India’s emerging land warfare doctrines and capabilities

• Main Author: Singh, Harinder
• Other Authors: S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies
• Format: Working Paper
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences::Military and naval science
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/90735; http://hdl.handle.net/10220/6523
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Maintaining India’s territorial integrity and its social and economic well-being have been the country’s principal national security concerns. Lately, the country’s foremost security concern has been to resist overt and covert acts of terror. Securing these vital national interests and aspirations requires preservation and protection against external and internal threats. India’s rising international stature and economic clout are likely to make increasing demands on the country’s armed forces in times to come. The Indian armed forces therefore need to suitably equip, train and prepare themselves to tackle a range of external and internal threats. Qualitative changes currently underway in military organization, doctrine, technology and culture could significantly transform India’s conventional war-fighting capabilities over the next decade or so. The paper argues that the Indian Army can be expected to adapt itself well to emerging threats and challenges, and deter or, if necessary, defend the country against China, and achieve sufficient combat superiority vis-à-vis Pakistan, in the medium to long term. India’s army can be expected to emerge as an important security provider in the region, with sufficient force projection capabilities to pursue its legitimate interests in the neighbourhood, and even beyond.