- 4 months ago
Top commanders of the Indian Armed Forces, speaking at the India Today Conclave, detailed a strategic shift in India's military doctrine. A senior Air Force officer, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Air Command, Marshall Suraj Singh, reported that 'Operation Sindoor' achieved its outcome in 25 minutes, demonstrating air power efficacy.
On the other hand, a senior Army officer, Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, emphasised the move towards integrated theatre commands and a 'homegrown solution' guided by the Prime Minister's 'Jai' mantra: Jointness, Atmanirbharta (self-reliance), and Innovation.
Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, underlined the Navy's dual capacity to challenge enemy militaries and exert economic pressure during Operation Sindoor, while maintaining the operational flexibility required by clear political directives.
On the other hand, a senior Army officer, Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, emphasised the move towards integrated theatre commands and a 'homegrown solution' guided by the Prime Minister's 'Jai' mantra: Jointness, Atmanirbharta (self-reliance), and Innovation.
Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, underlined the Navy's dual capacity to challenge enemy militaries and exert economic pressure during Operation Sindoor, while maintaining the operational flexibility required by clear political directives.
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NewsTranscript
00:00the images that you will see on these screens in just a moment from now are epic these are images
00:08from operation sindoor and all of us know operation sindoor and the synergy when those
00:17pakistani terrorists massacred 26 people 25 hindus in pehelgaam what we saw was perhaps the
00:27worst face of pakistan state-sponsored radical islamist terror that's been bleeding india for
00:32decades but for the first time you saw the manner in which the armed forces jointly the army the navy
00:41and the air force jointly punished pakistan within 90 hours or in under 90 hours pakistan was desperate
00:52for a ceasefire the manner in which a vast landscape over 2000 kilometers 320 kilometers deep if not
01:03beyond and perhaps air marshal suraj singh will tell us better how deep pakistan was hit 2000 kilometers
01:11320 kilometers deep 11 air bases of pakistan decimated six radar stations decimated nine terror camps on
01:21the first time murid ke and bahawalpur but the conversation today is what next synergy and
01:28jointness in future operations and i have amongst the finest thinking minds of our armed forces joining
01:37me at the india today conclave top leaders at the level of execution of operations keeping india first
01:47it is my great privilege to interview one by one left and general dheeraj seth army commander southern
01:54command general officer commanding in chief southern command air marshal suraj singh air officer commanding
01:59in chief eastern air command and vice admiral krishna swaminathan flag officer commanding in chief western
02:06naval command very very crucial operational commands of the three armed forces i want to first invite
02:13jel dheeraj seth on the platform here sir welcome
02:17general what's the biggest lesson we all saw operation sindoor and we saw how pakistan
02:37shot a ceasefire in just about 90 hours or less than 90 hours but what's the biggest lesson for you
02:45for us from operation sindoor
02:48to take that on head on as far as op sindoor is concerned gaurav i think we all know it that it
02:57was an absolute bold and resolute military action carried out by the indian armed forces
03:02defined truly by precision and executed with top speed like yourself said we attained the political
03:09military objectives in flat 88 hours from the time it started but that said it's important for me to
03:16actually bring out at as to what op sindoor really demonstrated actually what came to the fore was our
03:23decisive quality to state it as point number one we had a clear political intended aim with that given
03:30as also maximum freedom given to our armed forces we found the armed forces acting in absolute synergy
03:38and jointness to achieve laid down mandates and objectives in fact what sindoor really gave us
03:45thereafter is a new normal to function from as we are all aware as defined and outlined by our
03:52honorable prime minister himself so we have new benchmarks now all set for subsequent responses as and when
04:00so required and a very bold thing that really emerged that it showcased india's readiness to engage in full
04:08spectrum veterans but that said the underlining statement was of jointness and synergy which made it all possible
04:17jointness and synergy and it's so amazing to hear this because when we read about past battles uh in in the past you know army was doing its own thing the air force was doing its own thing
04:30and and and perhaps the results weren't the same 65 war lessons learned uh and yet uh you know india's done so well but in future warfare in future combat and when you look at warfare that's happening across the world russia ukraine israel iran that jointness and synergy especially in multi-domain operations that's what everyone talks about mdo how do you achieve greater synergy greater jointness in future operations sir well to take that on uh
05:00you know just sort of uh uh let me actually uh uh let me actually uh uh let me actually uh surrealism aspects that underscore our recent conflicts or the recent conflicts that the world is seeing all over uh as we are all aware character of warfare is never constant it keeps evolving
05:15and in fact present times it's evolving at speeds faster than we've ever seen before
