Defence Forces

In India there isn’t a defined national security strategy, one that is based on logic, regional and the global environment, ambitions and goals that are achievable. Far too little intellectual effort has been made over the decades in working out a national security doctrine. The end result is that the entire defence planning process lacks planning and foresight. So there is no policy. And where there is no policy India lacks the vision that it needs to achieve its goals.

Recent Developments

Make in India in Defence Sector

As a major boost to ‘Make in India’ in Defence, the Defence Acquisition Council, in its meeting on 16 January 2018, cleared a simplified ‘Make-II’ procedure which will enable greater participation of industry in acquisition of defence equipment. This process will greatly help import substitution and promote innovative solutions. This simplified ‘Make-II’ procedure will amend the existing ‘Make Procedure’ in Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP)-2016.

Key Features

  • The industry can suggest projects, especially among those items which are currently being imported. Start-ups or individuals can also suggest proposals.
  • Service Headquarters will also list out a series of projects which can be undertaken as ‘Make-II’ projects under the new procedure.
  • The potential ‘Make-II’ projects will be approved by a collegiate comprising of DRDO, HQ (IDS), Department of Defence under a committee chaired by Secretary (Defence Production). Based on the in-principle approval agreed by this committee, the projects will be hosted on Ministry of Defence/Department of Defence Production’s website inviting industries to participate.
  • There will be no limit to the number of industry who may respond to the EoI for development of the prototype subject to meeting the minimum qualification criteria. The design and development time of 12 to 30 weeks is granted to industry to offer the prototypes.

First Phase of Reforms in Armed Forces

In a first ever exercise after Independence, the Ministry of Defence in consultation with the Indian Army in August 2017 decided to reform the Indian Army in a planned manner. The first phase of the reforms involves redeployment and restructuring of approximately 57,000 posts of officers/JCOs/ORs and civilians.

“Shekatkar Committee” was constituted by Ministry of Defence under the Chairmanship of Lt. Gen. (Retd) DB Shekatkar to recommend measures to enhance combat capability and rebalance defence expenditure of the armed forces.The Committee submitted its report in December 2016. Some Recommendations taken up for implementation include:

  • Optimisation of Signals Establishments to include Radio Monitoring Companies, Corps Air Support Signal Regiments, Air Formation Signal Regiments, Composite Signal Regiments and merger of Corps Operating and Engineering Signal Regiments.
  • Restructuring of repair echelons in the Army to include Base Workshops, Advance Base Workshops and Static/Station Workshops in the field Army.
  • Redeployment of Ordnance echelons to include Vehicle Depots, Ordnance Depots and Central Ordnance Depots apart from streamlining inventory control mechanisms.
  • Better utilization of Supply and Transport echelons and Animal Transport units.
  • Closure of Military Farms and Army postal establishments in peace locations.
  • Enhancement in standards for recruitment of clerical staff and drivers in the Army.
  • Improving the efficiency of the National Cadet Corps.

Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS)

The IONS presently has 23 member countries with 09 countries being given observer status. Iran is the current ‘Chair’ of IONS.

The 10th anniversary celebration of IONS was held on 13th November, 2018 in Kochi, Kerala. The theme was “IONS as catalyst for SAGAR”. Here SAGAR stands for ‘Security and Growth for all in the Region’ which is in consonance with India’s Act East Policy and our nation’s diplomatic, economic and military outreach in the Indian Ocean Region.

Strategic Partnership Policy

Government has finalized the policy on Strategic Partnerships in the Defence Sector.The same has been promulgated on 31.05.2017 as Chapter VII of Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2016 as “Revitalising Defence Industrial Ecosystem through Strategic Partnerships”.

The Policy is intended to encourage broader participation of the private sector, in addition to DPSUs/ OFB, in the manufacture of defence platforms and equipment.The following four segments have been identified for acquisition under Strategic Partnership route:

  • Fighter Aircraft
  • Helicopters
  • Submarines
  • Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) / Main Battle Tanks (MBTs)

The Policy will serve to enhance competition, increase efficiencies, facilitate faster and more significant absorption of technology, create atiered industrial ecosystem, ensure development of a wider skill base and trigger innovation, leading to reduction in dependence on imports and greater self-reliance in meeting national security objectives.

Defence Forces

Indian Army

  • The Indian Army maintains the third largest active duty force in the world after the People’s Republic of China and the United States.
  • The primary responsibility of the Army is to defend the country against external aggression and to safeguard territorial integrity of the country. In the prevailing geo-political, social and strategic environment, the role of the Army has become enormous.
  • The Army Headquarters is situated in New Delhi. The Chief of the Army Staff is assisted by the Vice-Chief of the Army Staff and seven other Principal Staff Officers.
  • Indian Army is divided into six commands apart from a training command and a Nuclear and Strategic Force Command which is responsible for the management and administration of the country’s tactical and strategic nuclear weapons stockpile.

