Coming soon: An 'agile, lethal, versatile' Indian Army

[Galaxy]

Army looks to strengthen forces along Pak, China borders

Army looks to strengthen forces along Pak, China borders

New Delhi, October 10

In a move that will be interpreted in many ways across strategic circles globally, the Indian Army is looking to ramp up its numbers along the western and northern borders, facing Pakistan and China, respectively.

The matter was discussed at the five-day Army Commanders' conference that began here today. Army Chief General VK Singh said, "Significant steps have been initiated for force structuring. Various proposals for accretion of forces were in the pipeline." An approval of the government was awaited for accretions in the northern and western areas, he said.

At present, three fully-equipped strike crops based at Ambala, Mathura and Bhopal are tasked to act as the first-strike formation in case of any skirmish. Three full-fledged commands with an assortment of equipment are also headquartered at Udhampur (J&K), Chandimandir (near Chandigarh) and Jaipur. The Pune-based Southern Command looks after the parts of the border in Gujarat. Sources said at least two divisions or a corps (around 50,000 men) could be added to the existing security architecture.

Meanwhile, as part of its ongoing exercise in transformation, the Army will test out a new concept this winter along the Indo-Pak border.The concept is aimed at marshalling all forces, equipment, fire-power and support services under a common command — a system that is in place in the United States of America and Russia.

India has a lone tri-services joint-command at Andaman and Nicobar base.

The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News

 

[Galaxy]

Army to test re-structuring plan in war game

Army to test re-structuring plan in war game


Tue Oct 11 2011New Delhi:


A Grand Strike Corps exercise that will take place in Rajasthan next month will be the test bed for a new doctrine of "theaterisation" that is likely to transform the structure and deployment tactics of the Indian Army.

The "Sudarshan Shakti" exercise, which is being led by 21 Corps but will include elements of the Air Force and Navy, will be the test bed for the new doctrine that was drawn up as part of the Army's "Transformational Study" led by a group of top Generals and the concept will be implemented on the basis of the results.

The Armed Forces have for long talked about moving from a threat specific approach to a capability based approach, but this is the first time the concept is being tested in a full scale war game involving thousands of troops and all three armed services.

Under the new concept, the entire combat resources and support elements that are engaged at war in a particular theatre or front will be utilised optimally from a command centre that will use the latest technologies to get a complete picture of the battle. The battlefront will be managed seamlessly through the command centre or centres without the administrative "borders" of various commands slowing things down.

Once the efficacy of the doctrine has been established in the exercise, the theory would be implemented, paving the way for a radical re-structuring of the command system as well as the Army Headquarters. The upcoming exercise and its significance was also discussed at the Army Commanders Conference in the capital on Monday with Army Chief General V K Singh, who headed the transformational study, saying that significant steps for "force structuring" have been initiated.

"Once the efficacy is ascertained, it would be implemented. Processes are also on for re-structuring of Army Headquarters, so that it becomes a more responsive and synergised organisation," said a senior Army officer. As part of the same policy, the Army is augmenting its aviation wing and is looking to acquire a large amount of helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles to support ground troops.

The "Sudarshan Shakti" exercise will also use and validate new-age technologies like advance surveillance systems, space assets and network centric capabilities of the Armed Forces. The central command room will have complete situational awareness of the battlefront and will coordinate operations with the Indian Air Force and the Navy. The concept is being tested out by the Pune-based Southern Command.

Among other discussions at the Commanders Conference, the Army Chief said that a new "training audit" will be put into place shortly to standardise training measures across establishments. Top commanders of the Army also emphasised on the need for creating night-landing capabilities at air fields in both the northern and western borders that would go a long way in improving the operational logistic build-up. This would also cut costs as the load carrying capabilities of transport aircraft increase at night due to low temperatures.

Army to test re-structuring plan in war game - Indian Express

 

[Ray]

Interesting times.

 

[pankaj nema]

So basically we are moving a step further from Cold start .

This exercise is just the first . It will take many more such exercises to completely master the concept

IMO Next such exercise should be held simultaneously at both China and Pakistan border
in order to achieve real two front war experience

 

[Yusuf]

Interesting times.

I hate it when you dont say more than that, though i know you cant say more as well!!

 

[Yusuf]

This new exercise seems to be part of Cold Start validation but with more concepts no been tried. May be individual plans for what each IBG could do and missions to accomplish. I dont think there is any "new doctine" but only refining the cold start.

