Category: Indian armed forces

Inimical forces will attempt to jeopardize military modernization Bharat Shakti 31 Oct 17

India has over the decades only modernized its military by importing hardware. It has been the largest importer of military hardware, as its Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) maintained monopoly, preventing the private sector from entering the market and itself being a failure in almost all military technologies, less missiles and space. Thus, with dependency on imports, the military’s […]

More power to fire Force India Oct 17

With the arrival from the US of the first two M777 Ultra-Light Howitzers, the Bofors ghost has finally been laid to rest. The Indian Artillery had been crying hoarse for modernization over the decades, but the ghost kept raising its ugly head, the UPA government continued reacting and Anthony, as the defence minister, was compelled to turn down all proposals. […]

Cluttering the air space Salute India magazine Aug-Sep 17

Employment of air power for close air support missions in operations necessitated planning and coordination in air space management between various agencies. Air defence, artillery guns and rockets, attack and reconnaissance helicopters as also close air support aircraft operated simultaneously in the same limited air space, possibly with different height zones, however a risk of being shot by friendly fire […]

Army veterans must act responsibly The Statesman 17 Oct 17

As compared to any other organization in the country, the armed forces are the only ones without a voice. They have no means of venting their unhappiness on government decisions to those that matter, no union to support their demands, nor any right to protest, while wearing the uniform. Their top hierarchy can only raise its voice and request the […]

An ode to the Gunners The Excelsior 27 Sep 17

The Regiment of Artillery, also termed as the ‘Gunners’ would celebrate their 190th Raising day on 28th Sept. It was on this day in 1827, when the first Indian Artillery unit, 5 Bombay (mountain battery) was raised, though Babur was the first to employ artillery in India, in the first battle of Panipat. It has come a long way since […]

The army must revisit skewed policies The Statesman 19 Sep 17

Recent press reports stated that a group of hundred serving officers of the ranks of Major and Lt Cols of the Army Service Corps (ASC) have approached the Supreme Court for rectification of an act of discrimination. They claim they are deployed on combatant tasks when the army needs them, but are denied benefits on promotion prospects, which come with […]

Restructuring the armed forces for the future The Excelsior 06 Sep 17

The previous defence minister, Manohar Parrikar, had formed a committee under Lt General DB Shekatkar (retired), to recommend measures to enhance combat potential of the armed forces. The committee submitted its finding in December 2016. It concerned itself with internal restructuring of the armed forces and establishments under the Ministry of Defence (MoD). It had no role in considering working […]

Remembering Kargil The Excelsior 26 Jul 17

May to Jul 1999, the Indian army fought its last major conflict with Pakistan, thrust down by Parvez Musharraf as its army chief. There is no doubt that we had let our guard down enabling Pak to infiltrate and establish positions at heights which most armies would think twice about recapturing. That was exactly Pak’s thoughts too and they were […]

Is there a leadership failure in the Indian Army? Daily O 24 Jul 17

The recent fratricide incident in the valley, where a jawan reprimanded by his superior officer for using a cell phone on duty, shot him fatally in anger, has been quoted in sections of the media as an example of junior leadership and man-management failure. This has been linked to reports that the army has over one hundred stress related suicides […]

Politicization of the Indian army The Excelsior 22 Jun 17

Newspapers and online news portals are packed with articles condemning the army and its chief for its recent actions in Kashmir. The common Indian may disagree with the criticism, as an unofficial online poll on the Gogoi incident proved, yet there seems to be no end to army bashing. The chief’s unstinted support of the officer resulted in him being […]