The lead article is on infantry in which the author flags the preeminence of infantry in warfare which is supported by the fact that the highest number of martyrs & gallantry awards in the Indian Army are from the Infantry. The ‘no-war, no-peace’ scenario constrains any major offensive but there is a high frequency of threats of low level conflicts in the form of border clashes and transgressions which need infantry. He further points out that Infantry the world over has kept pace with the evolution of warfare however the Indian Army is lagging behind in its efforts to modernise its Infantry. He then highlights the major shortcomings & suggests that the Indian Infantry needs to plug the gaps especially in the areas of survivability, lethality and mobility. He further suggests major structural changes in all types of Infantry Battalions including Border Scouts.

The article on future technologies for the infantry stresses on the digitisation of the battlefield which is the application of information technologies to acquire, exchange and employ timely information throughout the battlefield. It is designed to meet the requirements of commander, shooter and supporting elements in order to create a common operational picture of the battlefield at each level. Future battlefield will be defined by the internet of military things or entities which are connected to smart devices.

There is another article on infantry where the author states that at the culmination of any war or conflict, what will eventually matter is where your boots are finally on ground. Ultimately it is boots on ground of the infantryman that will signal victory.

After 2 failed attempts, the Indian Army which is eager to get 1,750 FICV, issued RFI for the third time on June 24, 2021. We have a report on this programme which could be manufactured in India under the Strategic Partnership initiative of the Ministry of Defence.

Wish you discerning readers a Merry X’mas & a Happy New Year.