 

[pankaj nema]

I had read an article in CLAWS website that time element would be most crucial for achieving war objectives

Indian army is aiming for a Non stop 96 Hours battle against Pakistan

This calls for attacking the rear , the flanks and the front of the battlefield in a simultaneous manner

This 96 hours deadline is necessary for inflicting quick and painful blows to Pakistan
below its Nuclear threshold

 

[nrj]

Indian Army wants night landing facilities in border airfields

The Indian Army has asked the defence ministry to get about a dozen airfields and advanced landing grounds(ALGs) in Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh upgraded with night landing facilities to improve the transportation of supplies and troops to the sensitive borders areas with China and Pakistan.


The matter came up for discussion at the five-day army commanders conference that began here Monday.


The top army generals attending the meeting pointed out that the night landing facilities at the airfields and advanced landing grounds would help in much higher carrying capacities for the Indian Air Force (IAF) planes.


"It was brought out that due to low temperatures at night, the carrying capacity of IL-76 (Soviet-era heavylift cargo planes of the IAF) would increase, thus helping in winter stocking as also for operational logistic build up," an army headquarters statement on the conference said here.


The IAF had in the last three years opened three advanced landing grounds in Jammu and Kashmir's Ladakh region at Daulat Beg Oldi, Fuk Che and Nyoma, close to the Line of Actual Control with China. It is also in the process of opening upgraded ALGs at half-a-dozen locations in Arunachal Pradesh in the near future.


The capacity of the transport planes decrease during the day due to the heat on the ground, particularly at airfields.


Indian Army wants night landing facilities in border airfields | idrw.org

 

[thakur_ritesh]

I hate it when you dont say more than that, though i know you cant say more as well!!

seriously mate, the moment i say sir's pos,t i thought something really interesting coming out but yes one understands the compulsions.

 

[arya]

on ground we are 5 time behind then china, our army chief are shouting the china- pak danger but no one listing

govt just want to save there seat

 

[bhramos]

Indian Army wants night landing facilities in border airfields

New Delhi : The Indian Army has asked the defence ministry to get about a dozen airfields and advanced landing grounds (ALGs) in Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh upgraded with night landing facilities to improve the transportation of supplies and troops to the sensitive borders areas with China and Pakistan.

The matter came up for discussion at the five-day army commanders conference that began here Monday.

The top army generals attending the meeting pointed out that the night landing facilities at the airfields and advanced landing grounds would help in much higher carrying capacities for the Indian Air Force (IAF) planes.

"It was brought out that due to low temperatures at night, the carrying capacity of IL-76 (Soviet-era heavylift cargo planes of the IAF) would increase, thus helping in winter stocking as also for operational logistic build up," an army headquarters statement on the conference said here.

The IAF had in the last three years opened three advanced landing grounds in Jammu and Kashmir's Ladakh region at Daulat Beg Oldi, Fuk Che and Nyoma, close to the Line of Actual Control with China. It is also in the process of opening upgraded ALGs at half-a-dozen locations in Arunachal Pradesh in the near future.

The capacity of the transport planes decrease during the day due to the heat on the ground, particularly at airfields.

Indian Army wants night landing facilities in border airfields | TwoCircles.net

 

[bhramos]

on ground we are 5 time behind then china, our army chief are shouting the china- pak danger but no one listing

govt just want to save there seat

Expedite projects on Northern, Western borders: Army chief to commanders

 

[Param]

I had read an article in CLAWS website that time element would be most crucial for achieving war objectives

Indian army is aiming for a Non stop 96 Hours battle against Pakistan

This calls for attacking the rear , the flanks and the front of the battlefield in a simultaneous manner

This 96 hours deadline is necessary for inflicting quick and painful blows to Pakistan
below its Nuclear threshold

They can simply say that they're going to rape Pakistan.

 

[Daredevil]

Coming soon: An 'agile, lethal, versatile' Indian Army


The Indian Army will move from a "command-based" deployment to a "theatre command" format where the "front" or the spearhead will be seamlessly integrated with resources in the "depth" or the rear, says RS Chauhan

The exact contours of the long-awaited transformation of the Indian Army will be finalised at the end of October after Exercise Sudarshan Shakti, a massive desert operation to be conducted by 21 Corps, one of the three strike formation India possesses, concludes.

