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FORCE MULTIPLIERS IN BORDER SECURITY AND BATTLE FIELD

- General VP Malik

The most enduring lesson of the history that the only thing constant in nature is ‘change’ has never been as relevant and true as it is today.  It is not the reality that is changing but change which is becoming a reality... Clausewitz noted that ‘each age has had its own peculiar forms of war.... Each, therefore, would also keep its own theory and practice of war.’

A distinctive feature of the post cold war strategic and security related environment has been the unprecedented and sheer dynamics of change in the concepts, paradigms and complexities of national, regional and global security.  There are several reasons for these changes (a) the rapid advances being made in science and technology, particularly in the field of information technology, (b) globalization, multilateralism, and regionalism are replacing bilateral international relations and a straitjacketed concept of sovereignty, and (c) greater focus on peace, development and co-operative security; most people would like to see stability at the national, regional and global levels to continue. There is a new salience and awareness of the comprehensive nature of security. This includes in its ambit the traditional defence-related threats as well as challenges in the societal, political, economic, technological and environmental dimensions.

The industrial character of armed conflict capabilities, most pronounced during the 20th century, is currently shifting to the new form, based on knowledge and information.  In the late 19^th and 20^th centuries, the machines of industrial revolution enabled some nations to become powerful.  Today, the micro chip is giving similar advantage to nations.  The industrial character to armed conflict capabilities is currently shifting to a new form; based on knowledge and information.  Cyber War will be to the 21st century what blitzkrieg was to 20th century.   

Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) is a product of technology. It has enabled armed forces to acquire 24/7 surveillance, long range precision and lethal capability combined with a wide range of delivery systems.  Multi-spectral sensing, improvements in information and systems integration technologies, increased strategic and tactical mobility, effective and responsive hi-tech command and control system: these have become essential requirements for warfare of today and tomorrow.  They are keys to success.  Armed Forces which are not equipped with such technologies have little chance of defeating forces, which possess such technologies. This revolution in military affairs (RMA) has three basic constituents:-

• Integration of new technology into existing weapons systems and integrated C4ISR (command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance);
• Review of tactics and strategy which enables effective use of new weapons and equipment in the given terrain and operational circumstances.
• Institutional changes for better defence management and synergy.

It is the synergy among these three constituents that can bring about the RMA. It enables continuous surveillance and precise surgical strikes on command and control nodes, strategic facilities, combat reserves, and combat support facilities in depth. It also enables getting at the adversary’s nerve centers; with precision attacks or through electronic warfare and cyber attacks, as happened in the Gulf War, Iraq War, and in Afghanistan. The net centric warfare (NCW) concepts rest on the premise that the power of force grows proportionate to the extent of networking among the weapons, sensors and the command and control elements. NCW not only enhances awareness, it reduces the time for decision making at higher levels of command.

New developments in weapons, equipment and other capabilities give rise to new tactics and strategies. Due to faster technological progress, military doctrinal revisions are now needed more frequently; every 5-7 years, instead of 25-30 years as was the case earlier. There is much greater emphasis on the versatility of the combat forces. The military has to be more innovative, receptive to new ideas, and changes.

Modern day battlefield is much greater in dimension and it continues to expand – not only in physical terms but in abstract form as well.  Such a battlefield environment makes additional demands on the quantity and quality of forces, and resources required for accomplishing operational missions.  Excessive manpower has limitations in its application, in terms of time, and space.  Manpower is also very expensive to maintain. Besides, no one can afford to have excessive manpower casualties in war today.  We, therefore, have to rely on technological means to fight in extended, elastic and increasing transparent battlefield.  Technologies in electronics, sensors, micro processor, aviation and robotics have the capability to extend the reach of the border security and armed forces, make them more effective and provide means that substitute mass.  In military jargon whatever contributes towards this is a force multiplier.

Force multipliers cover a range of capabilities – from all weather, round the clock surveillance, real time battlefield imagery, and seamless communication to innovative leadership techniques.  These systems also generate greater speed and fluidity of information flow and promote a responsive and more effective decision making process.

