June-July l 2010 Volume 7 No 3 Rs 100.00 (India-based Buyer Only) SP’s AN SP GUIDE PUBLICATION WWW.SPSLANDFORCES.NET ROUNDUP IN THIS ISSUE The ONLY journal in Asia dedicated to Land Forces WORD FROM THE PUBLISHER >> INTERVIEW SP’s Land Forces , a unique concept, has come a long way since its launch during Defexpo 2004 held early February that year. The ‘I Have Laid Down an bimonthly has attempted relentlessly to satiate the thirst for informa - tion and knowledge of readers from the land forces, associated industry and OEMs. All-Encompassing Vision In keeping with trends and dynamics of the market, the magazine has made all the efforts to offer readers writeups steeped in knowledge and varied in information by experts and personalities from diverse, but for the Indian Army’ relevant backgrounds. The new edition 3/2010 comes with a PHOTOGRAPHS : Abhishek/SP Guide Pubns refreshing and soothing appearance. We, SP Guide Publications (SP’s): Having taken over as at SP’s, hope this look of the SP’s Land one of the largest and most combat experienced Forces will be more readable and user- armies of the world, what are your feelings as the friendly, and thus connect more efficiently Chief of Army Staff? with our readers. We believe in the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) : It is indeed a matter of honour and privilege for me to take over the dynamics of time and circumstances and, reins of the Indian Army, one of the world’s finest therefore, innovate accordingly. We hope fighting forces comprising absolutely dedicated our valuable readers will appreciate these and professional officers and men. It is indeed an efforts, and we would be delighted to onerous responsibility. I feel humbled by the trust receive your thoughts on our new design. reposed in me. I am conscious of the emerging security chal - Publisher and Editor-in-Chief lenges – both homeland and in the subcontinent. JAYANT BARANWAL The Indian Army will undertake all challenges to the nation’s security with utmost commitment and professionalism. The responsibilities and PAGE 4 challenges bring about a feeling of great concern Iron Fist and Velvet Gloves for the valiant men who make up our Army. Combating the Maoists/Naxals requires the most energetic steps, firm action and SP’s: What would be the major challenges that you leadership which operate up front ensuring will have to confront and how do you propose to avoidance of collateral damage tackle them? What are the key result areas that you propose to adopt during your tenure? Lt General (Retd) Harwant Singh COAS : At the outset let me assure you that the In - dian Army is fully prepared to meet the variety of PAGE 8 security challenges confronting our country. There has been a paradigm shift in the nature of Artillery Seminar conflict and emerging technologies with its cen - The 3rd International Seminar on Artillery tre of gravity now focussing towards Asia. Technology highlighted the latest Terrorism, proxy wars, militancy, insurgen - technological developments in artillery cies, fourth and fifth generation war are likely to and the need to take advantage of available be employed by the non-state actors against stable new technologies for the modernisation of and economically progressive nations. Conven - Indian Artillery tional conflicts in future will be reinforced by the Lt General (Retd) V.K. Kapoor inclusion of large force multipliers and PGMs. Our country, therefore, faces a large number of chal - lenges ranging from conventional land-centric PAGE 15 threats to fourth and fifth generation warfare and Face-to-Face internal security challenges. Loic Piedevache , Country Head, MBDA However, the fast-changing nature of conflict Group, in conversation with SP’s Editor-in- and emerging technologies require constant reap - Chief Jayant Baranwal spoke about building praisal and improvement. I have laid down an all- a reliable, strategic and long-term encompassing vision for the Indian Army, which partnership in India is to hone the Army into a well-motivated, opera - tionally-prepared, well-equipped force capable of General V.K. Singh took over as the Chief of meeting the security challenges faced by the na - Army Staff on April 1, 2010. In the first tion. Also initiate the transformation process to function in a networked joint services environ - installment of a candid interview with SP Guide ment to leverage technology and the human re - sources capital in consonance with the rich values Publications , General Singh shares his thoughts and traditions of the Indian Army. and perceptions on the security challenges facing Having said that, I would essentially focus on the following issues: the nation, modernisation and transformation l Enhance operational preparedness of the Army for future challenges. l Consolidate and address deficiencies l Enhance meaningful training to prepare for 3/2010 SP’s LAND FORCES 1 >> INTERVIEW Naxalites have launched an undeclared war their level