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I s s u e 4 • 2 0 0 8 V o l 5 N o 4 SP’s AN SP GUIDE PUBLICATION To order your 2007 copy mail us at: ������������������� [email protected] 2008 OR c a ll (+9 1 1 1 ) 2 4 6 4 4 7 6 3 2 4 6 4 4 6 9 3 2 4 6 2 0 1 3 0 ��������������� ��������������� LandWWW.SPSLANDFORCES.NET ForcesROUNDUP In This Issue T h e ONLY journal in Asia dedicated to Land Forces “Musharraf’s short Integrated Air & Missile “Multi-dimensional air sighted policies have Defence Architectures: threat is increasing led to Pakistan losing The US approach exponentially and will much of its territorial to missile defence, be the most potent sovereignty. The rising relationships with other threat in the tactical tide of Islamic militancy allies and approaches battle area.”—Director threatens to tear the that Washington and General of Army Air country asunder.”— Delhi might take to meet Defence Lt General General (Retd) V.P. the intent of the Indo-US K.S. Dogra tells SP’s Malik, former Chief of Defence Framework. Land Forces, outlining Army Staff of the Indian plans and strategies to 2 Army, comments on the 9 8 combat such threats. crisis in Pakistan.? ALAN H. MERBAUM? ? EditorialEditorial PerspectiveOne to One Internal security in India is greatly challenged by the ugly face of terrorism. In the last 20 years, India has seen the emergence of six types of terror operations. Most significant being cross-bor- der insurgency and terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, which, despite its highs and lows, has been largely controlled by the sacrifices of the Indian Army and other security forces. The second ripped through Punjab in the 1980s and early 1990s, aided and abetted, again, by our neighbour, and was crushed when the people themselves became disillusioned with the movement. The third emanated from a severe crisis in Sri Lanka and in the south from the LTTE. The Indian Army had to dispatch a peacekeeping force to Sri Lanka and it now stands greatly diluted. Insurgency thrived in several parts of the Northeast since the 1950s. The latest terror module to fuel internal conflict has been the Maoists whose threat has cast a shadow upon 16 states of the Indian Union. No less severe, is the sixth variety, the home grown variety, of the country’s misguided youth, who, disgruntled by the misdeeds of poor governance and influenced by fundamentalist mentors across the border, are bent upon tak- ing revenge on innocent people. The centrality of Pakistan in sponsoring terrorism and in providing the infrastructure for training, logistical support, hardware and money, and at times even regulars from their security forces cannot be denied. However, Pakistan continues the pretence of pristine conduct. Nevertheless the most astonishing aspect is the official response which is unin- spiring, listless and sluggish to say the least. ‘Thrust on development of We are indeed passing through a phase of unprecedented internal upheaval. Poor gover- nance and lack of political will to keep national interests upper most, is laying the foundation for self-destruction. Corrupt officials are bleed- ing the nation, home to one-third of the world’s C4I2 systems’ poor. The law and order system has been reduced to a mockery. The unethical and unbe- Director General Information Systems Lt General P.C. Katoch, UYSM, AVSM, coming conduct of a large number of govern- ment functionaries is a part of the daily diet of SC elaborates on the Indian Army’s efforts at transition from conventional news for an ordinary citizen. All fringe groups and self-serving political groups are holding warfare to information-enabled warfare Photographs: Sharad Saxena the nation to ransom through violent protests while the official machinery both at the Centre SP’s Land Forces (SP’s): Network Centric of any such revolution is possible only with Next, we have identified development and the states is either sedentary or indulging Warfare (NCW) is an information superior- technological development, organisational of C4I2 systems as a major thrust area for in appeasement in the name of democracy. ity-enabled concept at the heart of which lie adaptation and, most importantly, a national modernisation of the army. Development Elected political elite are thus loosing credibili- digital communication networks. How is the will. An effective and technologically sound and fielding of automated operational ty and the right to govern. Most people wonder, is this the democracy India had desired? Indian Army (IA) visualising transforma- information technology (IT) force, along with information systems for various levels of tion to this type of warfare? robust communication networks, have been operations from Army HQs to Battalion Director General Information Systems created to facilitate real-time sharing of infor- HQs and down to individual soldiers is in (DGIS): The IA is in a phase of transition