Even after the end of Cold War the global strategic environment continues to be uncertain and unstable. Some old conflicts may have ended, but the rise of religious fundamentalism and ethnic assertions have heightened tension in many parts of the world. In such a scenario, the Indian Army cannot afford to lower its guard. It needs to constantly upgrade its critical weapons and induct state-of-the-art systems to ward off threats from potential adversaries.
At the same time, the Indian Army, largest of the three services, has to work within the resource constraints of the country, requiring it to lay great stress on an indigenisation programme.
Thus indigenous technology is being used to increase the firepower of the Army through better night-vision capability, mobility and protection. The main battle tank, Arjuna, has been inducted into the Army as one of the most modern tanks in the world.
The Army is to be equipped with self-propelled guns and multi-barrel rocket launchers with enhanced range and lethal effect. The air defence artillery system is being upgraded. Self-propelled air defence systems are to be inducted as force multipliers. The surveillance capabilities are also being upgraded.
The Army has also been taking initiatives on matters relating to environment and conservation with afforestation drives, greening of wasteland and development of alternative sources of energy.
A notable development in the armed forces has been the decision to induct women officers in various branches of all the three services. The Indian Air Force has already trained the first batch of women pilots. Encouraged by its success, the Army proposes to increase the intake of women officers. India has a long tradition of contributing to the UN peacekeeping missions. The Indian contingent's contributions in two recent missions, in Somalia and Mozambique, received special praise.
With the change in global political and strategic environment, India has stepped up its traditional defence cooperation and forged new ties. This included goodwill visits by Chiefs of Services, joint exercises, technological exchanges, training interaction and export of defence items. An agreement on defence cooperation up to the year 2000 was signed with Russia.
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