Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh draws attention towards the hybrid nature of future warfare where the conflict is likely to be spread across multiple domains

Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), has underscored the need to adopt innovative measures to counter the increased security challenges.

Addressing the Commanders’ Conference of the Southern Air Command (SAC) in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday (March 12, 2025), the Air Chief drew the attention of the Commanders towards the hybrid nature of future warfare where the spectrum of conflict is likely to be spread across multiple domains.

Russian military shoots down 337 Ukrainian drones in largest attack in three years, causing casualties and damage in multiple regions

The Russian military said Tuesday (March 11, 2025) air defences overnight shot down 337 Ukrainian drones over 10 Russian regions in what appears to be the biggest Ukrainian drone attack on Russia in three years.

VSHORAD missiles are soldier’s last line of defence against enemy aircraft; three unsuccessful attempts to close deals for different missile systems since 2020; fifth use of emergency procurement since 2016

Published – March 08, 2025 10:58 pm IST – NEW DELHI

Dinakar Peri

The emergency route for defence procurements has once again come to the Indian Army’s rescue in its bid to buy man-portable Very Short Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) systems, as repeated attempts to acquire the critical systems have failed. Since 2020, the Army has unsuccessfully tried to close three deals for two different missile systems, constituting 88 launchers, 372 missiles and associated equipment.

VICTOR TEAM :ALL ARMS/SERVICES MIXED TEAM

Team Victor Candidates

1. Brig AS Jassar, Rajput Regt- Vice Chairman — RAJPUT REGIMENT
2. Capt (IN) Rakesh Batta, NM- Housing & Gardens —- INDIAN NAVY
3. Col Rupinder Singh, GUARDS- Bar & Discipline —-BRIGADE OF GUARDS
4. Col Vikram Uppal, AAD- Finance —-BARMY AIR DEFENCE
5. Col Jaswinder Singh, ASC- Sports & Entertainment — ARMY SERVICE CORPS
6. Flt Lt (Dr) Renu Lamba, IAF- Catering —-INDIAN AIR FORCE

Pease do visit the INSTITUTE on 16 March (SUNDAY) from 09AM onwards upto 5PM to exercise your power of vote and elect the Victor Force members to serve the DSOI and you .

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Looking forward to welcoming you at the venue.

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Brig Anupinder Singh Jassar
9878599122

Abdullah Makki Muslih al-Rufayi, also known as Abu Khadija, was killed in an operation by Iraqi security forces on Friday

As President Donald Trump took credit for the elimination of a senior ISIS terrorist leader, who was killed in a coordinated operation involving US and Iraqi forces, a debate erupted on social media

Abdullah Makki Muslih al-Rufayi, also known as Abu Khadija, was killed in an operation by Iraqi security forces on Friday, announced Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

He was the head of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria and was considered “one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world.”

On his Truth Social platform Friday night, US President Donald Trump said, “Today the fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed. He was relentlessly hunted down by our intrepid warfighters” in coordination with the Iraqi government and the Kurdish regional government. “PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!” Trump posted.

However, a few social media users were miffed with Trump claiming credit for killing Abu Khadija, while others supported him.

“C’mon. Use better language. He may have ‘authorized’ it or ‘ordered’ it. But HE did not do it. Give credit where it’s due — to the armed forces who had the expertise to carry it out. Stuff like this irritates veterans. This tweet obviously written by someone who never served,” commented one.

Another wrote, “He’s taking responsibility for it instead of them hunting our soldiers down.”

“HE ORDERED it. That’s where the credit goes,” commented another user.

Dear Esteemed Member of DSOI and supporter of the Victor Force Candidates,

The ‘Big Day’ is around the corner.

Please do visit the DSOI on 16 March (SUNDAY) from 09AM onwards upto 5PM to exercise your power of vote and elect the Victor Force members to serve the DSOI and you.

Be sure that :

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   Any member with unpaid dues is debarred from voting.
2. You are carrying your Membership Card (Veterans) / Identity Card (Serving Officers)
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   _Names of Candidates will be jumbled on the ballot. Make sure your vote goes only to your favourite candidate of the Victor Force. List of Victor Force candidates is shared along with this message.

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Warm Regards and Best Wishes for a very HAPPY HOLI to you and to your familiy!

Brig Anupinder Singh Jassar
9878599122
( Issued by: Victor Force Campaign Manager )

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The cadres, including a couple, turn themselves in before senior police and CRPF officials  

Seventeen Naxalites, nine of them collectively carrying a cash reward of Rs 24 lakh on their heads, surrendered in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on Thursday, a senior police official said.

The cadres, including a couple, turned themselves in before senior police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officials here, he said.

The Naxalites cited disappointment with the “hollow” and “inhuman” Maoist ideology, exploitation of innocent tribals by senior cadres and increasing influence of security forces, Bijapur Senior adav said.ity forces and administration have been striving to provide basic amenities and carry out development works in interior areas, he said.

All the surrendered Naxalites were active in different capacities in the Gangaloor area committee of the outlawed Maoist organisation, he said.

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Of them, Dinesh Modiam (36), a divisional committee member of Maoists, was wanted in 26 cases in Bijapur district and carried a reward of Rs 8 lakh, the senior police official said.

Modiam’s wife Jyoti Tati, alias Kala Modiam (32), and Dula Karam (32), both active as area committee members, carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh each, he added.

Six of the surrendered cadres carried a bounty of Rs 1 lakh each, he said.

