Managing National Defence ... - 19 Dec 2022

DR

Synopsis

India faced a humiliating defeat in the 1962 conflict with China. Three years down the line, the nation stopped an ever adventurous Pakistan on its track, and handed down a solid defeat in the 'Bangladesh War', just nine years down the line, in December 1971.

The transformation was palpable and was also proved possible. There were multiple elements to it, particularly in defence preparedness, military strategy, intelligence gathering and usage, and also diplomatic initiatives and out reach,

This has been followed by a string of successes in conventional warfare with our adversaries on our land borders, to the East and the West. Despite the non conventional brutality attached to Pakistan's Kargil adventurism and Chinese crudity at Galwan , the Indian armed forces have stood their ground and brought glory to the nation.

Today, India is a formidable military power, with our military heads repeatedly reiterating that if it came to that we can face and win a 'two sector war ' , meaning China and Pakistan, together.

Needless to point out that we are an acknowledged nuclear weapons power with launch capability, apart from being a space power, with ability to direct our own military operations and detect enemy lines and assets. India has also sought to become a major arms manufacturer and also supplier over a relatively short time.

What all has made this possible? And where do we go from here and aspire to go from here?

Programme

5:15 PM Registration & High Tea

6:00 PM Welcome Address

Gp Capt R Vijayakumar (Retd), VSM Executive Director, Madras Management Association

Introductory Remarks & Overview of the Theme

Mr N Sathiya Moorthy

7:15 PM

Convenor, Policy Matters Chennai Distinguished Speakers

Presentation & Discussion on the theme:

Air Marshal M Matheswaran AVSM VM PhD (V)

Founder & President, The Peninsula Foundation

Mr V Balamurugan

Outstanding Scientist, Director Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE)

Dr Stanly Johny

International Affairs Editor, The Hindu

Q & A

Vote of Thanks

Air

Marshal M Matheswaran AVSM VM PhD (V)

Founder & President, The Peninsula Foundation

Air Marshal M Matheswaran is an Indian Air Force veteran with 39 years of active service. He is the Founder President of The Peninsula Foundation, a policy research think tank based in Chennai He is a fighter pilot, an Experimental Test Pilot, and a Fighter Combat Leader, and has flown over 40 types of aircraft. He is an alumnus of IAF’s prestigious institutions, ASTE and TACDE where he was Commandant and Deputy Commandant respectively. The Air Marshal is also a graduate of the Defence Services College, Wellington and the National Defence College, New Delhi. He has held various operational and command appointments that include Senior Air Staff Officer of Eastern Air Command, Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Space), Air Officer Commanding (Maritime Air Operations), Principal Director (Air Staff Acquisition) and Director of Ops at the Strategic Forces Command The Air Marshal has a master’s in military science, M Phil, and PhD in Defence and Strategic Studies from the University of Madras. He also has a post graduate diploma if financial management. He has done a Senior Fellowship in National and International Security from the Harvard Kennedy School of Governance, Harvard university. He has been advisor to HAL, Cyient and also as President, Aerospace Business in Reliance Defence. He continues to be involved in strategic consultancy in Defence and Aerospace.

The Air Marshal is a recipient of Presidential awards AVSM (Ati Vishisht Seva medal) and VM (Vayu Sena Medal) and Commendation by the Chief of Air Staff.

an ntist, Director Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE)

Shri V. Balamurugan, Outstanding Scientist, has taken over as Director, Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) Chennai, from May 1, 2018.

Shri V. Balamurugan obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from College of Engineering, Guindy, in 1984, Master’s degree in Industrial Metallurgy from Indian Institute of Technology, Madras in 1987, and Master’s in Business Administration in Technology Management from Bharathidasan Institute of Management, Trichy, in 1999. He had a brief stint as Management Trainee at Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) before joining DRDO as Scientist ‘B’ in CVRDE in 1987.

Shri V. Balamurugan has more than three decades of experience in the development programme of Arjun Main Battle Tank (MBT) wherein he played an active role in the Pre Production Series (PPS) of Arjun with focus on establishing the produceability and development of production agencies. He successfully engaged major research institutions, viz., Welding Research Institute (WRI) and Central Manufacturing Technology Institute (CMTI), in developing production documents during this phase.

As Project leader Arjun, he contributed immensely towards transfer of technology of Arjun to various stakeholders such as Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF), DGQA, EME and the Users. He also provided technical expertise and guidance during the production of hull and turret structures, assembly of chassis automotive system, assembly of turret and weapon system, ddd

integration as a tank and its field evaluation before issue This resulted in free flow production and operationalization of two regiments of Arjun Mk I. During the course, he successfully coordinated and completed various major activities such as medium fording demonstration, conduct of Accelerated Usage Cum Reliability Trials (AUCRT) on two selected production tanks and comparative trials. Under his leadership, a third party auditing of Arjun, by expert tank manufacturer from outside India, was completed successfully involving DRDO labs, HVF, DGQA and the User for both design and trials. He was instrumental in transfer of AHSP of Arjun MBT Mk I to DGQA.

As Project Director, Arjun MBT Mk IA, he was instrumental in interacting with the Users for finalisation of upgrades and ensured fast track decision making through Arjun Core Committee. He extensively coordinated for the successful DRDO and the user ’ s trials of Arjun MBT Mk IA resulting in Indian Army obtaining AON from Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) for two regiments of Arjun MBT Mk IA.

As Additional Director (ToT), he was instrumental in coordinating and conducting of ToT of CCPT and other products. He also spearheaded formulation of trial directives and its successful conduct on various products such as Arjun MBT Mk I and Mk II, 400 hp power pack for BMP II, 1000 hp engine for T72, IAVS systems, etc.

He is the recipient of the Lab Scientist of the Year Award, Lab Technology Group Award, and DRDO Performance Excellence Award.

He has also received Commander’s Commendation Card in recognition to his devotion to duty / distinguished service. He is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (India) and the Indian Institute of Welding. He has guided more than ten student projects.

Profile

Dr Stanly Johny

International Affairs Editor, The Hindu

Dr. Stanly Johny is the International Affairs Editor of The Hindu. In this capacity, he runs the international news pages of the newspaper and writes opinions and editorials on geopolitics, Middle East and Indian foreign policy, besides doing special reports. He earned a PhD in international studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He has reported for The Hindu group from Brussels, Luxembourg City, Moscow, Singapore, Amman, Ramallah and Tel Aviv. He has written research papers as well as commentaries for various publications, including Economic and Political Weekly, The Hindu, The Hindu Business Line, Frontline and Business Standard. Dr. Johny is also an adjunct faculty member at the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. His first book, Baghdadi’s World is forthcoming from Penguin Random House.

Profile

Mr N Sathiya Moorthy Convenor, Policy Matters Chennai

N Sathiya Moorthy is a policy analyst & political commentator, specialising in the study of India’s southern neighbours, namely, Maldives and Sri Lanka, and also on Indian politics and political systems, with particular reference to native Tamil Nadu. He has written extensively on these subjects, both as books and newspaper columns and commissioned articles.

Sathiya Moorthy is associated with major newspapers and TV channels, both in India and Sri Lanka and also headed the Chennai Initiative of the Observer Research Foundation since inception in 2001.

A veteran journalist and author, he is the convenor of ‘Policy Matters Chennai’.