Army Chief flags need to prepare for longer wars, cites Russia-Ukraine conflict

Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Tuesday said India must be prepared with adequate firepower to sustain a prolonged conflict, pointing to lessons from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

Speaking at the 52nd National Management Convention hosted by the All India Management Association (AIMA), Dwivedi noted that the war had exposed “miscalculations” in force planning. “Technology is available on the other side to sustain a war for a longer period. War is unpredictable. Operation Sindoor lasted four days, but the country has to be prepared to fight a longer war,” he said.

On the recent skirmish with Pakistan, the Army Chief said it was not certain how long the engagement would last. “Many people asked why it ended like a four-day test match. All the right boxes were ticked without invoking the war book,” he said, adding that the operation was marked by drone and cyberattacks.

Assuring the industry of resources, Dwivedi said the Army currently has Rs 26,000 crore in its capital procurement kitty and Rs 60,000 crore in revenue procurement, with more funds available under an ‘atmanirbhar’ approach. He urged industry to deliver on time and invest in defence R&D. “We are looking at hitting targets 100-150 km away, but going forward, we will want systems with ranges of 750 km and beyond,” he said.

Highlighting closer engagement with academia, he said the Army has set up four technology cells at IITs and IISc to work on advanced materials and other requirements. “Since these institutes are government-owned, it is easier for the Army to collaborate with them,” Dwivedi noted.