Large Main Battle Tanks, Fighter Aircraft On Way Out: Army Chief On Changing Character Of 21st Century Warfare

04 March, 2020

India was focusing on a dynamic response along its western and northern borders that are below the threshold of an all-out war, said Army Chief General MM Naravane at a seminar on land warfare.

Army Chief Gen MM Naravane

New Delhi: Army Chief General MM Naravane on Wednesday said warfare in the present-day world was in ‘grey zone’ and the forces were according due attention to their various nuances. Speaking at a seminar on land warfare here, the Army chief referred to the changing character of warfare and said icons of the previous century were on their way out.

“Icons of the 20th-century warfare like large main battle tanks and fighter aircraft are on their way out,” General Naravane said, adding that the force was looking at using blockchain technologies and direct energy weapons like a laser in the future.

The Army chief added that the force was also working to strengthen its conventional prowess.

According to Gen Naravane, India was focusing on a dynamic response along its western and northern borders that are below the threshold of an all-out war.

“We are also focusing on dynamic response. We are refining our capacities on both the western and northern borders. We are developing both kinetic and non-kinetic methods,” he told the seminar.

While India shares its northern border with China, the western border is aligned with Pakistan.

‘Escalation Not Equal To War’

Referring to the Balakot airstrikes in February 2019, the General said the action had demonstrated the fact that if one is skilful, escalation does not always lead to war.

“Balakot airstrike saw short intense escalatory cycle in full media blare where sophisticated information narratives played an important role. It demonstrated that if you play escalatory game with skill, military ascendance can be established in cycles that don’t necessarily lead to war,” the Army chief said.

He also stressed on the need to tackle the threat of non-state actors, stating that their (terrorists’) rise demands that victory in war is formulated in a nuanced manner.

Referring to China, Gen Naravane said the country’s dominance in South China Sea shows small incremental steps taken by it helped achieve an aim without firing a single shot.

“China has not been involved in real hardcore combat for a few decades now, yet its regular showcasing of its military might has created this aura of China being the undisputed military leader in key technology domain,” he told the seminar.

‘ISIS Ahead Of Armies Of 21st Century’

The Army chief said terror groups were far more adept in using social media than the armies of the 21st century.

“ISIS is far more adept in using social media for devastating effects as compared to 21st-century armies of the US and the UK,” he said.

Courtesy: TOI