District Reserve Guard, Bastar Fighters, Special Task Force, CRPF and its elite unit CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) played a crucial role in the surrender of these Naxalites, Yadav said.

The cadres were provided assistance of Rs 25,000 each and will be further rehabilitated as per the government’s policy to integrate them into the mainstream, he added.

So far this year, 65 Naxalites have surrendered in Bijapur district of the state’s Bastar range.

Last year, 792 Naxalites had surrendered in the Bastar region, comprising seven districts including Bijapur.

The Army has opted for a dual-weapon system instead of a single standard rifle due to the distinct operational needs of different units.

Lt Gen Dushyant Singh retd

India’s small arms procurement process has increasingly become a subject of misinformation and speculation, particularly on social media. Every step — from the grant of Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) and Final Evaluation Trials (FET) to the final contract — becomes an occasion for debate, often driven by conflicting agendas rather than a clear understanding of operational realities.

The result is a distorted narrative that ignores the complexities of military readiness and the strategic calculus behind India’s decisions.

Small arms procurement is not merely about buying new rifles; it is about ensuring that soldiers are equipped with the most effective weapons suited for combat. It is a balancing act between meeting immediate operational needs, integrating indigenous industry and maintaining logistical efficiency.

The reality is far removed from the simplistic claims that procurement choices are dictated by lobbying or bureaucratic inefficiency.

The selection of the SIG Sauer 716 and AK-203 rifles follows a deliberate strategy tailored to the Army’s operational needs. The SIG Sauer 716, a 7.62×51-mm battle rifle, has been inducted specifically for frontline infantry and mechanised units, providing enhanced lethality and longer-range effectiveness.

Conversely, the AK-203, a 7.62×39-mm assault rifle, is intended for broader deployment across the forces, replacing the ageing INSAS rifles with a rugged, reliable platform. This strategy for small arms procurement was driven by the vision of the late General Bipin Rawat, former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and the first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). It marks a game-changing step in making our soldiers future-ready.

General Rawat was committed to ensuring that infantry soldiers were equipped with the best weapons and systems in the world. During one of his visits to the Army War College, where I was the Commandant, he conveyed his belief that the modernisation of infantry was critical to battlefield success.

The battles of Bakhmut and Avdiivka in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war have underscored the necessity of empowering infantry soldiers with the latest and most advanced weaponry. Future conflicts will demand nothing less.

The argument that these acquisitions complicate ammunition logistics is misleading; their phased induction ensures streamlined supply chains without overwhelming the existing systems.

The decision to procure the SIG Sauer 716 in two tranches — 72,400 rifles in 2019 and 73,000 in 2025 — was guided by urgency. These weapons were acquired under the “Buy (Global)” category to immediately enhance the firepower of frontline troops even as the indigenous small arms manufacturing ecosystem continued to evolve.

The AK-203, on the other hand, is a product of a long-term vision for self-reliance, developed through a joint venture with Russia. The project aims to manufacture 6.71 lakh rifles domestically over a decade — a significant step towards reducing dependence on foreign suppliers. The first batch of 35,000 rifles was delivered in 2024, marking progress in this transition.

Critics question why the Army has opted for a dual-weapon system instead of a single standard rifle. The answer lies in the distinct operational needs of different units. The SIG Sauer 716 offers greater accuracy and stopping power for specialised combat roles, while the AK-203’s reliability and ease of use make it ideal for widespread issue.

The notion that this creates logistical chaos disregards the Army’s structured approach to managing ammunition supply chains. The military already operates a variety of small arms and introducing weapons with complementary roles does not disrupt logistics; it enhances combat

effectiveness.

Misinformation also surrounds the larger debate over “Buy Indian” versus “Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured” (IDDM) procurement. The SIG Sauer acquisition was necessitated by immediate battlefield requirements while the AK-203 represents a strategic push for indigenous production under the IDDM category, which mandates at least 60 per cent domestic content.

However, the reality is that indigenous small arms production remains a work in progress. The AK-203 project, despite its merits, faced delays due to cost negotiations and technology transfer issues. These challenges highlight why a pragmatic mix of imports and domestic manufacturing is essential rather than focus on one over the other.

Another myth is that the small arms procurement process is riddled with unnecessary delays. While it is true that defence acquisitions have historically suffered from bureaucratic inertia, it is also a fact that stringent field trials are necessary to ensure that weapons perform reliably across diverse combat environments.

In recent years, only a fraction of the planned procurements has been completed within the stipulated timeframes, often due to protracted evaluation phases. This caution is justified; rushing untested weapons into service can lead to operational failures, as experience has demonstrated. The Army’s rigorous testing protocols exist to prevent precisely such shortcomings.

India’s long-term small arms roadmap is clear: a systematic phasing out of outdated inventory, steady modernisation and development of a strong domestic manufacturing base. But modernisation cannot come at the cost of battlefield readiness.

The push for self-reliance must be balanced with the imperative of ensuring that soldiers are not left waiting for weapons while domestic production catches up.

Successful indigenous defence projects in other domains — such as artillery and missile systems — demonstrate that self-sufficiency can be achieved without compromising operational effectiveness. The same principles must guide small arms procurement.

Public debates around military procurement often overlook the fundamental reality that a soldier’s rifle is more than just a weapon — it is a lifeline in combat. The Army’s approach to small arms procurement ensures that this lifeline is reliable and effective, now and in the future.

It is time to move beyond the noise and recognise that equipping the military is not a matter of popular discourse but of strategic necessity.

Views are personal

(Author is Director General, Centre for Land Warfare Studies)