December 2015-January 2016 Volume 12 No. 6 `100.00 (India-Based Buyer Only) See page 12 Now Available NEW EDITION SP’s AN SP GUIDE P UBLICATION SINCE 1965 43rd isSUE From 51 Years Old Media House www.spsmilitaryyearbook.com WWW.SPSLANDFORCES.COM ROUNDUP THE ONLY MAGAZINE IN ASIA-PACIFIC DEDICATED to LAND FORCES Ear panel 2015-16.indd 1 06/11/15 5:42 PM IN THIS ISSUE >> LEAD STORY PAGE 3 Modernisation Through ‘Make in India’ – COAS The acquisition process has been ‘Our security response system prioritised and has been divided into three categories: First is Critical, second is Important and third is Essential. needs to encompass the entire Ranjeet Kumar PAGE 4 Pathankot Terror Strike – Pattern Remains spectrum of conflict’ the Same We fail to recognise and acknowledge that there are no non-state actors in Pakistan on January 6, 2016, Lt General V.K. Kapoor (Retd), Editor of SP’s Land Forces, – each and every one of them is linked to the ISI. interviewed Chief of the Army Staff General Dalbir Singh in his office in South Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd) Block. In a free and frank atmosphere, this highly decorated and widely PAGE 6 experienced Chief of the Indian Army spoke about the roles and modernisation Infusing Technology to Enhance Training Processes for Modern Warfare status of the Indian Army. He elaborated on the professional and institutional ethos which makes the Indian Army one of the most potent fighting forces in the world whose professional competence, courage, valour and sacrifices for the country are legendary. phoTograph: INdIAN Army Advancements in fields of simulation technology, neuro sciences and sports medicine provide for the desired tools to make training effective and need to be extensively utilised. Major General Vijay Singh PAGE 8 Resumption of Indo-Pak Talks The breakthrough in Indo-Pak relations during the ‘Heart of Asia’ conference in Islamabad recently is a welcome step close on the heels of the NSAs of the two countries meeting in Bangkok. Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd) PAGE 10 Lt General J.F.R. Jacob – A Legend Laid to Rest Lt General V.K. Kapoor (Retd) presenting a copy of SP’s Military Yearbook 2015-2016 to Chief of the Army Staff General Dalbir Singh Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd) SP’s Land Forces (SP’s): How do you per- along our borders to ‘Asymmetric Threats’ ness and enhancing capabilities, including PLUS ceive the current global and regional including proxy war and its manifestations. in collaboration with like-minded friendly SP’s Exclusives 10 security environment? What kind of chal- There are emerging challenges in informa- countries, to deter and defeat threats lenges do they pose for India? tion dimension and space domain as well, across the entire spectrum, if and when News in Brief 11 Chief of the Army Staff (COAS): The con- besides cyberspace which is all encompass- they manifest. temporary security environment is dynamic ing. We are keeping ourselves ready and and poses challenges across the entire spec- alert to take on all challenges accordingly. SP’s: The fight against terrorism has trum of conflict to include both conven- The apex National Security Establish- become a priority among all nations. The tional and unconventional scenarios. These ment as well as the armed forces are fully ISIS in Iraq and Syria, the largest ter- range from traditional ‘Land Centric Threat’ engaged in maintaining operational readi- ror group in the world, aims to create an APPLIED FOR 6/2015 SP’s LAND FORCES 1 >> LEAD STORY there is no clarity of NDA Gov- Let us now have a look at proved marginally only in respect The second major decision in- ernment’s Pakistan policy. The the defence modernisation in the of some munitions. Adding to the volves the acquisition 145 pieces deadlock of stalled talks seemed country. A decade and more of existing shortages is the new rais- of M777 ultra-light howitzers from to have been broken after Modi severe and unprecedented ne- ing of the Mountain Strike Corps the US through the foreign military and Nawaz Sharif’s unscheduled glect by the political leadership for our Eastern theatre, which is sales for close to `2,900 crore. meeting at climate change talks of the country under UPA rule expected to reduce the Army’s BAE Systems has agreed to shift in Paris. This was followed by the to modernise the three Services reserve stocks called ‘War Wast- its complete ‘assembly, integra- Prime Minister’s surprise meet- has left them gasping for breath age Reserves’ in terms of equip- tion and testing’ facility to India ing with his Pakistani counterpart to stay alive and relevant to the ment and munitions further. The and the guns would be manufac- Nawaz Sharif in Lahore on his way roles and missions earmarked for capital budget, which is meant for tured