Conceptualised in 2010 after a two-year study by a group of top generals under the current army chief, Gen VK Singh, when he was the Eastern Army commander, the transformation envisages seamless integration of available forces without the constraints of limiting the resources in water-tight compartments of "commands". So far, each command and formation operated well within its prescribed boundaries and deployed the combat as well as support services only within its own jurisdiction.

The transformation, however, seeks to break down these artificial boundaries to minimise losses and increase optimal utilisation of resources. So in the years to come, the Indian Army will move from a "command-based" deployment to a "theatre command" format where the "front" or the spearhead will be seamlessly integrated with resources in the "depth" or the rear.

In other words, when fighting formations get busy in taking on the enemy, the support elements dealing with food supplies, ammunition, spares etc -- usually based towards the rear -- will have total synergy with the frontline troops, thereby increasing their effectiveness.

The basic idea is to turn the lumbering Army into "an agile, lethal, versatile and networked force, which is capability-based to meet future challenges". Gen VK Singh has said the transformation must be 360 degrees and "enhance operational capability through reorganisation, restructuring, force development and relocation".

The concept is based on 13 transformation studies. These range from ways to consolidate strike capabilities and "flatten" HQs, to "synergising" all resources. Some of the Army's new transformative concepts are already being "test-bedded".

The chief in fact told the Army commanders in the ongoing commanders' conference in New Delhi which began on Monday that proposals for "theatrisation" of combat and combat services support have been completed and they would be test-bedded during the forthcoming Southern Command Exercise with troops. Once the efficacy is ascertained, it would be implemented. Processes are also on for re-structuring of the Army headquarters, so that it becomes a more responsive and synergised organisation.

All these steps undertaken would ensure that our Army is more agile, responsive and effective, the Army chief said.

The five-day conference is focusing on various macro-level issues pertaining to operational preparedness, equipment sustainment for mission readiness and maximising combat power generation capability of the Army, enhancing professional military education for scholar warriors, logistics and other administrative aspects. Procedures to ensure efficient 'budgetary management', 'improvement of habitat in high altitude areas' and 'night landing capability for airfields in the northern and western theatres' was deliberated on the first day of the conference. It was brought out that due to low temperatures at night, the carrying capacity of the IL-76 would increase, thus helping in winter stocking as also for operational logistic build-up.

 

[Daredevil]

Army to test re-structuring plan in war game

New Delhi : A Grand Strike Corps exercise that will take place in Rajasthan next month will be the test bed for a new doctrine of "theaterisation" that is likely to transform the structure and deployment tactics of the Indian Army.

The "Sudarshan Shakti" exercise, which is being led by 21 Corps but will include elements of the Air Force and Navy, will be the test bed for the new doctrine that was drawn up as part of the Army's "Transformational Study" led by a group of top Generals and the concept will be implemented on the basis of the results.

The Armed Forces have for long talked about moving from a threat specific approach to a capability based approach, but this is the first time the concept is being tested in a full scale war game involving thousands of troops and all three armed services.

Under the new concept, the entire combat resources and support elements that are engaged at war in a particular theatre or front will be utilised optimally from a command centre that will use the latest technologies to get a complete picture of the battle. The battlefront will be managed seamlessly through the command centre or centres without the administrative "borders" of various commands slowing things down.

Once the efficacy of the doctrine has been established in the exercise, the theory would be implemented, paving the way for a radical re-structuring of the command system as well as the Army Headquarters. The upcoming exercise and its significance was also discussed at the Army Commanders Conference in the capital on Monday with Army Chief General V K Singh, who headed the transformational study, saying that significant steps for "force structuring" have been initiated.

"Once the efficacy is ascertained, it would be implemented. Processes are also on for re-structuring of Army Headquarters, so that it becomes a more responsive and synergised organisation," said a senior Army officer. As part of the same policy, the Army is augmenting its aviation wing and is looking to acquire a large amount of helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles to support ground troops.

The "Sudarshan Shakti" exercise will also use and validate new-age technologies like advance surveillance systems, space assets and network centric capabilities of the Armed Forces. The central command room will have complete situational awareness of the battlefront and will coordinate operations with the Indian Air Force and the Navy. The concept is being tested out by the Pune-based Southern Command.

