The current yearâ??s defence budget has shown a significant increase in allotment on capital account implying the Governmentâ??s willingness to spend more money on fresh purchases or â??modernizationâ??. Whether the Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) will be able to spend the allotted funds is debatable, but the more important issue is what constitutes modernization.

Possibly, the most important modernization is that of the mind. The types of conflicts that can be envisaged and the manner in which armed forces are likely to be used have markedly altered. Terrorism is likely to plague us for a number of years and a fresh approach to the military use of force in counter-terrorist operations is desirable. Undoubtedly, the most important requirement is for accurate, adequate and timely intelligence, both HUMINT and sensor based. HUMINT will always be the key, but airborne sensors also have their uses. With Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) suitably modified to our needs, it should be possible to keep large areas under continuous long term surveillance with real time information available at the commanderâ??s desk. The same UAV could also keep track of our airborne or ground forces to ensure their safety as well as help guide our forces to positions favourable for a successful attack. Reconnaissance and surveillance, rapid movement of men and material, and ability to hit ground targets with precision are the primary tasks for air power. However, this potential has to be translated into capability by acquiring the needed hardware and with training. Such operations can become viable only after detailed joint deliberations, joint planning, joint training, and joint formulation of doctrine and effective standard operating procedures. Military actions will not be a panacea and banish terrorism, but the concept has enough promise for it to be explored, modified, and implemented. It will be a step towards modernization.

It is generally agreed that major wars are unlikely but limited wars could occur. In case there is no serious asymmetry in conventional war capabilities, a major war is indeed unlikely. Again, the growing interdependence amongst nations, international pressures, and the high cost of a major war also lower the probability of its occurrence.

The concept of a limited war needs examination. A simple explanation is that a limited war is limited in terms of objectives, time frames, geographical area, forces used and damage caused. However, the critical aspect is that the war must remain limited. When any side uses armed forces for attainment of an objective, howsoever limited it might be, a riposte is likely and will probably be heavier than the original offensive. This could lead to a graduated escalation, or maybe even a rapid rise in level of warfare, to a major war. This defeats the original purpose of avoiding a major war. The situation is compounded if the belligerents are nuclear weapon states. Hence, the most important aspect is to control escalation immaterial of which adversary starts the war.

If the offensive is preceded by concentration and deployment of forces for war, the situation could escalate to a major war almost immediately. Therefore to make a limited war viable, we must develop the ability for short sharp actions without warning. Escalation control is possible by our restricting our offensive and/or having the defensive capability to ensure that unacceptably heavy losses are caused to any enemy action. The task will be made easier if there was cause, and our action was justified. Such military operations need the acquisition and harnessing of particular capabilities and training.

The primary purpose of armed forces will always remain to deter or, if necessary, to coerce. Both deterrence and coercion are a function of advertised or demonstrated capability for fast action or reaction to hit targets with precision and lethality over a wide or restricted area as required. Air power can be so tailored. If such capability is available and is backed by resolve, it will not only help to deter or coerce, but will also ably support the military contribution to conflict resolution, with or without military action.

The creation of defence capabilities should be in keeping with technological advances, as well as the diplomatic, economic, and political dimensions that obtain. Improved intelligence gathering systems, use of space, and greater recourse to information technology are central to the modernization of our armed forces. There will always be many demands on our limited resources. We must expend this judiciously to create capabilities to match the demands of the emerging types of warfare.