NEW DELHI, India: The Indian army is making a comprehensive reappraisal of its state of technology in the context of requirements of modern warfare which will, to a large extent, be governed by use of electromagnetic spectrum.

The army has plans for all-round modernization to improve the combat effectiveness of its men and’ equipment, the Chief of the Indian Army Staff, Gen. K. Sunderji, said in a press interview.

He said rapid advance had been made in the use of guided missiles and radar controlled air defense guns. The Indian army had also gone in for the latest communications system with an automatic electronic switch as the heart of the system, he added.

He said Pakistan was getting the “state of the systems” particularly “Force Multipliers” off the shelf from the United States “almost for a song”.

India on the other hand was keen to develop its own systems indigenously and look for imports when forced to do so, he said. The Indian Army Chief said the “Force Multipliers” were not necessarily weapon systems but equipment systems which tended to increase combat effectiveness of a force. It would increase effectiveness of what one had in men and material.

Similarly, he said, China was also going in for a fair number of American Sikorsky “Black Hawk” helicopters in the Tibetan region which had “Force Multipliers” effect.

He said the Indian army had been absorbing relevant technology as part of modernization all along. The “Aren” communication system it was introducing was futuristic system. It was fuliy automated and integrated various kinds of communications together.

The Indian Army chief said that in the northern borders, there had been considerable enhancement of India’s defensive posture.

The thrust was to optimize the man machine mix in the western theatre and create resources from the manpower to strengthen defenses on northern borders. “This would improve our combat potential”.

He said a scheme for modernization of the tank fleet of the army had also been taken in hand. The project was coming along very well. The army would start trial this year.

He said the Mountain Division was also proposed to be reorganized to improve its fighting qualities.

He said the army was extending the use of computers of wide range analytical studies, inventory control and for map study.

Article extracted from this publication >>  February 6, 1987