Pune, May 30 (IANS). Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Saturday said that every soldier of the Indian Armed Forces should have the capability to operate a drone. Cadets and Army personnel are being provided extensive training and practical exposure to drone systems, simulators and anti-drone technologies with an aim to prepare them for the future battlefield.
Responding to a question from IANS at a press conference held after the passing out parade (POP) of the 150th batch of the Pune-based National Defense Academy (NDA), General Dwivedi highlighted the growing importance of drone warfare. He said the Army has taken several initiatives to ensure that soldiers are equipped with the necessary skills to operate such systems.
He said, “After taking over as Army Chief, I came up with the idea of ’Eagle on the Arm’. It means that every soldier should have an eagle in his hand. When I say this, I do not mean any bird, but a drone. It means that every soldier should have the ability to operate a drone.”
General Dwivedi informed that the training infrastructure related to drone operations is being continuously strengthened in military institutions and academies.
He said, “Training in drone operations is being imparted at our academies and other training centers and simulators have also been provided. When I came here in December, I personally spoke to the Commandant and provided four to six big drones and simulators to the army training team. After this, the Commandant took several important steps and more drones have been made available here.”
The Army Chief emphasized that the use of drone technology in modern warfare is increasing rapidly. In such a situation, soldiers should not only have knowledge of flying drones, but also have knowledge of anti-drone systems developed to neutralize aerial threats.
He said, “It is important for every soldier to have knowledge of drones and anti-drone equipment. When a soldier goes to the battlefield, drones will be used on such a wide scale that detailed information will be required to control and counter them. That is why we are training each cadet through real drones and simulators.”
General Dwivedi also discussed the progress being made towards theaterisation of the Indian Armed Forces and said that this initiative is moving in the right direction.
In response to a question related to the proposed restructuring of military commands, he said that the discussion on this subject in the Chiefs of Staff Committee has been completed and its recommendations have been submitted to the government.
“The process related to theater commands is moving in the right direction. All discussions on the subject have been completed in the Chiefs of Staff Committee. The full report has been submitted to the Defense Minister and is currently being reviewed by various stakeholders,” he said.
The Army Chief said that the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) and the three service chiefs have thoroughly reviewed the proposal to ensure that the interests and operational requirements of the three services are fully taken care of.
Explaining the proposed structure under theater commands, General Dwivedi said some adjustments would have to be made by all stakeholders for better integration and synergy between the services, but this would ultimately lead to increased operational efficiency.
“There will be increased cooperation between the three services whenever there is a need for greater coordination. The service chiefs will be responsible for ensuring recruitment, training and maintenance of troops, while theater commanders will be responsible for operations and coordination of forces,” he said.
Expressing optimism about the future of the reform process, the Army Chief said that the next phase of the initiative will gain further momentum under the leadership of the new CDS.
–IANS
OP/AS