India
Army sought enhanced participation by private sector in defence production to help the process of modernisation required to meet security challenges faced by the country.
Updated : Nov 19, 2013, 11:17 PM IST
NEW DELHI: Army on Thursday sought enhanced participation by private sector in defence production to help the process of modernisation required to meet the "complex, diverse and evolving" security challenges faced by the country.
Army Chief Gen Deepak Kapoor said as his force remains committed to tackle insurgency, it has to be prepared for wars which are likely to be short and intense characterised by increased lethality in the nuclear backdrop.
"The nation today is faced with complex, diverse and evolving security challenges and Indian army continues to play a pivotal role in securing peace and stability," he said addressing a conference here.
"The current situation of continuous commitment of Indian army in Counter Insurgency situation both in Jammu and Kashmir and the North East is also a reality.
Hence, he said, there was a pragmatic need to find a balance to thwart the twin threats of the conventional war with a nuclear backdrop and the Counter Insurgency situation.
Appreciating the role of private sector in defence production, he said cooperation among the industry, defence public sector undertakings and the defence establishment should be enhanced.
"We do appreciate the need for Industry and military partnership in the defence sector," he said.
Kapoor said the private sector could play a very important role in design and development of indigenous equipment for the military.
The Army Chief said the future paradigm of warfare would have numerous dimensions as environment would be information oriented. "Situations would call for speedy decision making and integration with other forces would be vital," he said.
"There will alyays be pressure to quickly resolve the crisis. There will be need for effective military response," Gen Kapoor told the conference on 'Future Infantry Soldier as a System'.
Noting the important role of infantry, he said the future warfare and conflicts will pose a large number of challenges and threats to the infantry soldier.
"As the army equipment and systems are becoming more and more sophisticated and complex, the soldiers' enhanced intelligence, training skills, flexibility, and adaptability will also increasingly become important," he said.
Kapoor said most armies world-over has recognised this aspect and are on to various soldier modernisation programme.
"Modernisation of our infantry batellion is already underway. Some new generation weapons have been already inducted into the service," he said.
"The objective is to enhance the capability of the soldier in respect of lethality, survivality situational awareness and command and control," said.
Top army officials and executives from private industries participated in the conference which was jointly organised by CII and the defence ministry.