in partnership with an Indian back home after a day-long trip to them during hostilities/war. procurement of equipment, when company. In addition, an inflow of Afghanistan and a two-day visit to As far as the Army is con- analysed for the years 2014-15 close to $200 million is expected In over 19 months in power, Prime Russia. However, the onset of the cerned, General V.K. Singh and 2015-16 seem to suggest that against the offset obligations. Minister Narendra Modi seems to new year saw the attempts to re- (Retd), a former Chief of Army no significant changes in equip- Finally, in a landmark deci- be facing more challenges now sume the comprehensive dialogue Staff (COAS), wrote a letter re- ment status of the Army will come sion, the government has ap- than in the period when he was process with Pakistan receiving garding the status of equipment in about in the near future. proved a Russian proposal to elected to the office. His beginning a sudden jolt by the terror attack the Army to the Prime Minister on Three landmark decisions of build 200 Russian Ka-226T Ka- EDITORIAL was bold and dynamic especially in Pathankot by Pakistan-based March 12, 2012. It highlighted that MoD of May 2015 have generated mov light helicopters in India, with considering the fact that the opin- Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists and the mission reliability of mecha- considerable interest in the Indian full technology transfer. It is ap- ion makers were apprehensive it remains to be seen how this situ- nised vehicles was poor, the artil- defence industry and have shown parent that the above mentioned about his ability to capably steer ation will play out. lery was obsolete and inadequate, government’s resolve in preferring ‘Make in India’ initiatives are the India’s foreign policy. Modi’s diplo- Nearer home, the worsening air defence was antiquated, ar- ‘Make in India’ route. The first go- harbinger of much bigger plans to matic achievements have silenced situation in Nepal and Maldives mour was unreliable due to regu- ahead has been given to Tata-Air- reduce dependence on imports: the critics. Modi Government’s ag- are two other major problems. lar barrel accidents caused by bus combine for the manufacture exciting times are in the offing for gressive diplomatic outreach saw The changes in Myanmar indicate mismatch between indigenous of transport aircraft to replace the the indigenous defence industry, him undertaking 37 foreign trips positive developments, however barrels and ammunition, night- ageing fleet of Avro 748 aircraft. including the private sector. across five continents till January India will have to balance its equa- fighting devices were insufficient, The proposal entails procurement This issue carries articles cov- 2016. His personal rapport with tion with the military and the politi- aviation corps helicopters needed of 16 C-295 aircraft off the shelf ering modernisation, Pathankot world leaders has given a new cal leadership. urgent replacements, and hold- from the foreign vendor and man- terror strike, resumption of Indo- and different meaning to Indian The NDA Government inher- ings of all types of missiles, anti- ufacture of 40 aircraft in India with Pak talks and infusing technology diplomacy. However, his foreign ited a poor state of economy in mid- tank and specialised ammunition complete transfer of technology to to enhance training. policy push has not softened the 2014. However, the first budget was critically low. the Indian partner. This project is opposition, especially the Con- presented by the government has Following this it seems that a game-changing initiative as it is gress Party which continues to been termed as a “lost opportunity”; the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had considered to be an ideal platform oppose anything and everything the government failed to utilise its asked Army Headquarters to fast- for the integration of the private that he does. honeymoon period to push major track acquisitions and the list of sector and the development of al- While the Prime Minister’s for- structural reforms and the economy essentials was prepared and sent. ternate facilities for the manufac- eign policy push is to be admired, is still not out of the woods. However, the situation has im- ture of aerospace systems. Lt General V.K. Kapoor (Retd) Islamic caliphate across the world. In our should Special Forces Command be given depleted stocks. The government is commit- of the larger manpower. This leaves a rela- neighbourhood Pakistan is virtually a fac- the priority for raising? ted to recuperate these stocks at the earliest. tively smaller sum in capital budget for new tory for training terrorists and is indulging COAS: The security environment in India’s Resolute steps are being initiated to ensure procurements and modernisation.