Disappointed by the look of the AFSOD element in the exercise. But then again, one must admit it is too soon to see any major uniformity ( "operator standard" ) across the personnel coming from three services. From the looks of it, they just clobbered together whatever equipment was available in their armories.
At this stage, the exercises are unlikely to test anything other than the most basic principle to adhere by - jointmanship. With the exception of ANC, there is very little to no instance at all in the entire Indian military establishment where you have units from Army, IAF, IN working together on the ground employing small unit tactics while being commanded by the same authority.
This is a very important aspect to build up. It alone could take years to instill - its against the very fibre of being of existing personnel from, say, the Army to be ordered around on the ground by a Navy commander.
That said, I'm yet uncertain regarding exactly what level of jointmanship they are looking to accomplish here. Individual SMUs from various services being under one overarching Command structure is what JSOC/SOCOM are about. On the other hand, I can't help but wonder if, perhaps by some misguided assessment, we are looking at taking jointmanship to a rather absurd level by developing a single Composite SMU which will incorporate personnel from all services...like, picture a 6-man DEVgroup (ST6) team, but 2 of them are from Delta and 1 or 2 from USAF Special Tactics.
So far I was lead to believe based on media reports so far that though it will comprise of personnel from 3 branches, the contingents from each branch will be distinct entities under AFSOD, and still remain within the administrative control of their parent branch though operational control lies with AFSOD commander. That's how it is in JSOC.
Anyway, I'd again reiterate it's too early to say. If I'm disappointment by the arrangement, I will certainly voice my concern in a detailed manner. However, I must say I'm not in a position to say that just yet.
But that's all regarding organizational structures...coming to such things as equipment, again I'm disappointed but I can't really say this was unexpected. The unit is still in baby steps, and we know for a fact that wish-lists from SF in the recent past (for SCAR rifles, NVGs etc from US) did not clear DAC table back then and haven't gone through since then either, unless they went totally under my radar, so this is hardly a surprise. But we do know there is intent behind this (adoption of new-gen equipment), so if not today, then it will happen tomorrow, rest assured.
Plus, we have new platforms entering service with the regulars which are likely to draw AFSOD attention as well. So I'd say that I don't expect AFSOD to shape up to be a truly modern, uniform force (not each service's contingent sporting its own gear and just working under same command) anytime before 2022 at the earliest.
These things take time, and given the fact this modernization of equipment has not been successfully implemented in the past in the parent service's own SFs either, this path will incorporate a lot of trial and error as well.
Bottom-line, I'd say....Too early to celebrate, too early to criticize.
