EXPERTS ECHO NEED FOR ELECTRONIC WARFARE INTEGRATION, “ISRO HAS LIMITED MILITART CAPABILITY; ONLY GOOD FOR EXPLORATION; “MOST MEASURES NEEDED ARE BUDGET AGNOSTICS AND REQUIRE A SURGICAL STRIKE ON STRUCTURAL DEFORMITIES”: LT. GEN. RAJ SHUKLA
Face2News/Chandigarh
With impending overhaul of global security paradigm, India today urgently needs a National Security Renaissance to fully harness its Air defence capabilities by focusing to develop wrap-around technologies in cyber, space, and Artificial intelligence.
The views were expressed by an illustrious panel of defence veterans on the first day of Military Literature Festival (MLF).
(SUBHEAD)Sharing his mind during a panel discussion on 'Air Power in Multi Domain Warfare and Operation Sindoor', Lt. General Raj Shukla said that surgical eradication of structural and cultural issues plaguing our defence upgradation is most vital.
“Without domination in electronic warfare (EW), space and Artificial intelligence, our Air Power would not be worth the name, Lt. Gen. Shukla said.
Mincing no words, General Shukla said, “ISRO has little military capabilities and it is only good for exploration.” If we do not focus on our Air defence capabilities today, we may face a situation of deficit against Pakistan, which is aiming to rapidly build on its Air defence with help from China and US.
Moderating the discussion, Air Vice Marshal Anil Golani underpinned the need to have a superior kinetic capability which translates into precision, lethality and reaches into the enemy territory.
Listing the role played by our Air Force in India's first post-independence war to save Srinagar and then Kashmir, AVM Golani said that collaboration between Infantry and Air Power is a must for winning any conflict today.
Taking part in the discussion, Air Marshal (Dr) Rajeev Sachdeva shared a power point presentation stating the role of different stakeholders in ensuring a seamless and cohesive culmination of any defence operation.
“We were a poor nation and after independence we have gradually improved our strengths, and today we need to keep building on our infrastructure and information warfare capabilities, Air Marshal Sachdeva said.
Earlier, Lt. General Shukla, while Underlining the importance of having a strong deterrence, said that India's economy is 10 times bigger than that of Pakistan, and this strength must reflect in our comparative military status as well.
“Pakistan, or for that matter, no enemy, is irrational, Lt. Gen. Raj Shukla said, adding that India's improved defence architecture can only act as a formidable deterrence against Pakistan.
Listing out challenges to India's defence upgradation, he said majority of challenges are cultural and structural. “Giving HAL Chairman a tenure of just 2-3 years with the responsibility to carving out plans for implementing a defence vision for next 30-40 years is just one of those examples of many challenges which need course correction, he added.
A military delegation from the United Kingdom led by Maj Gen John Kendall educated the viewers on the shared military heritage between the armed forces of India and Britain. The audience listened in rapt attention.