05:20and on one hand when I say this
05:23we still see conflict
05:25evolving and panning out
05:27across the five generations of
05:29warfare so that is one part of the
05:31point and the second aspect
05:33is the traditional
05:35domains of land, air and sea
05:37domains have become
05:38largely passe I say that because
05:41they've got overextended
05:42and we now have new domains of warfare
05:44coming in whether it be cyber
05:46space, AI, autonomous
05:49systems so they are putting
05:51this new pressure and this new
05:53pressure is demanding from us
05:55multi-domain operations
05:56and for multi-domain operations
05:59to really take off
06:00to take place we require
06:02not only synergy and jointness
06:04but integration of a much higher
06:06order and to achieve that
06:09kind of integration
06:10in fact I would like to actually
06:13talk of it a little more
06:15because we recently had
06:16our honourable PM giving us the
06:18strategic guidance at the recently
06:20concluded combined commanders
06:22conference where he
06:24actually expounded or brought out
06:26propounded his mantra
06:28of Jai
06:30Jai standing for jointness
06:32Atmanir Bharta and innovation
06:34in the same breath we had our
06:36honourable Raksha Mantri
06:37he brought out
06:39theatrization as the number one
06:41reform in this year of reform
06:43so that said on one part
06:45we have also taken major strides
06:48towards jointness
06:49to make this MDO operation
06:51that you spoke of happen
06:53and as far as
06:54this jointness is concerned
06:56you are aware we have
06:57created
06:58we have brought out
07:00a whole lot of joint
07:01doctrines
07:02we have central agencies
07:03which are now being structured
07:05to look after space
07:06cyber
07:07we have joint logistic nodes
07:09coming up
07:09common defence stations
07:11so a whole lot of strides
07:12have taken place
07:12but time is now
07:14to move beyond that stride
07:16time is now
07:17to take that big leap
07:18that big leap
07:20to get greatly unified
07:22towards creation
07:23of integrated theatre commands
07:25and I'll just leave that
07:26with one caveat
07:27that if it is
07:29that integrated theatre command
07:30that we are looking for
07:31we need to bring that about
07:33as a homegrown solution
07:36here in fact
07:37I'd like to take that word
07:38Atmanir Bharta further
07:39let it permeate
07:40to facets of strategic thinking
07:42so if you allow
07:43strategic thinking
07:44in terms of
07:45homegrown requirements
07:47meaning what are our nuances
07:49what are our strategic
07:50imperatives and compulsions
07:51then we'll arrive
07:52at a model
07:53which suits
07:54our requirement
07:55of a twin threat
07:56on both borders
07:58we have it all
07:59from grey zone
07:59to full spectrum conflict
08:01so if we put all this together
08:02aim is to create
08:04a model
08:04which provides us
08:05the deterrence
08:06and if deterrence fails
08:07we are ready
08:08to fight a war
08:10and fight
08:10and win that war
08:12with Indian solutions
08:13outstanding
08:15with Indian solutions
08:16sir
08:17can you elaborate
08:18a little on
08:19what these
08:20Indian solutions are
08:21because
08:22that shows
08:23a change
08:23in our thinking
08:24isn't it
08:25you know
08:27in southern command
08:28for example
08:29what are steps
08:31that you are taking
08:32to bring in
08:32the message
08:35of the prime minister
08:36or the command
08:36in the combined
08:38commandos conference
08:39jointness
08:41atmanirbharata
08:42and innovation
08:44how does that
08:45get actioned
08:46on ground
08:47so I'll take them
08:48one by one
08:49as far as
08:50jay is concerned
08:51I'll take on
08:52jay one by one
08:53so as far as
08:55jointness
08:56is concerned
08:56in fact
08:58southern command
08:59based at
09:00Pune
09:00in fact
09:02this jointness
09:03if I can say
09:04is ingrained
09:04in our very DNA
09:05of southern command
09:06and why I say
09:07that is
09:08based out of
09:10Pune
09:10the entire lot
09:11of southern states
09:12that is 11 states
09:13are in my area
09:14of responsibility
09:15which brings in
09:17four of these
09:18seven air force
09:19commands
09:20all three of
09:21the naval commands
09:22so in fact
09:24I am actually
09:25uniquely
09:26endorsed
09:27in southern command
09:28to make
09:29that jointness
09:30happen
09:30in fact
09:31we have been
09:32the test bed
09:32or the laboratory
09:33if I can say
09:34for common
09:35defense stations
09:36the establishment
09:37of joint
09:38logistic nodes
09:39and it is
09:39very often
09:40that we carry
09:41out joint
09:42exercises
09:42with both
09:44the air force
09:44and the navy
09:45and in fact
09:46if I tell you
09:48in another month's
09:49time we are
09:49going in for
09:49a major
09:50tri-services
09:51exercise
09:52with southern
09:53command
09:53in conjunction
09:54with the
09:55Indian navy
09:55and the
09:56Indian air force
09:56and we are
09:57going to be
09:57exercising
09:58of the coast
09:58of Gujarat
09:59the areas
10:00of the
10:00Hunan Creek
10:01and in fact
10:02validating
10:03all our
10:04joint doctrines
10:05ranging from
10:05amphibious
10:06operations
10:06to cyber
10:08operations
10:08EW
10:09operations
10:10so we have
10:11it all over
10:12there as far
10:13as bringing
10:14about this
10:14jointness is
10:15concerned
10:15it is not
10:16happening today
10:16we have been
10:17doing it in
10:17the past
10:18also
10:18but now
10:19that the
10:20strategic guidance
10:21is there
10:21for us
10:22there is no
10:23turning back
10:23as far as
10:24jointness is
10:25concerned
10:25would you like
10:26to take on
10:26Atmanirbharata
10:27because Atmanirbharata
10:29is key
10:29especially when
10:30you look at
10:30what's happening