and in the states and the consequences Satellite and UAV reconnaissance should keep L against the Indian State. Last month, they killed 76 of military action. The disturbed Areas Act and the selected sectors under constant surveillance. A security personnel in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958, must be complete intelligence picture of each sector should A district. On May 17, they blew up a bus there, promulgated in the states concerned in the first be updated at all times. Training of Central forces killing civilians and special police operatives and instance. Meanwhile, the nation must prepare itself including the senior police officers (who are the I then came the shocking news of the derailment of for the military mission apart from the developmental weak links) must be hastened. Army, if employed, Gyaneshwari Express. The death toll has already effort. Intelligence grids should be established in the must only be used offensively to cause maximum R crossed the 140 mark. The Maoists are getting affected states. All data about Maoists, their leaders, causalities in Naxal ranks. Employment of small more audacious due to poor response by the and those who provide logistics should be obtained teams with heavy firepower for rapid offensive O State. The bleeding hearts intelligentsia is only and they should be under constant surveillance. The actions based on prior intelligence will prove worried about the criminals but does not seem to national intelligence grid (Natgrid) must be estab - successful. We need to be pro-active. Do we have be disturbed by the innocent people killed, the peo - lished at the earliest. The National Counter Terror - the national will to do so? T ple for whom the State exists. ism Centre must take under its wings all intelligence I It is high time that our political parties speak with agencies functioning for internal security. one voice. Let all of us unite to defeat the Maoists Defence intelligence should keep itself fully en - goal to overthrow the authority of the government meshed with national intelligence. Counterinsur - D through armed liberation struggle. If a military re - gency grids must be established and Central sponse is essential, so be it. However, the govern - paramilitary units positioned with clear-cut com - E ment must fully comprehend the actions required at mand responsibilities of senior police officers. Lt General (Retd) V.K. Kapoor existing and emerging challenges asymmetric provocations has seriously SP’s: You have just handed over the Command Necessary measures as required have l Uphold the image of the Army, and en - eroded its deterrence and credibility. May we of the Eastern Army. At present, what is the been initiated for the upgradation of our in - sure inculcation of core values of self - have your views on this issue? status of insurgency in the Northeast? How frastructure which includes roads, railways lessness and professionalism COAS : It is not prudent to assume that we does it compare to the previous years and and air fields as well as enhancement of op - l Provide dignity to the art of soldiering have failed to evolve a suitable response to what are the new characteristics which have erational capabilities of the Army to secure and restoring pride in all ranks any asymmetric provocations. A number of been noticed about the groups which are op - the desired national security objectives. We l Speed up modernisation process and en - regional and international factors have to erating in the Northeast? Are they getting any are well prepared to tackle the challenges sure refinement of procedures and work be considered while formulating our op - support from outside? posed and the modernisation of the PLA is culture tions and the government takes all these COAS : The prevailing security situation in factored into our preparation. l Improve quality of life, habitability and into consideration. the Northeast (NE), owing to the continuous living conditions in forward deployment As far as the Army is concerned, it is efforts by security forces and other govern - SP’s: There have been a political move to re - areas capable of responding adequately to meet ment agencies, is under control. The insur - move the Armed Forces Special Powers Act l Enhance synergy with other services any threat today and those that may gency related incidents have shown a (AFSPA) from J&K. Such a move could seriously l Commence transformation process for a develop in the future. I can assure you that downward trend in all NE states other than jeopardise the safety and credibility of the IA more agile, lethal, versatile and net - the Army is prepared to mete out deter - Manipur. Overall, there has been a decline in operating in J&K. What is the stand taken by worked force rence in conformity with our politico- explicit violence due to better security envi - the Army Headquarters on this issue? l Contribute towards nation building strategic decision process.