mation and quick decision making so as to progress. Command Information Decision from conventional warfare to information- achieve information superiority. A road map Support System, Artillery Combat Command enabled warfare, that is, from platform centric has been formulated by which we can prog- Control System, Battlefield Surveillance LT GENERAL (RETD) PRAN PAHWA to network centric warfare. The full realisation ress steadily towards being a potent IT force. System, Air Defence Control and Reporting EDITOR Lt General (Retd) V.K. Kapoor 4/2008 SP’S LAND FORCES 1 System and Battlefield Management System SP’s: What types of ground, air and space finding appropriate solutions to that and a DGIS: As I said earlier, all our projects are are the major projects under development. based sensors is the IA trying to induct? common Network Centric Operations phi- being executed by leading IT players in the Integrated together with requisite communi- DGIS: All conventional and modern sen- losophy is being worked out. The integration industry who have established credentials. cations, these systems will provide near real sors are being integrated to form a Common at HQ Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) level is In some cases such as various mission time ‘Sensor to Shooter’ links to make the Operating Picture and to ensure battlefield ensuring the interoperability and synergy at critical Operational Information Systems, army a network centric force. transparency. the inter-services levels. these are being designed by DRDO and BEL, who also have advanced skills in their SP’s: Has the IA outsourced any projects to SP’s: The communication grid knits the SP’s: Have we been able to digitise the border respective fields. the private industry and the defence PSUs? entire CIDSS together. What will be the com- area maps, including the territory beyond We also have a Tri-Service Defence IT DGIS: All our projects are being executed by munication pattern forward of the corps the border in the case of our likely adver- Consultative Committee which incorporates private parties. In come cases, such as vari- headquarter and rearwards to the com- saries? What is the progress in this regard? leaders from the industry and academia ous mission critical Operational Information mand and the army headquarters? Has DGIS: We are digitising all the maps to be for advice on important IT matters to the Systems, the projects are being designed by any progress been made on the Tactical used with the Geographical Information services. DRDO and productionised by public sector Communications System (TCS)? System (GIS). These include maps within and undertakings such as Bharat Electronics DGIS: A very comprehensive communication outside the territorial borders. A fair amount SP’s: Is the IA planning to network all weap- Ltd (BEL). grid is being planned to provide robustness of work has been done in this regard. on platforms for ‘situational awareness’ or and scalability to the command and control is this going to be done selectively. Can you SP’s: What is the current status of the systems planned for the army at the tactical SP’s: Which are the areas/issues causing give us an idea of the costs involved? IA’s Command, Information and Decision level. The grid ahead of the corps HQ would delays in our projects? DGIS: The networking in the army is being Support System (CIDSS) which involves the comprise of both wired media and wireless DGIS: It is an evolutionary process and by planned right from the Army Headquarters development of the following: media incorporating the latest technologies. the size and expanse of our army and the level down to the individual soldier and the (a) Artillery Command and Control, and Both the kind of media would be adequately country, it’s a mammoth task involving tanks. This networking, however, will be done Communication System supplemented to provide fool proof redun- various issues such as hefty financial com- in a phased manner. Costs involved are as per (b) Air Defence Control and Reporting dancy. Communication connectivity at Army mitments, long stringent procedure and also the long term perspective plans of modernisa- System HQ and upto corps HQ would be more depen- terrain specific customisations for different tion of the army. (c) Electronic Warfare System dent on the various grid of wired media. sectors. So we have to proceed in a phased (d) Battle Management System The ongoing TCS programme is being han- manner. The technologies too take time to SP’s: Does our overall concept cater for 100 What is the current status of each project? dled by DG Signals. We are adopting the inter- mature and provide optimum solutions. per cent NCW capable formations or are we DGIS: The projects are at various stages of im arrangements till the time TCS is fielded. going to selectively transform the army development.

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