10:30between Russia
10:31and Ukraine
10:31right now
10:32yes absolutely
10:33Atmanirbharata
10:34is something
10:34so essential
10:36for all of us
10:37and I would
10:39dare say as far
10:40as Atmanirbharata
10:41is concerned
10:42if I can take
10:42you back
10:43we are looking
10:43at Aviksit
10:43Bharat
10:44Aviksit Bharat
10:452047
10:46or Sashakt
10:48Bharat
10:48Samrit Bharat
10:49so I see
10:50two major
10:51pillars of that
10:52one is
10:53Surakshit Bharat
10:54a secure Bharat
10:54and the second
10:55pillar to it
10:56is Atmanirbhar
10:57Bharat
10:57but I will
10:58keep Atmanirbhar
10:59Bharat
11:00as the bigger
11:00set
11:00the subset
11:01being Atmanirbharata
11:02and defense
11:03now as I
11:04take Atmanirbharata
11:06and defense
11:07it's not about
11:08reducing defense
11:10imports
11:11reducing in India
11:12alone
11:12it's about
11:13that very
11:14important facet
11:15of strategic
11:16autonomy
11:16and that is
11:18the autonomy
11:18we are looking
11:19for
11:19the freedom
11:20or that
11:21independence
11:22to make
11:23our own
11:23choices
11:24to equip
11:25our soldier
11:26to fight
11:27once again
11:28with homegrown
11:29indigenously
11:30designed
11:31developed
11:32equipment
11:33which is
11:33operationally
11:34suited for
11:34that place
11:35so to that
11:36extent
11:36that is how
11:37I see
11:37Atmanirbharata
11:38emerging
11:39but there are
11:40challenges
11:40we are aware
11:42of it
11:42the major
11:42challenges
11:43being this
11:43continuously
11:44evolving
11:45character of
11:46warfare
11:46we need to
11:47sort of
11:47plug that in
11:48in fact
11:49I like to
11:50highlight
11:50to plug that
11:51in we have
11:52this oft
11:52stated
11:53troika
11:53of the
11:54academia
11:55the industry
11:56and the
11:56armed forces
11:57so is that
11:58synergy working
11:59is that synergy
12:00working effectively
12:00we are looking
12:01at the
12:02academia
12:03to innovate
12:04the industry
12:05to incubate
12:06and the
12:06armed forces
12:07to induct
12:08so that
12:09is the way
12:09we are
12:10perhaps
12:10looking at
12:11sort of
12:12taking on
12:13that challenge
12:13and the
12:14second challenge
12:15is we have
12:15a major
12:16gap
12:17between
12:18say what
12:19is being
12:19tested
12:20in the
12:20laboratory
12:20till it
12:21gets
12:21combat
12:22deployed
12:22and once
12:24again
12:24we have
12:24the
12:24Indian
12:25army
12:25plugging
12:26in
12:26in a
12:27major
12:27way
12:27to
12:28reduce
12:28that
12:29facet
12:31in fact
12:31you must
12:34be aware
12:34of the
12:34recent
12:35academy
12:36technology
12:36symposium
12:37which is
12:37just closed
12:38two days
12:38back
12:39we have
12:39the
12:40Indian
12:40army
12:40reaching
12:41out to
12:41IITs
12:42all across
12:42ventures
12:44such as
12:44Agnishod
12:45Parivartak
12:46all these
12:48are success
12:48stories
12:49in fact
12:49Parivartak
12:51is something
12:51which we
12:51did with
12:52IIT
12:52Chennai
12:52and IIT
12:53Chennai
12:54produced
12:55this
12:55Sambhav
12:55smartphone
12:56and it
12:57was a
12:57game changer
12:58for all
12:59of us
12:59here during
13:00Aup Sindur
13:01so that
13:02is happening
13:02can you
13:02explain that
13:03because that
13:03sounds very
13:04fascinating
13:05and in
13:05that it
13:05also brings
13:06the aspect
13:06of
13:07innovation
13:08is that
13:08innovation
13:09where the
13:09army
13:10and our
13:11IITs
13:13our students
13:13and the
13:14industry
13:14working together
13:15innovate
13:16to give the
13:17best to our
13:17armed forces
13:18absolutely
13:18in fact
13:19I was trying
13:21to tell you
13:21certain facets
13:22that the
13:22Indian army
13:23is doing
13:23if I bring
13:24it down
13:24to the
13:24southern
13:24command
13:25level
13:25southern
13:27command
13:27once again
13:28uniquely
13:28indoor
13:28if I tell
13:29you more
13:30than 30
13:30of the
13:31top Indian
13:32institutes
13:32are in
13:32peninsular
13:33India
13:33which lies
13:34in my
13:34area of
13:35responsibility
13:36so if it
13:37is academy
13:37as concerned
13:38we are
13:38outreaching
13:39to the
13:39IIT
13:40we have
13:41all the
13:41DRDO
13:42labs
13:42so it's
13:43all there
13:44if I talk
13:45of the
13:45industry
13:45we again
13:46have
13:46from
13:47DPSUs
13:48to big
13:48industries
13:49big private
13:49players
13:50down to
13:51the smallest
13:52MSMEs
13:52and start
13:53ups
13:53in fact
13:54nearly 60%
13:54of these
13:55MSMEs
13:56and start
13:56ups
13:56exist
13:57in south
13:58of India
13:58which is
13:59in my
14:00area of
14:00responsibility
14:01and we
14:01are actually
14:02taking
14:02them on
14:03hand
14:04holding
14:04pushing
14:05up
14:06pushing
14:06these
14:07MSMEs
14:07and
14:08start ups
14:09up the
14:09food chain
14:10because we
14:11need to
14:11give them
14:12that visibility
14:12we need
14:13them to
14:14actually make
14:15for us
14:16make for
14:17India
14:17so that we
14:18are once
14:18again poised
14:20to fight
14:21for India
14:21with equipment
14:23that has been
14:23designed and
14:24developed in
14:25India
14:25so that is
14:26how I see
14:27and we
14:27are all
14:28synergized
14:30towards making
14:31that happen
14:32that sounds
14:33so fascinating
14:34and the
14:35Atmanirbhar
14:36route perhaps
14:37is the
14:38best way
14:38to take
14:39it forward
14:39general I
14:40would love
14:40to have
14:41a much
14:41longer
14:41conversation
14:42with you
14:43but for
14:43joining me
14:44on this
14:44part of
14:45the India
14:46today
14:46conclave
14:46many thanks
14:47thank you
14:48very much
14:48Gaurav
14:48great
14:49interacting
14:49with you
14:49and wishing
14:50you and
14:50India
14:50today
14:51the very
14:51best
14:51ahead
14:52ladies and
14:54gentlemen
14:54please raise
14:55a warm
14:55applause
14:56as I
14:56call upon
14:56Dr.
