The Mechanised Forces Directorate of the Indian Army has evolved into a fully integrated model and is responsible for all issues with respect to Armoured Corps, Mechanised Infantry and the Brigade of the Guards. In an exclusive interview with Jayant Baranwal, Editor-in-Chief, and Lt General (Retd) V.K. Kapoor, Editor, SP’s Land Forces, Lt General D.S. Siddhu, Director General Mechanised Forces (DGMF), spoke about the plethora of responsibilities of the Directorate.

SP’s Land Forces (SP’s): What is the charter of duties of the DGMF in respect of Armoured Corps and Mechanised Infantry?

Lt General D.S. Siddhu (DGMF): DGMF forms part of the General Staff Branch of the IHQ of MoD (Army) and functions under DCOAS (P&S). Earlier, the Armoured Corps and Mechanised Infantry issues were being dealt with separately. However, since February 2005, the Directorate has evolved into a fully integrated model and is responsible for all issues with respect to Armoured Corps, Mechanised Infantry and the Brigade of the Guards.

In short, the Directorate is responsible for conceiving the vision, formulating and instituting the required policies to realise the goals set in coordination with various other Directorates. The Directorate has been vested with the responsibility to ensure that the Mechanised Forces are fit in all respects, at all times to fulfill their envisaged operational role across the full spectrum of conflict.

The Directorate is also responsible for a plethora of operational, training, equipment management and man management issues. We strive to ensure optimum exploitation of our combat potential in consonance with the overall politico-military objectives. The Directorate is responsible for formulation of policies, selection of equipment, progressing cases of procurement, induction, exploitation and support to the Mechanised Forces. It includes formulating and implementing policies on upgradation, modernisation and subsequent discard of in-service equipment.

Our charter also includes formulation of training policies in keeping with the rapidly evolving technology and its subsequent implementation at Armoured Corps Centre and School, Mechanised Infantry Regiment Centre and Guards Regimental Centre. The aspects of man management encompass various aspects of recruitment, improvement of service conditions and their discharge based on our present and future requirements. The Directorate is responsible for ensuring that the professional and personal aspirations of our personnel are effectively met.

SP’s: In the context of the future threats and challenges, have any new roles been defined for the Armoured Corps and the Mechanised Infantry?

DGMF: The security environment facing our nation is in a state of constant flux. There is a need for close monitoring of the changes taking place within and outside, especially in our close neighbourhood. We are constantly reviewing our military preparedness based on these changes. The Mechanised Forces need to constantly evolve, develop and adapt to the changing “capability cum threat” spectrum, in order to remain ‘operationally relevant’ at all points of time and to maintain the deterrence value.

The Mechanised Forces have a role across all types of terrain and combat scenarios. Our basic role may remain the same, but it has evolved with changes in capability, technology, infrastructure and the equipment held with us. We are constantly reorienting our training, equipment and policies to meet these new challenges.

I visualise a broader mandate for the Mechanised Forces in the future. We are likely to be employed in a broad spectrum of operational scenarios, ranging from operations in amphibious and mountainous terrain to various overseas deployments as part of an UN mandate. In addition, ever growing urbanisation has resulted in the likelihood of being involved in urban warfare and resultant consolidation operations.

SP’s: What are the basic parameters which you consider essential and vital for designing the future MBT of the Indian Army? How is the Army and the Armoured Corps keeping a tab on the work being done by the DRDO in this field? What are the formal arrangements in place to ensure user inputs at all stages of development?

DGMF: Based on the operational requirements, perspective planning and technologies available at present as well as in the future, the basic contours and the roadmap of the futuristic main battle tank (FMBT) have emerged. The preliminary staff qualitative requirement (PSQR) for the FMBT is evolved after taking the views of all the stakeholders. The efforts towards indigenisation/absorption of transfer of technologies (ToT) and the lessons learnt play a major part in development of the FMBT. Right from evolving the PSQR to building of prototypes, followed by limited production, till finally its regular production, mechanisms are being put in place to ensure our country and the armed forces get the best product.

