August-September 2011
SP’s
Volume 8 No 4
AN SP GUIDE
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ROUNDUP
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IN THIS ISSUE
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
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Fighting a Two Front War Indian military planners feel that collusion between China and Pakistan which is so clearly evident in peace-time is likely to translate itself into active, mutually supporting, military operations, during conflict situations. Lt General (Retd) V.K. Kapoor PAGE 6 ‘Any decision for induction of F-INSAS or BMS will only be taken after both the systems have been field tested’ Interview with Lt General N.B. Singh
INTERVIEW
‘I find a complex set of external and internal security challenges confronting our nation’ PHOTOGRAPHS: Anoop Kamath/SP Guide Pubns
PAGE 9 For Versatile Use One of the major weaknesses that the Indian Army currently suffers from in their equipment profile is the lack of availability of a suitable HMMWV. Lt General (Retd) V.K. Kapoor PAGE 11 Why Have a Dialogue with Pak? Policy-makers in India need to turn the thinking of the Pakistani polity, instead of engaging in futile dialogues and discussions. Lt General (Retd) Vijay Oberoi PAGE 14 Global Response to a Global Issue Global understanding has dawned that by bringing together our strategic capabilities, we will be able to address current and emerging cyber threats. Lt General (Retd) P.C. Katoch PAGE 15 The Way Ahead The recurrent and tiring round of talks, agreements and discussions without any significant breakthrough or even the possibility of the same, seem to point that borderconflict has all ingredients of becoming a major spoiler in Indo-China relations Dr Monika Chansoria PAGE 16 Act Before It’s Too Late The brutally-suppressed local movements of the Gilgit-Baltistan region and PoK can be exploited, if our government has the political will and the sagacity to think and plan for long-term. Lt General (Retd) Vijay Oberoi PAGE 18 Patriot’s Versatile Capabilities Interview with Sanjay Kapoor, Vice President, Integrated Air & Missile Defense, Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems Lt General (Retd) Naresh Chand PLUS Tecknow News in Brief
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In an interview with SP’s Land Forces team comprising Editor-in-Chief Jayant Baranwal and Editor Lt General (Retd) V.K. Kapoor, Chief of Army Staff General V.K. Singh shared his thoughts and perceptions on several issues like transformation of the army, status of insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir, offensive and defensive capabilities on two widely separated fronts, visibility of troops in Jammu and Kashmir, status of the project F-INSAS, etc. SP’s Land Forces (SP’s): After having commanded the Indian Army for over a year what are your feelings regarding the combat capabilities of your fighting force? In which areas do we lack the capabilities that we desire? Chief of Army Staff (COAS): It is indeed an honour for me to be heading one of the most professional armies, which is well-equipped and trained. The Indian Army is fully poised to meet the varied security challenges confronting our country, both internal and external. Due to the rapidly changing nature of conflict, ranging from conventional to irregular warfare, including its proxy war manifestation and the effects of emerging technologies, a constant reappraisal is required with resultant improvements.
Having laid down an all-encompassing ‘Vision for the Indian Army’, we are focusing our efforts on some salient issues, namely, to modernise our Army, while concurrently seeking to consolidate and address aspects of hollowness and critical deficiencies. Modernisation, based on technology upgradation and induction, is an area that remains high on my agenda. The primary areas that are being addressed are aimed at greater battlefield transparency, increasing the lethality and precision of firepower capabilities, overcoming night blindness and achieving network-centricity. In addition, imparting realistic training towards all existing and emerging contingencies, as also to prepare our troops for the future battlefield envi-
ronment is another area of focus that we are addressing. My main focus is presently on transforming the Army into an agile, lethal, versatile and networked force. This force will be prepared for the emerging security environment and complex challenges of the 21st century. SP’s: In your view which are the areas of responsibilities, as the COAS, which work takes most of your time? COAS: As COAS, my areas of responsibilities are large. When I take an eagle’s-eye view on the security environment prevalent in our immediate and extended neighbourhood, I find a complex set of external and internal security challenges confronting our nation,
4/2011
SP’s LAND FORCES
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