Hours after stating that India?s military might was key to its growing global clout, defence minister AK Antony on Thursday called for the forces to be combat-ready.
While addressing a conference of the Indian Navy?s top commanders here, the minister pointed out that with India likely to become the world?s third largest economy by 2050, there would be a rapid growth in the country?s energy needs and pose new challenges to keep the sea-lanes open.
?Therefore, to meet these challenges, we must evolve strategies that deny or reduce the freedom of our enemies to exploit the maritime environment. To achieve this objective, the services have to be developed into balanced and combat-ready forces,? he said.
?Indian Navy has the largest presence in Indian Ocean after the United States and fields an aircraft carrier, which allows it to extend its operations beyond its immediate areas of concern. Our air force has already demonstrated that it can be counted among the world’s best in a series of joint exercises,? he added.
According to him, the country’s military training institutions like the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy ?are among the best in the world?.
The minister said, ?I wish to assure all of you that the government is fully committed to modernisation and to provide the latest possible equipment to the services.? At the same time, it was the services’ responsibility to ensure that the funds allocated are utilised ?judiciously and optimally?, he maintained. ?Time overrun of projects naturally leads to cost overruns, which in turn requires revised approvals, resulting in further delays.
According to the minister, the paradigm shift in military affairs today ?is driven by the merger of evolving high-end technology, which allows sifting and transfer of data in real time, enabling quick decision-making.
?Thus, our armed forces will have to evolve as a technology-intensive and networked force, ready to operate in an integrated manner,? Antony added.
?These technological advances also pose a challenge — ensuring the security of information and data flow. I am sure that you will also be discussing ways and means to enhance cyber and network security during this conference,? Antony told the naval commanders.
