The 1.3-million strong Indian Army is now sharpening its entire war-fighting strategy, ranging from the creation of alert Included Battle Groups (IBGs) and generous cyber warfare capabilities to induction plans for launch-on-demand microsatellites, directed-energy weapons, Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics and the like.
India is currently faced with a "No War, No Peace" scenario due to the management of the "complex and active" unanswered borders with China and Pakistan, coupled with "hybrid warfare" or "state-sponsored proxy war and acts of terrorism from across the border""An intensive effort is being made by our adversaries to shrink the space for conformist wars, through examination of alternative operations at the lower end of the range, and threats of early and irrational use of nuclear weapons at the other," warns the doctrine.
While stressing the need to prepare for talented security challenges ahead, the doctrine says "any adversarial attempt to alter the status quo along our borders will be dealt with in a firm and unbendable manner", in a clear reference to the 73-day Doklam troop stand-off with China near the Sikkim-Bhutan-Tibet tri-junction last year. The Army will take steps to resolve "deliberate transgressions" along the 4,057-km long Line of Actual Control with China to "our advantage with minimum appreciation" in consonance with existing agreements and protocols. But there is "a need to be prepared for any appreciation".
In terms of conventional war, the Army will strive to achieve incorporated planning and conduct of "networked theatre battles" through a synergized application of land, air, and maritime components. "All combat operations will be as IBGs," it says.
The Army brass has already given the go-ahead for IBGs or integrated composite brigades, with five to six battalions each and a mix of infantry, armored, artillery, air defense, signals, and engineers, backed by attack helicopters, under the command of major-generals.
The Army currently has 14 corps (led by lieutenant-generals) and 49 divisions (major-generals) under its six operational commands. Each division has three brigades, which in turn have three battalions each. "The IBGs, to be test-bedded in field exercises, will be self-contained, highly mobile and flexible".
The doctrine, in turn, states the "response along the western front will be sharp and swift with the aim to destroy the adversary's center of gravity and secure spatial gains." In the event of a collusive China-Pakistan threat, the primary front will be dealt with "all the resources in our weapon store" and "a strong strategic defensive balance will be maintained" along the secondary front.
Dwelling upon "human-machine teaming", it says: "At the core of our future military planning will be the effective integration of soldiers, AI, and robotics into war-fighting systems that exploit existing capabilities for success in battle."
"Development of microsatellites, lighter and greater capacity transponders, maneuverable and intelligent outer space satellites, with short life spans which can be launched on demand, will be the essential future requirements for the Army".