14:57Pradeepta Basu
14:58Radhiko Khaitan
14:59to come up
14:59on stage
15:00and present
15:00a small
15:01token of
15:02our
15:03appreciation
15:04to our
15:05esteemed
15:06guest
15:06once again
15:09ladies and
15:10gentlemen
15:10do put
15:11your hands
15:11together
15:12Lieutenant
15:13General
15:14Deerad
15:14Seth
15:15thank you
15:30sir
15:30it's an
15:31honor and
15:31pleasure
15:32thank you
15:32so much
15:33ladies and
15:38gentlemen
15:38may I now
15:39take this
15:39opportunity
15:40to invite
15:41on stage
15:41Air Marshal
15:43Suraj Singh
15:44Air Officer
15:44Commanding-in-Chief
15:45Eastern Air
15:46Command
15:46Air Marshal
15:47Suraj Singh
15:48and Ace
15:49fighter pilot
15:50sir
15:50welcome
15:51sir
16:05I want to
16:06begin
16:06by talking
16:07about
16:08the air
16:09power
16:10the weapon
16:11of choice
16:12Balakot
16:132019
16:14and now
16:15Operation
16:16Sindhur
16:16how did
16:18the Indian
16:18armed forces
16:19with Air
16:21Force being
16:22the spearhead
16:23ensure Pakistan
16:25was on its
16:25knees in
16:2688 hours
16:28firing just
16:29about 50
16:30odd weapons
16:31across 11
16:33air bases
16:33what was the
16:35thinking how
16:36do you do
16:36it how did
16:37the Air
16:37Force do
16:37it sir
16:38okay
16:40Air Force is
16:42the youngest
16:43when you look
16:43at the
16:43conventional
16:44domain warfare
16:45among all
16:46three services
16:46with the
16:48advancement of
16:49technology
16:50and the way
16:52the war
16:52fighting has
16:53evolved
16:53especially
16:54last three
16:54decades
16:55Air Power
16:57has become
16:57the first
16:58preference
16:58by virtue
16:59of its
16:59characteristics
17:00and which
17:01all
17:01you mentioned
17:02about 90
17:03minutes
17:0390 hours
17:04but actually
17:06the outcome
17:07was decided
17:07in the first
17:0825 minutes
17:09the impact
17:11it had
17:11and the
17:13strategic messaging
17:14it conveyed
17:15and the
17:16effects
17:17which got
17:18generated
17:19with that
17:20in the first
17:2125 minutes
17:22majority
17:23of the
17:24objectives
17:25laid down
17:25by the
17:26politico-military
17:29system
17:30were all
17:31achieved
17:32Air Power
17:33the technology
17:35has advanced
17:35so much
17:36in few
17:38minutes
17:39or a few
17:40hours
17:40you can achieve
17:42an objective
17:42which probably
17:43took few
17:44days
17:45a few
17:46weeks
17:4720-30
17:48years back
17:49and especially
17:49after the
17:50Gulf War
17:51the advancement
17:52has happened
17:52so much
17:53and as a
17:54national
17:54at the
17:56national level
17:56Air Power
17:57is the
17:58option
17:59available at
18:00the moment
18:00mainly because
18:02speed
18:03reach
18:04flexibility
18:05precision
18:07and the
18:08impact you
18:10want
18:10without
18:11collateral
18:12attrition
18:14in the
18:14environment
18:14that's why
18:15Air Power
18:16is becoming
18:16a choice
18:17but it's
18:18a national
18:18asset
18:19and it's
18:20utilized to
18:21achieve the
18:21national
18:21objectives
18:22so from
18:23that perspective
18:24it is there
18:25and with
18:25respect to
18:25this
18:26first 25
18:27minutes
18:28it is the
18:31planning
18:31the synergized
18:33decision making
18:36and collective
18:38efforts at the
18:40highest level
18:40and this
18:42time
18:42it is very
18:44very heartening
18:45to see
18:45the whole
18:48of government
18:48approach
18:49that 360
18:50degree approach
18:50where very
18:51clear cut
18:52directions by
18:53the highest
18:54hierarchy
18:55from the
18:57prime minister
18:57and the
18:58CCS
18:58and subsequently
19:00very active
19:01interaction
19:02between all
19:03three services
19:03and CDS
19:04defining the
19:06objectives
19:06selecting the
19:07targets
19:08and hitting it
19:09with the most
19:10appropriate
19:11weapon available
19:12to achieve in the
19:13shortest possible
19:14times
19:14in my opinion
19:15the first 25
19:16minutes
19:16on that day
19:17early morning
19:18were the most
19:20decisive
19:20things
19:21and most
19:22of the
19:22activities
19:23or the
19:23conveying
19:24of messaging
19:25and achievement
19:26of objectives
19:26and effects
19:27were achieved
19:27within that
19:28sir
19:29when we talk
19:30about air
19:31power
19:31is the
19:32nation
19:33now
19:34you know
19:34the political
19:35leadership
19:36yes because
19:36we saw that
19:37in Balakot
19:37also
19:37employment of
19:38air power
19:39crossing the
19:39LC
19:40hitting across
19:40the international
19:41border
19:41and here
19:42the employment
19:43of air
19:44power
19:44are we
19:45now
19:46graduating
19:47and understanding
19:47from you
19:48know
19:49tactical support
19:50to the army
19:51to an air
19:53power
19:53to now
19:53an aerospace
19:55power
19:55describe this
19:57transition
19:57because current
19:58warfare
19:58and future
19:59warfare
19:59aerospace
20:00power
20:01becomes
20:01extremely
20:02crucial
20:02as a
20:03war winning
20:03factor
20:04okay
20:05all the
20:06instruments
20:07of war
20:07fighting
20:08are part
20:09of your
20:10national
20:10the comprehensive
20:11national power
20:12so when you
20:13look at this
20:14it's one of the
20:14instrument available
20:15and the
20:16air power
20:17has the
20:18peculiar
20:19characteristics
20:20where it
20:21can be
20:22employed
20:22in every
20:23war fighting
20:24domain
20:25whether it
20:26is maritime
20:28domain
20:28or the
20:29land
20:30warfare
20:30or the
20:31aerial
20:32domain
20:32EW
20:33in cyber
20:35space
20:36the aviation
20:37or the
20:38military aviation
20:38is part and
20:39parcel of that
20:40and in times
20:41to come
20:42the applicability
20:44of this
20:44aviation
20:45component
20:45is going
20:46to be
20:47there in
20:47each and
20:48every
20:48war fighting
20:49domain
20:49and the
20:51Indian
20:51armed
20:51forces
20:52and especially
20:53the Indian
20:53air force
20:53they are all
20:54prepared to
20:55meet those
20:56challenges in
20:56next decade
20:58sir your
20:59challenges are
21:00not just on
21:01your western
21:02front but
21:03where you've
21:04come from
