SP's Land Forces Aug-Sep 2009

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August-September • 2009

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4/7/09 5:47:33 PM

ROUNDUP

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T h e O N LY j o u r n a l i n A s i a d e d i c a t e d t o L a n d F o r c e s

In This Issue

To understand the Kargil conflict one must know the military and terrain peculiarities of this part of the LoC, which falls amongst the highest snow fall regions of the Himalayas (Dosai Mountains).

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LT GENERAL (RETD) HARWANT SINGH

E di torial

Photographs: Sharad Saxena

Lt General (Retd) V.K. Kapoor

Combat capabilities can be multiplied with information age technologies and systems that could confer greater power on smaller combat formations, eliminating the need for large troop buildup in the conflict zone.

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LT GENERAL (RETD) V.K. KAPOOR

Face t o Fa c e

Explaining his stance at Sharm-el-Sheikh to the Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh mentioned, among other issues, that several important steps had been taken to modernise and strengthen India’s defence, security and intelligence apparatus. Large acquisitions of major weapon systems and platforms had been approved for modernisation of the armed forces. At face value, the statement was gratifying, but will it fructify in time for the Indian armed forces to feel confident of their military capability in the face of mushrooming challenges? Our military capability against our most formidable future challenge, namely China, is doubtful and the pace at which Beijing is modernising its military is daunting, to say the least. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s defence budget since 2000 has more than doubled, from $27.9 billion (Rs 1,36,040 crore) to $70 billion (Rs 3,41,320 crore). India’s Defence Budget for 2009-2010 is Rs 1,41,703 crore ($29 billion). Official figures notwithstanding, US officials believe China’s real budget in 2008 was between $105 billion (Rs 5,11,887.5 crore) and $150 billion (Rs 7,31,373.5 crore)—and in 2009 it is more than $200 billion (Rs 9,75,353). Despite India’s modest defence budgets, the Ministry of Defence nearly every year returns large unspent amounts due to the complex nature of the procurement process. With regard to China, it would be prudent to heed the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sureesh Mehta’s statement at the National Maritime Foundation function wherein he said: “In military terms, both conventional and non-conventional, we neither have the capability nor the intention to match China force for force.” Delhi cannot afford to lose any more time.

Launch of SP’s Special Supplement at the C4I2 Summit held in Delhi on August 10 and 11 (Report on p9)

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“The AAD can bring to bear adequate fire power to meet and defeat such a (perceived) threat.”— Director General of Army Air Defence Lieutenant General Ram Pratap, AVSM, VSM expresses optimism for national plans to counter emerging air threats.

‘Pragmatic approach to MODERNISATION’ Vice Chief of Army Staff LIEUTENANT GENERAL NOBLE THAMBURAJ, PVSM, SM, ADC spoke to SP’s Editor-in-Chief Jayant Baranwal and SP’s Land Forces Editor Lieutenant General (Retd) V.K. Kapoor on the key aspects of acquisition, capability enhancement and manpower development 4/2009 SP’S LAND FORCES

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