NEW DELHI: India is set to embark on far-reaching military reforms to ensure its armed forces are prepared to meet future battlefield challenges, with the proposed establishment of a drone force, a data force and a defense geospatial agency, standing out among a host of goals it seeks to pursue and achieve by 2047 when the country celebrates the centenary of its independence.
The roadmap, Defense Forces Vision 2047, to transform the Army into a world-class force also seeks to establish Space Command, Cyber Command, Cognitive Warfare Task Force and a National Air Defense Shield under the Sudarshan Chakra Mission as the nature of warfare rapidly evolves due to technological advancement.
The vision document stipulates that the renewal will be implemented in three stages: until 2030 (the era of transformation), 2030-40 (the era of unification), and 2040-2047 (the era of excellence).
“The challenges of the future will require adaptability, courage and flexibility,” Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said in the introduction to the document, which sets strategic priorities and objectives for the next two decades to address new geostrategic, technological and security realities. Singh released the document on Tuesday but its contents became public on Thursday.
The document delves into how rapid technological advances are profoundly impacting war and combat, noting that emerging technologies such as supersonics, robotics, stealth, drones, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence are expanding the battlefield and changing the concept of applying force during combat.
“Dual-use technologies remain unknown or unexplored that may cause disruptive impact, forcing a paradigm shift in the fundamental essence of war and combat. The exponential growth in sensors, data storage, advanced data analytics, processing power, connectivity, automation, machine learning and artificial intelligence are all significantly impacting warfare. The Indian Defense Forces must seize this opportunity and enhance its strength by integrating specialized and emerging warfighting technologies as part of its modernization.”
The document indicates that future warfare strategies will depend on seamless network integration, secure communications, and superior data management. “Security challenges are no longer limited to the land, sea or air domain. Rather, they are expanding into new areas including cyber, space and cognitive space.”
Interconnection and synergy between services is a fundamental pillar of the vision. “Synergistic use of force will require tri-service integration at a high level. The spirit of cooperation must prevail across all ranks of the three services which will be the bedrock of integration,” the document said.
Last year, Singh had said that cooperation in the Army — a prerequisite for creating theater commands — cannot be achieved through structural reforms alone, but will also require a change in mindset and the challenges involved must be addressed through dialogue and understanding, stressing that tri-service integration is a must for survival in a rapidly changing security environment.
The document notes that coherence and integration must be pursued relentlessly to improve synergies and enable unified planning and execution of operations across multiple domains. The armed forces have been asked to integrate networks that will pave the way for integrated communications, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, targeting and air defence. Formalization of an integrated three-service logistics and inventory management system; introducing organizational efficiency through delayering, optimization and restructuring; Establishment of a joint headquarters and operation of the Joint Operations Coordination Centre; Separating power generation and power application by raising integrated operational command structures.
The document says that a modern, robust and combat-ready (lethal and combat-ready) army is key to ensuring India’s territorial integrity and internal stability, which is essential to foster an environment conducive to growth and prosperity.
The report adds that the armed forces cannot remain in a status quo.
“Preparing for and winning future wars will need more than just modern equipment. It will need an imaginative, innovative and inventive approach when it comes to planning operations and employing forces. Given the rapid advances in combat technologies and technologies, a dynamic, adaptive and flexible defense force will be better positioned and organized to achieve victory.”
It calls on the armed forces to enhance deterrence through the acquisition of smart platforms, combat assets and force multipliers; Deploy national and theater strategies for anticipated threats; creating resilient border infrastructure; Strengthen coastal surveillance and introduce airspace awareness over maritime areas; Expanding awareness of the underwater domain; Increasing ground warfare capabilities through space capabilities in the areas of intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, positioning, navigation, and communications.
The military has also been asked to build flexible and responsive cyber defense networks, expand the atmosphere into near space, and invest in autonomous and intelligent systems.
It states that the challenges facing the transition from military power in the twentieth century to perceived power are many.
“Sustained investments are needed to realize this vision. The leap in capabilities and capabilities envisioned cannot be achieved through standard off-the-shelf acquisitions nor by employing these capabilities through mere replication of existing doctrines and strategies drawn from across the globe. Indian solutions – covering the entire board from threat mitigation to balanced technology infusion, force structure, doctrines and secure supply chains – must be implemented to secure national interests,” the report adds.