21:05the northern
21:06and eastern
21:07front the
21:08challenges there
21:09are huge
21:11now how do
21:13you meet
21:13that challenge
21:14and what would
21:15be the message
21:16from operation
21:17sindoor to
21:18the adversary
21:19to the north
21:19and the east
21:20firstly I must
21:22compliment you
21:23on selecting
21:24the western
21:26naval command
21:26the southern
21:27command and
21:28the eastern
21:28air command
21:28so in a way
21:30you have covered
21:30the entire
21:31spectrum of
21:32India from
21:33the military
21:34forces point
21:35of view
21:35in the eastern
21:37sector from
21:41preparedness point
21:42of view there
21:43are two factors
21:44which actually
21:44come into play
21:45one is the
21:47terrain is very
21:48peculiar in that
21:49environment and
21:50one is the
21:51weather so both
21:53these factors are
21:54very well
21:55dovetail in our
21:57operational training
21:58and we have a
22:00very good
22:00interaction with
22:01the eastern
22:03command and
22:04the eastern
22:04air command
22:04and we do
22:06a lot of
22:06joint exercises
22:07across the
22:08entire spectrum
22:10from Sikkim
22:11to Arunachar
22:11Pradesh and
22:13we have the
22:13mechanisms in
22:14place to
22:15continuously
22:16practice in
22:17these two
22:17specific
22:19environments and
22:20ready for that
22:21the infrastructure
22:23development is
22:24something which
22:24has got a
22:25real push in
22:26last about
22:26five six years
22:27and especially
22:28because protection
22:29of assets and
22:31availability of
22:31assets is one
22:32aspect which is
22:33being factored
22:34operations from
22:36all the air
22:38fields available
22:38in the east is
22:39something what
22:40air force has
22:40done in last
22:41five six years
22:42and every
22:43airstrip which
22:45is available in
22:46the eastern
22:46sector is
22:47utilized to
22:48undertake air
22:49operations
22:49additionally the
22:51emergency landing
22:52fields one is
22:54ready one should
22:55be ready in
22:56about a month's
22:56time and few
22:57more are coming
22:58up so the
22:59infrastructure push
23:00is also there
23:00and the armed
23:02forces in a
23:03joint environment
23:03with the eastern
23:04command and the
23:05eastern air
23:05command both do
23:07this exercise in
23:08high altitude
23:08terrains in fact
23:10recently we have
23:11done a lot of
23:12weaponry air to
23:13ground weaponry in
23:14high altitude
23:15ranges to get a
23:17more realistic
23:18training for our
23:19air crew in that
23:20environment so all
23:21these are aimed
23:22for preparedness in
23:24a joint environment
23:25synergized environment
23:26in the eastern
23:27sector operation
23:29sindoor has
23:30definitely conveyed
23:31messaging across to
23:33the north also in
23:34terms of our
23:35resolve in terms of
23:37our preparedness and
23:38in terms of our
23:39capability to achieve
23:41the desired objectives
23:42in a very very
23:43limited and short
23:44period were you
23:45maybe surprise is
23:48not the correct word
23:48but the manner in
23:50which the adversary
23:51to the north and
23:52the west operated
23:53together during
23:55operation sindoor and
23:57beyond just sharing
23:58weapons or giving
23:59weapons but you
24:00know the satellite
24:02imagery real time
24:03intelligence does that
24:04make the challenge
24:05bigger in future
24:06warfare yeah in
24:08armed forces are
24:10very well aware and
24:11it's a non fact
24:13that collusivity in
24:16providing the
24:18information providing
24:20the assets in terms
24:24of weapons especially
24:25and also undertaking
24:27operations together and
24:28sharing the information
24:29is known in fact I
24:31recollect when I was
24:31DG air ops about two
24:33years back there was
24:34one particular exercise
24:35we were doing and we
24:36had the Chinese
24:39aircraft and the
24:41Pakistan aircraft the
24:42monitoring aircraft both
24:43flying together at same
24:44time on both sides to
24:47make sure that we
24:47gather the information
24:48across and even in the
24:50eastern sector the
24:52aviation activity has
24:53increased over about
24:54four to five years if
24:56you look at that the
24:58preparedness when you
24:59look at northern side if
25:00you look at ten years
25:01back they had about four
25:03five airfields which
25:04were active from
25:05Ladakh to Arnachal now
25:07it's about eight and
25:10likely to increase to
25:1114 to 15 by about
25:132030 so that is the
25:15kind of push to the
25:17aviation component which
25:19is being undertaken by
25:21China and on our side
25:23also we are equally
25:24prepared we have a fairly
25:25well spread out assets
25:28availability across the
25:29entire spectrum so in
25:30times to come air power
25:32is likely to increase
25:35further in terms of its
25:36applicability and
25:38employability in the
25:39northern side sir the
25:41manner in which China is
25:42developing air bases
25:44airfields in Tibet
25:47right now how is our
25:50infrastructure geared to
25:53deal with it what more do
25:54we need to do and that
25:56question that fifth
25:59generation fighter trap I
26:00will come to that fifth
26:01generation fighter trap in
26:02just a moment because he is
26:03already flying two he is
26:05giving one to Pakistan and
26:06we are still in the process
26:07of trying to put it
26:09together how where do we
26:10stand there the efforts
26:13put in toward generation of
26:15fighter especially in the
26:16last 10 years has been
26:18tremendous by India we have
26:22the LC already flying two
26:23scones already there we have
26:25only placed orders for about
26:2780 plus another two in next
26:29five to seven years maybe we'll
26:32have about 300 plus our own LCA
26:36coming up and they will
26:38gradually catch up to four and
26:39a half to fifth generation and
26:40then MK will come up
26:41subsequently China yes they are
26:44flying the four and a half
26:47fifth generation aircraft they are
26:48available but their operational
26:50exploitation and employability is
