired for defeating one’s adver- stresses that the Army as an in- ticle, Lt General Dushyant Singh consistently trains itself for the sary soundly. stitution cannot allow any com- (Retd) talks about the threats in changing character of war. By He also addressed the press promise in its own standards of the grey zone and what needs leveraging modern capabilities before Army Day. His entire ad- ethics and probity. The impec- to be done to meet these latest and new technologies, we will dress is reproduced here in the cable character and transpar- challenges and overcome them. emerge victorious. On ‘Capabil- magazine as he covered the ency that is expected of soldiers This issue wraps up with ity Development’ he shared that entire gamut of issues and chal- should be constantly reinforced. the usual News Digest and Flag a total of 55 schemes valued at lenges facing the Indian Army. The nation celebrates 50 appointments. Wish you all dis- approximately `44,000 crores Also included in this issue are years of the 1971 war with cerning readers a very Happy (about $5.9 billion) have been glimpses from the Army Day pa- Pakistan, leading to the liberation Republic Day! contracted as part of the mod- rade as a part of the Army Day of (now) Bangladesh. In an arti- ernisation. On the situation in celebrations. cle in this issue Lt General P.C. EDITORIAL Ladakh, he was hopeful that it The role played by Indian Katoch (Retd) takes us through will be resolved through dialogue Army in Nation building cannot how the Indian Army, ably as- and discussion. He assures the be highlighted enough! We have sisted by the Air Force and Navy, Nation that all logistics required an article on this subject where achieved its greatest military vic- for high altitude and extreme Lt General Pradeep Bali (Retd) tory with the surrender of 93,000 cold conditions have been taken gives an overview of the various Pakistani troops – the largest care of and there is no cause for roles played by the Army which number of prisoners taken in any concern. On the Swarnim Vijay directly contribute and assist in war after World War II. JAYANT BARANWAL Varsh - 50 years of 1971 War, Nation Building. Indian Army is Cost of conventional war is Publisher & Editor-in-Chief PhoToGrAPh: Indian Army SP’s Land Forces (SP’s): As we celebrate 50 “The Army has played years of 1971 victory, what are your views on the same? And the way our Army plans an important role during for the future? Chief of the Army Staff (COAS): The 1971 Covid-19. We have victory cemented India’s position in the global as a responsible and moral power in contributed doctors, the comity of nations. By ending the geno- cide of countless Bangladeshis and assisting nurses and medical staff them in their right to self-determination, to a number of civil-run India’s humanitarian intervention has been seen as an exemplar for a future tem- hospitals.” plate. The swift operations against Pakistani forces, both in the East and the West under- score our forces’ professional capabilities and resolve to be morally upright. The 1971 example, the induction of combat UAVs is war also showcased excellent inter-services progressing as per schedule. integration and professional civil-military relations, both of which are required for SP’s: Is the Indian Army going ahead with defeating one’s adversary soundly. the FRCV and FICV programmes? The Indian Army continuously and COAS: Yes, the Indian Army is going ahead consistently trains itself for war. We are all with the programmes. At present, we have aware of the changing character of war and our thinking caps on for the features and are preparing for it. By leveraging modern capabilities that we require and there will be capabilities and emerging technologies, we some changes in the technical requirements, will emerge victorious. General M.M. Naravane, Chief of the Army Staff, is leading the Indian Army from the front as it faces given the requirements of the future. We unprecedented challenges on all fronts and undergoes restructuring and modernisation are looking at fifteen years hence and it will SP’s: Would you like to talk about the have to be radical, looking at the Azerbaijani Army’s role during Covid-19? SP’s: Modernisation process of the Army? stages of procurement. In addition to acqui- example, the level and shape will change, COAS: The Indian Army acknowledges the COAS: Capability Development of the Indian sitions specific to various arms, projects for we just can’t add a few kilos to the Tank, it stellar contributions of all Corona War- Army is based on a well thought out Long Electronic Warfare and communication has to be done in a different way keeping the riors in the country who have fought and Term Integrated Perspective Plan (LTIPP), systems are also being undertaken. Once futuristic warfare situation in view. defeated this virus steadfastly. The Army which concentrates on modernisation of implemented, these schemes would ensure has played an important role during Covid- weapons and equipment.