Force multiplication is applicable to both tangible and intangible assets. While high technology systems fall in the realm of tangible assets; force multiplication achieved due to better training, leadership and higher morale falls in the category of intangible assets.  Both are important.  A force multiplier can thus improve attrition coefficient, maneuver and means of enhanced mobility, surprise and deception, as well as enhance human performance.

In Kargil war, we were short of tangible assets but very strong with intangible assets like strategic and operational planning, courage, determination, camaraderie, leadership and morale.  The spirit was strong but there were some body weaknesses; the force multipliers.  If we had satellite imagery and UAV surveillance platform, despite human intelligence failure, we could have detected the Pakistan Army build up and intrusion in those difficult terrain and climatic conditions much earlier.  Adequate night vision devices, laser guided artillery and weapon locating radars, I believe, could have reduced the total cost and duration of war as well as casualties.  Towards the end of the war, our Air Force used laser guided weapons on Tiger Hill and at a few other places, safely and yet accurately.

In low intensity conflict or proxy war too, there is scope for greater use of technology and force multipliers to check infiltration, avoid mines and improvised explosive devices on roads, home on to targets quickly, and save collateral damage. Electronic war equipment allows security forces to locate and identify terrorists as soon as they open their radio sets or use any kind of telephones.

The cumulative impact of these systems has negated the quantitative paradigm that formerly constituted the heart of military calculations.  It is now becoming possible to be lean and mean at affordable costs. Availability, affordability, indigenous capability, and relative combat edge over our likely adversaries should largely dictate our approach to induction of force multipliers.

We are all aware that hereafter the battlefield is going to be more and more transparent. Direct outflows of battle transparency are the capabilities of the military to conduct night fighting.  Technologies allow seeing at night or during bad weather; visually or electronically.  What can be seen, can also be engaged.  Electro optical, thermal, infra red and other electronic devices have changed the routine of the militaries.  Night fighting brings in the factor of surprise of military actions.  It emerges as an important force multiplier.  The negative is fatigue and uncertainty, since the battle now tends to be more intense, simultaneous on front and in depth, and round the clock.  Staying power is thus an additional force multiplier.

Militaries around the globe are also debating the use of non-lethal weapons.  I believe that international conventions, and regimes, will increasingly focus on reducing human sufferings caused during conflicts.  We need to be prepared for such eventualities and develop concepts for exploitation of non-lethal weapons.  These weapons will supplement those already available to the armoury and thus add a new factor.  While evolving technologies, focus must be retained on the geography and likely operational environment in which such projected systems may be used.  For example, hand held precision weapons for use in built up areas to eliminate collateral damage while fighting terrorists is a priority area of concern.  What is applicable in high altitude mountains may not be applicable in the plains and desert.  Even high altitude mountains differ from place to place.

I must admit that the security forces in our part of the world have been slow in the induction of force multipliers including information technology.  The reasons range from financial, procedural, developmental and even traditional thinking.  Their slow induction allows the traditional thinker to offer greater resistance to changes.  Militaries all over are conservative.  The challenge is in changing the mindset and creating an ambience in which change is encouraged. 

What should I say to the developers and manufacturers, particularly those in India?  During the process of development of force multipliers, the concept needs to encompass a few concurrent activities like software engineering, accelerated development cycle, modular approach and integrated programmes.  Simultaneously, complementary support systems also need to be evolved. Do make use of the expertise available in India in the form of soft and hardware technologists and ex-servicemen.

While traditional forms of conventional military power are enclosed by finite limits in physics, time, space and velocity; the exploitation of knowledge presents an open field to those who command it.  Information revolution in military affairs makes the use of force easier, quicker, more surgical, more refined and safe i.e. if war could even be considered safe, let alone refined.  The combination of accurate long range weapons and data networks can improve ability to project and use power over greater distance at lower risk.

Sadly, wars, border security and counter terrorism have come to be mankind’s most enduring endeavour. We have to defend ourselves and so must the coming generations. Technology permits us to explore means that not only provide us security but also could discourage the adversary to take recourse to conventional or asymmetric wars. That, if it ever happens, would be a true force multiplier. While we attempt to preserve the peace, we should be prepared for all kinds of war.

 

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