Calling for a doctrinal shift to redefine basic military training to include drones, cyber security, defensive electronic warfare and information warfare, Lt Gen N S Sarna, Commandant School of Artillery on Wednesday suggested that the training establishments should become technology training hubs.
Sarna was speaking on the topic ‘Integrating Technology for Warfighting Through Training Initiatives’, during the ongoing Ran Samwad being organised at the Army War College here on Wednesday.
Stating that the conflicts over the last decade have seen extensive use of technology, Sarna said that it has set the stage for the next war. “If we have to be prepared for this war, then we have to ensure that our soldiers and officers are also prepared accordingly to fight the future war. So, therefore, a new need for new skill sets.”
He went on to add that there is a need to have subject experts on these issues and the infrastructure to optimally exploit the technology. He further added that most of our training academies are primarily based on conventional warfare with more focus on physical capacities.
He also spoke about the need for adaptive and agile training ecosystems that keep pace with disruptive technologies to ensure soldiers are future-ready. Calling for a doctrinal shift to redefine Basic Military Training to include Drones, Cyber Security, Defensive EW and Information Warfare, he suggests that the Training Establishments should become Technology Training hubs.
He emphasises how simulation driven curricula, AI wargaming and joint training initiatives can transform institutionalised learning, while recommending creation of a national Military Digital Knowledge repository.
Brig Revety Bhandari from Army Training Command spoke about Unmanned Autonomous Systems (UAS) and the Indian Armed Forces. From human-machine teaming to AI systems management, the session prepared the roadmap for integrating UAS into Land Warfare.
Sharing insights on Global and Indian metrics on Drone and UGVs in Surveillance and Targeting and Logistics support, the Brigadier highlighted the Legal and Ethical aspects in the use of autonomous systems.
Through a structured World-Scan on organisational initiatives in the use of UAS, he suggested a phased restructuring of Indian Military structures to enhance autonomy providing a well thought re-imagining of Indian Force Structures from Semi to Supervised to Fully Autonomous systems.
He also highlighted the urgency of building robust AI-enabled systems, training cadres for maintenance and adapting land force doctrines for autonomy by 2035.
Closing his presentation, the proposed command and control architecture and integration to include futuristic development and preparation in addition to the force application structures, recommending strategic collaboration amongst all stakeholders resulting in modernized defence capability.