General Manoj Pande, the Indian Army Chief, delivered a speech at the Manekshaw Centre during the “General SF Rodrigues Memorial Lecture” in honor of the late General Sunith Francis Rodrigues.
The event was attended by senior Army officers and veterans. The topic of the lecture was the changing nature of war, which is highly relevant. One key lesson from recent conflicts is the importance of technology on the modern battlefield. Therefore, it is necessary to incorporate advanced technologies into our warfighting systems.
Currently, our inventory consists of a mix of vintage, current, and state-of-the-art systems. It is not feasible or desirable to modernize or replace all of them at once. Therefore, it is important to upgrade new procurements while also developing indigenous capacities and maintaining a balance between old and new systems.
Long-range precision fires have shown that distance does not guarantee safety. This has also raised the issue of massing formations. We have also witnessed the use of low-cost options to neutralize high-value platforms. The proliferation of manned and unmanned systems in the airspace provides opportunities for precision targeting.
In our context, we are procuring lighter munitions and drones to enhance precision targeting in the tactical battle area. The Army Chief also highlighted the major initiatives undertaken by Gen Rodrigues, such as the induction of women officers in streams other than the Medical Corps. It is important to acknowledge the support received from strategic partners, such as Ukraine, which has been a game changer.
However, it is crucial for India to be self-reliant in meeting its national defense needs, as strategic partnerships may not always guarantee active military support during conflicts with adversaries. India is committed to the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant) in its capability development endeavors.