Among other discussions at the Commanders Conference, the Army Chief said that a new "training audit" will be put into place shortly to standardise training measures across establishments. Top commanders of the Army also emphasised on the need for creating night-landing capabilities at air fields in both the northern and western borders that would go a long way in improving the operational logistic build-up. This would also cut costs as the load carrying capabilities of transport aircraft increase at night due to low temperatures.

 

[SPIEZ]

MOD EDIT: You are not the moderator here

 

[Daredevil]

Army to undertake Sudarshan Shakti exercise in Nov-Dec

Pune Troops of the Southern Army have started arriving in the desert for their annual training exercises. The training will culminate in a major exercise, Sudarshan Shakti, in November-December to validate the operational preparedness of the Southern Army in a tri-service environment.Exercise Sudarshan Shakti will be based on the Integrated Theatre Battle concept under the Southern Army Commander, Lt Gen AK Singh, with 21 Corps in the lead, supported by all other relevant elements of Southern Army. The exercise will commence with a series of small team actions, subsequently moving up in the command chain, culminating in large scale manoeuvres under GOC 21 Corps.

A press release issued by the Southern Command said, "The exercise thus envisages, innovative manoeuvres, in a simulated battle environment, by composite combat entities, ably supported by air and complemented by a wide array of force multipliers and enabling logistics. The Southern Army is working towards a capability-based approach based on a series of transformational initiatives spanning, concepts, organisational structures and absorption of new age technologies in the fields of precision munitions, advance surveillance systems, space and network-centricity, under the overall guidance provided by the transformational study of the IA, for which the Army Chief and the Southern Army Commander were the main proponents."

The unique feature of the exercise will be the jointsmanship between the Southern Army and its counterparts in the IAF and Indian Navy, the release said.

 

[Daredevil]

Army to hold massive combat drill in That

NEW DELHI: Unruffled by Pakistan's brandishing of tactical nuclear missiles for battlefield use, India is launching another massive combat exercise to further sharpen its "pro-active'' strategy of multiple blitzkrieg thrusts across the border.

Around 50,000 soldiers with T-90S, T-72 M1 main-battle tanks and infantry combat vehicles, backed by Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, aircraft, helicopters, drones, satellites and other force-multipliers, will take part in the `Sudarshan Shakti' exercise in the Thar desert in November-December.

This comes after the major 'Vijayee Bhava' wargames in April-May, during which Pakistan projected its new 60-km Nasr (Hatf-IX) missile as a deadly game-changer against what is loosely called India's 'Cold Start' doctrine.

Indian armed forces, however, are not rattled by all the tall talk. "All our major combat manoeuvres are conducted under the NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) overhang. We practice for all eventualities,'' said a senior officer.

Moreover, the military brass points to India's nuclear doctrine which holds that "nuclear retaliation to a first strike will be massive and designed to inflict unacceptable damage''.

That's not all. India even retains the option to retaliate with nuclear weapons if its forces "anywhere'' are attacked with biological or chemical weapons.

"Sudarshan Shakti, which will enter its final phase in early-December, is geared towards a conventional integrated land-air war-fighting machinery. Army and IAF have seriously stepped up operational synergy along the entire western front,'' said another officer.

Consequently, the Southern Army Command under Lt-Gen A K Singh is working in close conjunction with its naval and air force counterparts for the Sudarshan Shakti exercise, with troops already being mobilised.

The exercise primarily revolves around the 21 Corps, one of Army's three principal strike formations apart from 1 Corps and 2 Corps, tasked with taking the battle right into enemy territory. The `Vijayee Bhava' exercise, incidentally, was conducted to hone the combat skills of the 2 Corps.

Even as Army now "transforms'' itself by consolidating its strike capabilities, the 1.13-million force is also focusing on streamlining operational logistics to ensure it can rapidly mobilize and sustain multiple armoured thrusts.

"The exercise envisages innovative manoeuvres, in a simulated battle environment, by composite combat entities, ably supported by air and complemented by a wide array of force-multipliers and enabling logistics. In short, it's based on the integrated theatre battle concept,'' said an officer.

Interestingly, the Army commanders' conference to be held in New Delhi next week will discuss the various "transformational initiatives'' underway as well as augmentation of "all-weather'' or night-fighting capabilities.

 

[Iamanidiot]

What message is the army sending to the morons across the border

 

[Daredevil]

What message is the army sending to the morons across the border

Through 'theaterization' the Army will synergize the available forces better between the commands and the logistics supporting the them will move much faster than before. So our deployment time in case of a war will be much faster than before.