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OPINION NOVEMBER 11, 2022 | The Indian Eye 10

The PLA has been used to exercising in the plains but not in the plateau regions The Indian defense forces have been on high alert in Ladakh since the 2020 conflict in the region

does not have the capability to exe- ing complex meteorological flights, the WTC. So far, it has introduced ture of the PLA Army and Air Force.
cute heavy air-to-ground strikes, and equipped with over-the-horizon faster communication between the The PLA has been used to exer-
as a result, the task is left to the ar- capabilities. These joint operations various units of the WTC. However, cising in the plains but not in the pla-
tillery units of the PLA Army. The further involve the Special Forces so it is unclear to what extent, the PLA teau regions. Ever since the reforms
Joint Staff Department of the WTC that it can aid in carrying out short is able to achieve the common data in 2015, the PLA’s training exercises
played a major role in establishing and sophisticated offensive attacks link between all the operational units in the plateau regions have increased
the integrated network information in the border regions. For instance, in the WTC. The joint operations ac- and has led to the improvement in
for the troops which would enable in one of the exercises in September cording to the PLA’s understanding their capabilities as it exposed many
the sharing and fusion of informa- 2022, the PLA WTC used its army relies on having the integrated circuit of their fault lines. The lessons learnt
tion relating to troops, weapons and aviation helicopters to transfer weap- technology, which assimilates differ- from the 2020 military standoff would
equipment in the command system. ons and ammunition, where the Spe- ent data into the system, whether it inevitably be applied to the PLA’s
The SF battalion is supposed to cial Forces guided fire strikes based is to prepare the training exercises or combat training and more probing
identify the enemy’s command post, on the information available to them. actual combat. It requires the com- of the Indian defenses would be in-
artillery positions, communication mand to incorporate various facets corporated to their battlefield capa-
hubs in the exercises, and tanks are The Special Forces units are of the terrain from weather infor- bility. The integrated joint training
marked to do the strikes. The 62 mation, to the troop location, to the shows a focus on achieving eyes on
Combined Arms Brigade Armored sent to artillery, army aviation command integration, which should the air domain, with the aim of aid-
Forces conducts the strike campaign. and many other units to gain ensure seamless communication and ing the PLA’s capability to use joint
In addition, the 76th brigade recon- coordination between the units. The strike capabilities against the adver-
naissance battalion is equipped to tactical understanding of the joint commanders should be able to sary. The PLA believes that modern
attack behind enemy lines and uses units and equipment. The goal access a variety of such information wars are fought with joint fire strike
rotor-craft for movement. With the in their command area so that they system and their army aviation units
help of these battalions, once the of these joint operation was to can plan their defensive and offen- are being increasingly used to con-
battlefield environment is clear, then counter the WTC’s low-degree sive tactics according to the needs of duct operations near the border ar-
joint operations by Special Forces the situation. eas. There is an increased emphasis
unit and Combined Arms brigade of mechanization and outdated There are challenges to the on short and targeted operations by
unit carries out attack behind ene- equipment, apart from the lack WTC’s joint operations. First, the the WTC alongside defensive tactics
my lines, with the help of rotorcrafts health of the Air Forces officers is of such as air defense, early warning
from the Army aviation units. The of a common data link. huge concern, especially pertaining and reconnaissance. Such capabil-
objective of these exercises also re- to orthopedic diseases. The high-al- ities are set to increase as the PLA
veal that the PLA intends to suppress In China’s view, the data link is titude plateaus put high strain on will increasingly use 5G networks
the fire power of the adversary in the the most important technology in the soldiers and the PLA has to give and AI capabilities in the WTC.
WTC within 150 kilometers from the joint operations. It can link infor- high-quality medical treatment to
Chinese border, which meant using mation between different combat maintain the health of the soldiers. Dr M.S. Prathibha is Associate Fellow
the 99A tanks and ZBB-o4A tracked units to different combat systems, When the PLA was shifting its train- at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for
infantry fighting vehicle combined leading it to increase the perception ing from the plains to the plateau Defense Studies and Analyses (IDSA),
with fire strike units of other ser- and transparency of the battlefield. regions to expose the soldiers to ac- New Delhi
vices. Moreover, the Special Forces The data link can integrate sensors tual combat conditions, the climatic Views expressed are of the author and
are needed if the PLA has to take of the space, air, sea, and land to conditions had a “great impact” on do not necessarily reflect the views of
control of mountain heights as evi- improve the perception of the battle- the physical and mental health of the the Manohar Parrrikar IDSA or of the
denced by their exercises at the Kara- field, and improve joint capability by soldiers. The PLA now believes that Government of India.
koram Pass in March 2022. shortening decision times. This helps it has made adjustments to cope with
In addition, helicopters are now to coordinate joint operations, and the weather. This article first appeared in the
increasingly used in exercises to famil- provides joint commanders various Secondly, battlefield awareness Comments section of the website (www.
iarize with uneven and dangerous ter- battlefield information quickly. is key to winning the war and the idsa.in) of Manohar Parrikar Institute
rains, as well as carry out operations The data link between services PLA has made strides in integrating for Defense Studies and Analyses, New
during day and night time, includ- has emerged as a game-changer in some aspects of the command struc- Delhi on November 2, 2022

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