26:52still a question mark they are
26:55flying they are available but
26:56their operational in terms of
26:59mass scale deployment in the
27:01entire spectrum is still long way
27:04to go and from our side once
27:06these LC has come up and the
27:08super 30 project when it comes
27:11up we will have a fairly well
27:13balanced and along with the
27:15Rafals fairly well balanced asset
27:18availability to handle the
27:19situation with respect to four and
27:21a half and fifth generation what
27:24more needs to be done to give that
27:25big push to to the joint
27:28friendship atma narbharta and
27:30integration that that mantra that
27:32the prime minister gave all three
27:34services
27:35Jay Jay Jay Jay is the one he
27:37just spoke about it it's a
27:39fantastic concept and the efforts
27:42put in by all three services are
27:43very good the Air Force started the
27:47joint infrastructure or the
27:48architecture way back in 1970 when we
27:52had the advance headquarters in all
27:55army commands we had maritime air
27:57operation center in the WNC and we
28:00have a maritime element of air
28:02force in the eastern naval command
28:04and all these structures even at up to
28:07core headquarters level we have a
28:09TAC the tactical air center and we
28:11have a JEDC joint air defense center
28:13so all these have been existing from
28:15seventies till now and they have
28:17functioned and they have proven their
28:19worth in this time so from air force
28:21perspective the joint architecture is
28:24existing and is working very well
28:25recently we had that Akash Teer
28:27integration in the eastern air
28:29command sector along with the
28:31formation of eastern command and it
28:34has worked very well the
28:35availability of information or the
28:38situational awareness between the
28:40army and air force is fantastic down to
28:44the lowest level people have a good
28:46visibility starting from the IACCS node
28:50where the air force the command
28:52headquarters the core headquarter the
28:54div headquarter and up to the field
28:57formation level that visibility is
28:59available which facilitates to
29:01understand what is happening in each
29:03other's domain and take decisions which
29:06are adding to the final military
29:08objectives in a joint environment so I've
29:11sadly run out of time but you know that
29:14story of the S 400 which is seen as an air
29:17defense system hitting the enemy target
29:19325 kilometers away the most fascinating
29:23thing that I can think of in an offensive
29:24role that's the first time I don't think
29:27any other hit has been achieved at such long
29:31distances and Ramos of course is a
29:34fantastic weapon what we had so this
29:36Atmanirbata thing has helped us a lot and
29:39this S 400 getting a hit at such long
29:42distances is a good confidence for the
29:45whole of nation and it's a fantastic
29:47weapon available from defensive and
29:50offensive point of view sir for joining
29:52me here at the India today conclave many
29:55thanks sir thank you very much and
29:56Shubh Kamanai ladies and gentlemen
29:59please raise a warm applause as I call
30:01upon dr pradipta basu radical khaitan to
30:04come up on stage and present a small token
30:07of our appreciation air marshal surat singh
30:11thank you sir privilege and an honor thank
30:23you
30:23thank you
30:33I now have the privilege of inviting on
30:44stage the flag officer commanding in chief
30:47western naval command the brahmastra if I may
30:53say that many fear sir welcome so good to have
30:58you on stage please sit sir it is said while the
31:09adversary fears our army and our air force it
31:14shakes and shudders to think about what the
31:19navy could do at its very tiny thousand
31:23kilometer long coastline sir how did you put
31:26this fear of God in him after 1971
31:32firstly thank you so much for having me such a
31:34great honor and pleasure ladies and
31:35gentlemen to join you this afternoon the
31:38Indian Navy of course is a is a is a force that
31:41has not just tactical impact but strategic
31:44impact over a period of time in the in the
31:47fortunes of a nation the 1971 memory of
31:52course is fresh in everybody's mind and it in a
31:54way demonstrated what the navy can do in
31:57terms of battle because what the navy can do
31:59goes beyond the immediate battle and it goes you
32:02know it hits at the
32:02that that tends to hurt the nation a lot longer
32:14than the immediacy of a war and therefore the
32:17navy holds this potential and what we did during
32:19operations in do was yet again another episode of
32:23the same demonstration of what the navy can do and
32:26what potential the navy has not just destroy an enemy
32:31military force but destroy the enemy economically if they
32:35don't behave well brilliant is that the biggest lesson for
32:38you from operations in do that just the fact that indian
32:42navy ships are out there in the arabian sea the enemy is scared to
32:48venture out i believe if those reports are there that those
32:52pakistani ships they didn't just stay at the harbor they went into
32:56the civilian side of the harbor well what the pakistani navy might want to
33:01do is left to the pakistani navy to decide but we knew that if the
33:05pakistani navy should venture out to a certain to any kind of
33:09misadventure then we were prepared we were deployed we had a very strong
33:13deterrent posture as we call it and we were ready to strike our
33:17understanding of course of of of how the operations were planned and
33:20conducted was we had very clear political direction and from where i
33:24sit what i understood was of course this was an operation that was limited
33:29very specifically to taking out terror centers and and terrorist groups and so
33:34the government did not want to target the enemy did not want to target the enemy
33:39state or the enemy military but should the enemy military try to venture out and
