Battle Squads will be converted into Integrated Battle Groups: Army chief

To increase functional efficiency, the Army chief said "we have to make our processes more effective."

New Delhi, Jan 15: In an effort towards structuring and optimization of the Army, the "Battle Squads" will be converted into "Integrated Battle Groups", Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Manoj Pande said on Sunday.

Addressing the 75th Army Day event organised here at Govindaswami Drill Square ground, the CoAS said, "In an effort towards force structuring and optimization, we are planning to convert our Battle Squads into Integrated Battle Groups, which will contribute effectively to the battlefield of the future." He stated that "old establishments and units are being disbanded, or are being revamped with suitable changes."

In order to make the "teeth-to-tail" ratio effective with modernization and technological infusion, Pande said, "The Army will be right-sized so that human resource or manpower can be used properly". "Our aim will be to move from a manpower-intensive to a technologically driven Army," said the Army chief, adding "our primary focus will be our soldiers, who will be fully prepared and equipped to face the challenges of the future." Provision of modern weapons and equipment is an integral part of this effort, for which the Indian Army is determined to find indigenous solutions, said Pande. "Modernity through 'self-reliance' will be our new mantra."

The Chief of Army Staff said that "Indian Defense Industry is rising up to this challenge with competence" and the Indian Army is moving towards partnership from a "buyer-seller relationship" with the industry. "Several initiatives have been taken to further strengthen this relationship, which includes 'hand holding'."

He claimed that the Indian Army has full faith in the sturdiness and operability of 'Made-in-India' weapons and equipment. "Niche Technologies like Artificial Intelligence, blockchain, quantum communications, unmanned systems, and directed energy weapons are also being indigenized," the Army chief state and expressed his confidence on Indian Army's capability to fight and win future wars with "Indian solutions."

According to him, the army is changing those traditional practices that have lost their relevance. He highlighted that infrastructure development and logistics are important parts of the Indian Army's operational preparedness and announced the infrastructure requirements of the force will be "aligned and coordinated with the national logistics policy as a result of the launch of the PM Gatishakti Initiative.

Army Day is observed on January 15 to mark Field Marshal K M Cariappa taking over as the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army, replacing his British predecessor in 1949.

With inputs from ANI