Focus on tech, MoD set to make 2025 ‘year of reforms’

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) will observe 2025 as a ‘year of reform’ aimed at transforming the armed forces with technology inductions, while working towards theatre commands.

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Jointness initiatives

• In a meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the emphasis was on bolstering jointness and integration initiatives and facilitating establishment of integrated theatre commands
• Besides, another area of focus was the simpler and time-sensitive military procurement with a broader aim  to transform the military into a technologically-advanced force

This was announced after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired a meeting to review the progress of reforms.

According to a statement issued by the MoD, the Minister has directed that the “reforms should aim to further boost integration initiatives and facilitate establishment of the Integrated Theatre Commands”. A theatre command is a long gestation period plan, under which war-fighting assets of the Army, Navy and the IAF in a defined geographical area are placed under a single commander.

The minister has tasked the services with having a ‘shared understanding of operational requirements and joint operational capabilities’ through inter-service cooperation and training. The three armed forces have also been asked to focus on future wars, and tactics and techniques required to win such wars. The reforms would focus on new domains such as cyber and space security, and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, hypersonic and robotics, the statement said.

The MoD would also try to simplify the acquisition procedures to make them time-sensitive and facilitate swifter development of capability. It will further encourage greater public-private partnerships to facilitate technology transfer and knowledge sharing between the defence sector and private industries. The statement mentioned that the country had exported military equipment worth Rs 21,600 crore in the last fiscal. The MoD would try to position India as a credible exporter of defence products.

The statement quoted Rajnath, saying the ‘year of reforms’ would be a momentous step in the modernisation journey of the armed forces. It would lay the foundation for unprecedented advancements in the country’s defence preparedness.