Indian Navy

India has a coastline of 7,516 km with a total of 1,197 island territories in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. The Indian Navy, by virtue of its capability, strategic positioning and robust presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), has been a catalyst for peace, tranquility and stability in the IOR.

  • The Indian Navy is the world’s fifth largest Navy.
  • It has engaged with other maritime nations, extending a hand of friendship and cooperation. For smaller nations in our neighbourhood, as well as nations that depend on the waters of Indian Ocean for their trade and energy supplies, the Indian Navy ensures a measure of stability and tranquility in the region.
  • The Navy has a Marine Commando force (MARCOS) which was raised for direct action amphibious warfare and counter terrorism.
  • Indian Navy is headed by the Chief of the Naval Staff in the rank of Admiral at the Naval Headquarters, New Delhi. The Navy has three Commands - Western, Eastern and Southern with their Headquarters at Mumbai, Visakhapatnam and Kochi respectively. Each command is headed by a Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the rank of Vice Admiral.
  • The Western and the Eastern Commands are the operational Commands while the Southern Command is responsible for training.
  • Indian Navy has two fleets, the Western and the Eastern Fleet comprising ships and aircrafts. Goa and Arakonam are the major naval air bases.
  • In addition, Indian Navy also has air bases at Visakhapatnam, Port Blair and Car Nicobar. The major naval bases are located in the three Command Headquarters and other minor naval establishments are in Chennai, Kolkata, Chilka, Lonavala and Jamnagar.

Indian Coast Guard

  • With the adoption of the provisions of UN (Third Conference on the Laws of the Seas) , a need was felt to create a peacetime Marine Force to regulate Maritime laws and safeguard national interests in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone of the surrounding seas.
  • For this purpose, the Indian Coast Guard was formally established on 18th August 1978.
  • Its dutiesincludes : (i) Safety and protection of offshore installations and artificial islands; (ii) Providing protection to fishermen in distress; (iii) Protection of maritime environment; (iv) Assisting Customs in anti-smuggling operations; (v) Enforcement of maritime Zones of India Act; (vi) Safety of life and property at sea; and (vii) Prevention and control of marine pollution.
  • The command and control of the Coast Guard lies with the Director General of Coast Guard headquartered at New Delhi.
  • Indian Coast Guard operations are divided into 4 regions: Western, Eastern, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and North West region. The Regional Headquarters are located at Mumbai, Chennai, Port Blair and Gandhi Nagar.

Indian Air Force

Since its formation on 8th October, 1932, the Indian Air Force has come a long way from its modest beginning to become a premier Air Force in the region with a formidable bulwark in national defence. The Indian Air Force is the fourth largest air force in the world.

  • The Chief of Air Staff at Air Headquarters in New Delhi is assisted by the Vice-Chief of Air Staff responsible for operations. The former holds the rank of Air Chief Marshal.
  • The Indian Air Force has five operational and two functional commands. The operational commands are the Western Air Command, the South Western Air Command and the Central Air Command with their headquarters at New Delhi, Gandhinagar and Allahabad.
  • The Eastern Air Command and Southern Air Command have their headquarters at Shillong and Thiruvananthapuram respectively.
  • The functional Commands are the Training command with its headquarters at Bangalore and the Maintenance Command with its headquarters at Nagpur.
  • The IAF operates more than sixty air bases.
  • In 2004, the IAF established its own special operation unit called Garud Commando Force which is tasked with the protection of critical installations, search and rescue during peace and hostilities and disaster relief. The Service has opened its doors to induction of women officers in all its branches including flying branch.

Training Events & Military Exercises by the Army during 2017-18

NAME OF THE EXERCISE/ OPERATIONS

PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES/ FORCES

TIME LINE

REGION CONDUCTED

Dharma Guardian-2018

1st India & Japanese Armies joint exercise

01 to 14 November, 2018

Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School, Vairengete, Mizoram

INDRA-2018

Indo-Russian Joint Military Exercise

19 to 28 November, 2018

Babina Military Station, Jhansi, Madhya Pradesh

Milex-18

Participating BIMSTEC countries were India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand.

