A modernizing army The Excelsior 15 Jan 2026
A modernizing army The Excelsior 15 Jan 2026
The army is celebrating its 78th Army Day on 15th Jan this year. 15th Jan 1949 was the day when Lt Gen KM Cariappa took over as the first Indian army chief from Gen Francis Roy Bucher and that day is celebrated as Army Day. The army has been witnessing modernization and restructuring over the years, gaining pace in recent times aimed at preparing the force for the future. Modernization and restructuring take time, funds and validation before they are implemented and hence remain a steady and ongoing process.
Most of the changes which are underway have flowed from lessons which emerged from recent conflicts including the two Armenia-Azerbaijan conflicts, the Israel-Hamas conflict, the ongoing Russo-Ukraine war and the recently concluded Operation Sindoor. These conflicts displayed the role of technology in every sphere of operations as also increased employment of unmanned aircraft and drones.
They also highlighted the fact that the battlefield is transparent and little can be hidden. These issues have resulted in compelling armed forces across the world to change tactics to survive and succeed in operations. While these were recent lessons it is equally important to extrapolate what would be the future and reorient forces accordingly.
Speaking at the Chanakya dialogue in Nov last year, the army chief listed out three phases of ongoing transformation intending to make the army into an integrated fully ready force. In the first phase extending upto 2032 emphasis would be on enhancement of capabilities, force restructuring as also operational readiness.
The second phase extending upto 2037 would consolidate the gains achieved in the initial phase. The final phase upto 2047 would ensure a fully integrated force equipped for next generation warfare. The Indian army has declared 2026 as the year of ‘networking and data centricity.’
Across the armed forces there is a churn towards artificial intelligence, cyber capabilities, space-based assets, precision guided ammunition and autonomous systems. The role of technology in shaping the battlefield as also decision-making is bringing about a change in operational and tactical concepts. The national emphasis continues to be self-reliance or Aatma Nirbharta. The armed forces are also moving steadily towards theaterization.
Galwan and the growing proximity of Pakistan and China displayed during Operation Sindoor makes it evident that India must prepare for both nations acting in collusion in a future conflict. Pakistan employs Chinese products as also was a testbed for Chinese military equipment in Operation Sindoor. It is likely that China would have been aware that Pakistan’s terrorist groups planned to launch the Pahalgam attack. Collusion between the two would remain a concern in the future.
The past year has witnessed a slew of restructuring and modernization actions. The raising of Bhairav Battalions, Rudra Brigades, Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs), Ashni Platoons and Shaktibaan Regiments are some ongoing restructuring actions. Bhairav battalions are specialized units which would fill the gap between infantry battalions and special forces. They would be responsible for specialized operations close to the border while parachute special forces would be employed for strategic tasks.
Rudra Brigades and IBGs are all arm formations which could be employed for both, offensive and defensive operations. While Rudra brigades would be smaller in size and commanded by Brigadiers, IBGs would comprise of about 5000 personnel and commanded by Major Generals. They would have basic logistics support and would be hooked onto other formations for major requirements. These would be structured based on their tasks and likely areas of employment.
Ashni platoons would be specialist platoons tasked to employ drones and would form part of every infantry battalion, providing them the ability to monitor as also engage targets in their vicinity employing drones. Shaktibaan regiments would be artillery regiments which would be equipped with loitering ammunition and swarm drones forming part of artillery brigades. The benefit would be that based on the nature of the target the commander would determine which is the best weapon system to employ to achieve the desired destruction at the target end, artillery guns or drones.
The nature of the future battlefield also necessitates the need for guns to be able to shoot rapidly, destroy designated targets and change locations prior to enemy counter fire. Hence, modern guns, with longer ranges, better accuracy as also mobility are in the process of being inducted. The need to engage targets at longer range with accuracy cannot be overemphasized. A multitude of rocket systems with high levels of accuracy are also being tested.
The use of Artificial Intelligence through data fusion systems, decision making, autonomous systems like drones, cybersecurity, training and logistics is on the rise. These are largely indigenous systems. The three services are working in unison towards integration and jointness as also in the fields of cyber and space.
Another major ongoing effort is development on infrastructure along our Northern Borders. While India remains behind China, it is working to catch up to enable rapid deployment. India never had offensive designs on its northern front but with the manner in which China has been acting, a Northern strike Corps has been raised. This would be a counterstrike capability to offset any Chinese misadventure.
There are few aspects which continue to merit attention. The first is funding. While the armed forces demand 3% of the GDP as their budget, the government provides under 2%. While all demands cannot be met, there is a need for the government to scale up its allocations. The second is increased funding for R and D. Unless this is increased, we cannot catch up with the technology needed in the modern battlefield.
The third is civil-military fusion. In India, this is at a nascent stage as compared to China and the west. Most military technologies are dual use and the best test bed is the armed forces. Unless the academia, industry and armed forces work in unison to identify and exploit emerging technologies, we will always be lacking. Finally, the industry needs to adhere to their timelines in delivery as also avoid using parts outsourced from inimical nations.
The army is changing. It needs to absorb ongoing restructuring, embody them into its tactics and operations as it moves ahead. The Indian army has never let the nation down, nor will it in the future. It remains the nation’s most respected institution.