33:45escalate the scope of the conflict then the indian navy of course was deployed in
33:48strength and the indian navy was ready for what what might follow and our
33:52understanding at the end of the operations is that because the indian navy was
33:55deployed in strength and in readiness you know in a way we locked up the
33:59pakistani navy where it was and if they did you know want to venture out into
34:04some kind of escalation then we were ready to strike and strike very hard
34:08so the the concept of complete sea control is very essential for maritime trade and india is a
34:19seafaring nation uh we may have forgotten it or the history that was taught to us uh we did not
34:25look so much at uh peninsular india and perhaps that's a debate for another time but from the time of
34:30of the cholas to chhatrapati shivaji maharaj to kanhoji angre uh it's it's all about india's maritime
34:36power what is being done to increase it especially when our adversary is adding close to 20 warships
34:43uh a year the adversary to the north so uh firstly why is the maritime security important to the fortunes
34:52of a nation uh it's simply because uh transportation economics being what they are uh the most cost-effective
34:59means of trade in any case continues to be the sea uh even today about 90 to 91 95 percent of global
35:05trade is transacted on the seas uh more specifically to india's context uh even today about 95 percent
35:12by volume and about 70 percent by value of india's trade is transacted by sea about 80 percent of our
35:18energy security is dependent on on sea uh out of which 85 percent of of which comes from the sea
35:23uh and therefore uh for our energy security and our economic prosperity stability of the maritime
35:30domain is very very important and that's why uh the indian navy finds maintaining stability safety
35:36and security in the entire region as a kind of article of faith for us and we we draw inspiration uh
35:42from the fact that uh we impact directly the nation's economy and uh we make a direct contribution to the
35:49nation's economic growth and i think maritime the maritime domain is very very important simply
35:54because of that and while we watch and and and therefore what do we see when we look at the
35:59maritime domain we see uh one of course where we stand geographically we see uh important sea lines of
36:04communication of the world that carry a majority of the world straight they crisscross uh we've got a
36:10lot of choke points all of these sea lanes and choke points stand vulnerable to conventional
36:15non-conventional threats and the number of non-conventional threats are only multiplying by
36:19the day uh it's upon we take it upon ourselves as a dominant navy in the region to make sure that
36:24we uh maintain stability and security not just uh for our own national prosperity but to make sure that
36:31there is some kind of stability in the entire entire indian ocean region and therefore we've got to take
36:36into our calculations on every single day of our lives uh who are the players what are the interests
36:42why are they here and therefore what is it that we need to do to make sure that you know we
36:47uh we match up to them and make sure that we prevent them from doing anything inimical
36:52uh to what what we want to do and if they try something funny then of course we are more than
36:57a match for them so uh in terms of numbers how are we adding to the numbers because uh we need the
37:04numbers that vast area uh from the north arabian sea to the south china sea and then seas are open to
37:10all uh that we dominate the choke points as you mentioned how are we doing on numbers and how
37:16are we improving sir because that's been one of your key kras your key result areas and key focus areas
37:21i think we're doing very well there uh you would of course recollect that from the time of our birth
37:26as an independent nation we haven't had peaceful borders and therefore our concentration for several
37:32years was predominantly on the borders and try to keep the borders quiet that kind of effort continues
37:37even today but as india's economy grew in the in the late uh in the late 90s the the beginning of
37:44the 90s the early 2000s and now of course in the 21st century uh there's a general realization uh
37:50in the nation that maritime security and maritime trade are extremely important for our for our future
37:55and therefore the um the focus on the navy the know the navy's role the navy's relevance to national
38:02security has only increased uh that manifests in several ways one of course the navy today is
38:07deployed like has never been deployed before uh we are deployed in all corners of the world uh in
38:12some kind of strength uh we are deployed in all potential choke points and all all potential hot spots
38:18uh certainly within the region uh we have a philosophy of deploying our ships on what we call mission-based
38:23deployments uh we give our ships specific missions uh in potential hot spots and uh and we
38:29uh we position ourselves as uh the first responder uh for any kind of calamity or contingency uh in the
38:37region uh by which i mean we we study trends and tendencies uh of of everything that happens both
38:43geopolitically uh and in the security domain in the indian ocean region and where we see there's a
38:48potential flashpoint or a hot spot uh we are pre-positioned there so that if something should happen
38:53then we are the first responders uh we like to be its first responders as the as a responsible state
39:00and as the biggest state in the indian ocean region it all depends on how you how you view yourself and
39:05uh what kind of self-image you'd like to give yourself uh the navy likes to give it the indian navy
39:09has taken upon itself uh two roles in the region one of course we like to be the first responder which
39:16means uh we look at what's happening in the world we see what might go wrong and we like to be there