10 to 16 September, 2018

Aundh Military Station in Pune

Yudh Abhyas-2018

14th Indo-US joint military training Exercise

16 to 29 September, 2018

Foothills of Himalayas at Chaubattia in Uttarakhand

Nomadic Elephant-2018

Indo-Mongolia joint exercise

10 to 21 September, 2018

Mongolian Armed Forces (MAF) Five Hills Training Area, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

KAZIND-2018

3rd Indo-Kazakhstan Joint Army Exercise

10 to 23 September, 2018

Otar region, Kazakhstan

Maitree-2018

Indian Army and the Royal Thai Army

6 to 19 August, 2018

Chachoengsao Province, Thailand

Exercise Pitch Black 2018

Conducted by Australia, which saw participation of 16 nations and more than 140 aircraft

24 July to 18 August, 2018

RAAF Base Darwin, Australia

Harimau Shakti-2018

1st Indo-Malaysian bilateral joint Exercise

30 April to 13 May, 2018

Sengai Perdik, Hulu Langat, Malaysia

Khanjar V

5th Indo- Kyrgyzstan training exercise

16 to 29 March, 2018

Counter Insurgency Jungle Warfare School, Vairengte, Mizoram.

VINBAX-2018

1st Indo-Vietnam military training Exercise

29 January to 3 February, 2018

Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh

Ekuverin-2017

8th India-Maldives bilateral military exercise

15 to 28 December, 2017

Belagavi, Karnataka

Overseas Operations by the Navy during 2017-18

NAME OF THE EXERCISE/ OPERATIONS

PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES/ FORCES

TIME LINE

REGION CONDUCTED

Sahyog HOP TAC-2018

Maiden Indo-Vietnamese Coast Guard Exercises

4 to 6 October, 2018

Bay of Bengal, off Chennai coast

SLINEX-2018

6th edition India-Sri Lanka bi-lateral Naval Exercise

07 to 13 September, 2018

Trincomalee, Sri Lanka

22nd edition of Malabar exercise

tri-lateral naval exercise between India, US and Japan

7 June to 16 June, 2018

Guam, a major naval base in Western Pacific

Exercise Varuna-2018

Indo-French Naval Exercises

1st Phase: concluded on 24 March, 2018

1st Phase: held in Arabian Sea

2nd Phase: concluded in April, 2018

2nd Phase: was held off the Chennai coast in Bay of Bengal

3rd Phase: 01 to 07 May, 2018

3rd Phase: was held in Reunion Island in SW Indian Ocean

Naseem Al Bahr-2017

11th India-Oman Naval Exercise

17 to 25 December, 2017

Said Bin Sultan Naval Base, Wudam

Special Exercises During 2017-18

NAME OF THE EXERCISE/ OPERATIONS

PARTICIPATING FORCES

TIME LINE

REGION CONDUCTED

Gaganshakti-2018

It was one of the largest exercise conducted by the Indian Air Force

Phase-I: 08 to 17 April, 2018

Phase-I: involved activation of Western, South Western and Southern Air Commands, with affiliated Army and Naval components.

Phase-II: 17 to 23 April, 2018

Phase-II: involved activation of Western, Central, Eastern and Southern Air Commands.

Hamesha Vijayee

Joint exercise of Indian Army and Indian Air Force

16 to 22 December, 2017

Thar deserts of Rajasthan

Coastal Security/ Mock Dill/ Anti-Piracy Operations during 2017-18

NAME OF THE EXERCISE/ OPERATIONS

PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES/ FORCES

TIME LINE

REGION CONDUCTED

Exercise IOWave18

India along with 23 other nations participated in a major Indian ocean-wide tsunami mock drill

4 & 5 September, 2018

Wave18 comprised two scenarios:

  • one in the north western Indian Ocean off the coast of Iran, and
  • the other in the eastern Indian Ocean off the west coast of northern Sumatra.

Sahyog-Hyeoblyeog 2018

Indo-Korean joint anti-piracy, search and rescue exercise

5 to 7 April, 2018

Off the Chennai coast

Sagar Kavach

The exercise saw participation of Indian Coast Guard (ICG), Indian Navy, Coastal Police and Marine Enforcement wing and various other security stakeholders

24 to 25 April, 2018

Off the Kerala coast

Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) during 2017-18

NAME OF THE EXERCISE/ OPERATIONS

PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES/ FORCES

TIME LINE

REGION CONDUCTED

Operation NISTAR

INS Sunayana rescued 38 Indians who were stranded on an island after a severe cyclonic storm

Safely rescued on 7 June, 2018

Socotra Island off the coast of Yemen

Samvedna: practicing Air Force-centric HADR solutions

Multilateral representatives from air forces of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and the UAE

12 to 17 March, 2018

Off the coast of Kerala

Related Content