The formal arrangements in place to ensure user inputs at all stages of development are as under:

• Regular visit by user to the production agency
• Regular joint review and audit
• Quarterly interaction meets
• Customer satisfaction meets

We are also looking at much closer interaction with the industry as also contemplating a new model which will be dynamic and allow user participation at all levels of development, integration and trials. These aspects are yet to be finalised.

SP’s: The requirement of a light tank for the Eastern Theatre as also for some sectors of our mountainous regions is a necessity which few can deny. What is the current status of procurement of light tank for the Indian Army?

DGMF: The relevance of armour has expanded from the erstwhile manoeuvre warfare to operations in difficult terrain, amphibious operations and fourth generation warfare. Consequently, a need has been felt to customise our equipment profile to meet the specialised requirement. To that effect, the light tank is being proposed to meet different operational requirements. Currently, doctrinal and technical issues are being deliberated. Thereafter, the qualitative requirements will be finalised.

SP’s: It seems that the T-90 is planned to be the current main battle tank of the Army. Is the Heavy Vehicle Factory at Avadi geared to handle this responsibility in addition to its other responsibilities? What has been our experience with the indigenous production of this tank?

DGMF: Heavy Vehicle Factory, Avadi is designated by the Department of Defence Procurement (DDP) and Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) as the nodal factory for manufacture of tanks. In the past, HVF produced the Vijayanta and T-72 tanks. In addition, HVF is also in the process of reactivating the assembly line to produce T-72 variants.

The process of licence production of T-90 tanks has been worked out in detail and the training of factory staff and inculcation of skills done by assembling semi-knocked down (SKD) tanks, completely knocked down (CKD) tanks and graduating to indigenous manufacture. Currently, the process of indigenous manufacture has commenced.

SP’s: Has any new equipment been planned for the reconnaissance troops and platoons of armoured regiments and mechanised infantry battalions respectively, to make them more effective?

DGMF: The Indian Army is looking at the procurement of a light armoured vehicle designed to meet the requirements of the reconnaissance troops and platoons. This vehicle will have the required mobility and agility over all types of terrain as also survivability. It will be equipped to carry out reconnaissance tasks during day as well as night in all weather conditions. Electronic control displays will integrate all on board systems for ease of management and efficiency.

SP’s: With the ageing T-72 fleet, what is the status of medium repair and base overhaul of these tanks?

DGMF: Tank T-72 was inducted in the Indian Army in 1979. In order to enhance the service life, medium repair and overhaul norms were evolved and implemented. Under these programmes, the tanks are put through extensive repair and refurbishment at a laid down periodicity. The Army and the MoD is seized of the criticality of these programmes, and in keeping with the requirements, a massive modernisation programme has been recently sanctioned to improve both our capacities and quality of overhaul.

SP’s: How far have we reached in the T-72 upgrade and modernisation programme?

DGMF: The tank T-72 forms the mainstay of the Mechanised Forces currently. A number of modernisation projects and upgrades are under way to enhance its operational efficacy. Our projects focus on night enabling, higher protection levels, better mobility and crew comfort. In addition, secure communications and better NBC capability schemes have also been included. Each of these programmes is at different levels.

SP’s: Russians have made the ICV BMP-3 which has a 100mm 2A70 semi-automatic rifled gun as its main armament and fires and anti-tank guided missile from the same barrel. It also has a 30mm automatic gun. Is the Indian Army planning for a future ICV on this pattern?

DGMF: BMP-3, though a versatile equipment, its physical attributes impinge on its deployment and floatation capability. Indian Army has planned for a futuristic infantry combat vehicle (FICV) to replace the BMP-2 with key operational and performance parameters envisaged in the Indian context. The project is a pioneer in ‘Make-High Tech’ category where for the first time the defence industry has invited participation by private established agencies. The project is in an advance stage for development of a prototype. We are of the view that our operational requirements can be met with a weapon mix of a cannon, machine gun, missile firing capability and automatic grenade launcher.