39:21when it happens so that we respond immediately and two we'd like to be a preferred security partner
39:26we know that there are several uh island nations in the indian ocean region that uh have the same or
39:31similar maritime security concerns as we have uh they may perhaps not have the same capability uh to
39:37tackle those maritime security threats and so when they're looking for partnerships uh we'd like to
39:42see that through our hard part and soft part that the nation represents they prefer us to anybody else
39:47as a security partner so we like to position ourselves as a security preferred security
39:52partner in the ocean and that's the image we carry with ourselves and we are ready to do that
39:57in every single way that we can oh absolutely strong navy is very important for projection
40:02of national power of hard national power too um is that the reason why india having that great nicobar
40:10base is so crucial for our nation describe why that's critical for the nation sir
40:18i think it's important to understand that uh in the maritime domain combat operations and normal
40:23operations are conducted over vast ocean spaces uh and you know you're not fighting across the land
40:28border where tens of miles or hundreds of miles are important here we're talking of vast oceanic spaces
40:34where reach sustainability and immediacy are so important several times in maritime operations you have
40:42nothing happen for days together where maritime forces are moving all over the ocean and suddenly you
40:47get a small window of opportunity uh where all the action takes place and that's when you know you've
40:52got to be there be present and be present in a position to impact the situation and therefore presence
41:00reach and sustainability are important uh any base that we can get from where we can launch or
41:06operations that's why it becomes very very important on atmanirbharata uh are you satisfied with the way we are
41:13progressing especially when you see conflict uh between russia and ukraine or all that's happening
41:18around the world how is the navy on atmanirbharata especially in critical uh weapons and systems
41:25uh this is a this is a topic that's very close to my heart so please allow me a couple of minutes uh
41:32one of the lessons we've learned in fact we learned several lessons from the ukraine-russia conflict one
41:37of course is that uh the nature of war might perhaps be the same but the character of war has has changed
41:42a lot new technologies uh drone technologies and all of that a lot of people have spoken about
41:47artificial intelligence space-based uh networking and all of that so um the first lesson we've learned of
41:52course is that technology is on the march and you know the character of war is changing the second
41:57lesson we learned was of course you know uh quite apart from operations hindu and what we saw in
42:02operations hindu that was limited in geography and in scope uh and in objectives uh several times
42:08there used to be a conversation about wars being sharp and swift and now of course you know we've got
42:12to be uh ready and plan for short and swift wars but they could be long and protracted as well
42:18as this is demonstrated so you need to have the staying power the third thing that
42:22all of us learned as an armed force of course is that you know supply chains uh get disrupted
42:27especially when you're dependent on foreign sources and that's why atmanidbarta is such an important
42:32concept by which we raise our armed forces the navy of course has always been uh some kind of an
42:37atmanidbar navy uh you know of course that we we produce all our ships indigenously here at the
42:42moment we've got 54 ships on order in various shipyards all of them built in india and we've ramped up to
42:48about uh 75 percent above and above in our indigenous content of all the ships that we've done
42:55and so we have for us at atmanidbarta has been some kind of an article of faith
43:00and you know we have actually declared that by 2047 when we have a national vision of being vixit bharat
43:06by 2047 the indian navy shall be completely atmanidbar navy which means uh not just do we produce
43:12uh ships submarines and aircraft in this country but we also produce uh at the component level
43:18everything that we have so that uh if indeed we need to import something that is only by by a choice
43:24but not by compulsion outstanding i've sadly run out of time on this part of the show but there's one
43:30very interesting thing that i want all our viewers uh and listeners and the audience here uh to know
43:36the map in the navy chief's office has india as the center of the world now that map should be
43:47global it should be everywhere india at the center of the world the stronger armed forces you have
43:54the stronger nation we will have admiral many thanks for joining the admiral swainathan flag
43:59officer commanding in chief western naval command thank you thank you so much round of applause
44:03thank you so much ladies and gentlemen it's been a great honor and pleasure
44:06and left to the indian armed forces india will always be at the center of the world
44:13ladies and gentlemen put your hands together while i call upon dr pradipta basu radical khetan to come
44:19up on stage and present a small token of power appreciation to vice admiral krishna swaminathan
44:33three back to back reveting sessions that we've had uh practically encompassing
44:44all three forces uh all together on this dais may i for representing different parts of the country
44:50take this opportunity to invite uh sir please join us on stage uh for a group photo yeah
44:59once again ladies and gentlemen it's an honor and a privilege and for all of us to take a few seconds
45:25to pay reverence to men our men and women in uniform who made this possible for us like the admiral said to
45:35be the center of the world and endeavor to do so at least
45:49you
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