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OpINION NOVEMBER 19, 2021 | The Indian Eye 13

hanced the early warning network for ficers based on a comprehensive as-
the Air Force to track and counter sessment. According to the observers,
any airborne invasion by an adver- the peace accumulations are general-
sary. In fact, the WTC with regard to ly visible in four insufficiencies such
the Indian theatre has significantly as insufficient grasp of scientific and
increased the new equipment in elec- technological knowledge; insufficient
tronic counter-measures and special awareness of system; insufficient use
warfare reconnaissance. of information means; and insuffi-
Specifically, Intelligence Re- cient joint effectiveness. To rectify
connaissance Brigade similar to the the peace accumulation, “engineered
US Army Battlefield Surveillance thinking” was promoted at the end of
Brigade has also been involved in the annual review of theatre construc-
exercises in the plateau regions. The tion in 2018 and to strengthen the su-
WTC Air Force in an exercise want- pervision capabilities of the system.
ed to find ways to withstand the en- The party committee of the theatre
emy (airborne insertion) while shap- command generally meet twice in a
ing the defensive and offensive skills year, to reflect on the shortcomings
during confrontation. In this regard, and give solutions to rectify them. By
the WTC Air Force exercises focus the end of the year, a review confer-
on developing battlefield awareness ence is conducted to see the results.
regarding the adversary’s Air Force Indian Army personnel participate in a training session in challenging terrain conditions and “Four Studies and One Research”,
capabilities by extensively using its air amidst extreme weather in super high altitude areas, in Ladakh (ANI) which includes ‘learning strategy’,
defence and electromagnetic capa- ‘learning jointness’, ‘learning military
bilities and conduct integrated oper- branches’, ‘learning science and tech-
ations to counter offensive tactics by nology’, and ‘researching opponents’,
the said adversary. are needed to enhance combat capa-
The exercises, which are termed bilities further.
as “system confrontation exercises”, Overall, post 2015 reforms, the
have been one of the main types of WTC has been transforming into a
exercise scheduled within the WTC joint theatre command that can fight
every quarter. The system combat in wars against an adversary like India.
the Chinese view, in modern warfare, It has significantly increased its joint
there are no confrontation between combat capabilities, especially in air
the two countries’ air forces alone or defence and reconnaissance. It has
navies alone. Rather the confronta- significant impact on India as the two
tion is with the whole operating sys- countries are involved in a border
tem of the adversary (system-to-sys- standoff and as it is tailored towards
tem confrontation, which consists of reducing its vulnerabilities against In-
combat elements from different ser- dia’s superior airpower, any strength-
vices and arms operating as a whole. Indian Army soldiers demonstrate a drill in Tawang sector near the Line of Actual Control ening of its combat capabilities in this
In this regard, information conditions, area would have an impact on India’s
that is the quick and smooth transmis- (LAC) to tackle any threat from the Chinese side (ANI) choices to conduct offensive oper-
sion of battlefield awareness is neces- ations. Moreover, the PLA is moti-
sary for finding a favourable situation portantly, the transition also led to ing and resolve, instead of integrating vating its force to mentally prepare
in a confrontation. Within this aspect, the brigades initiating winter training fully into the plateau conditions. The for a potential limited war if it comes
gaining information control and in- exercises rather than restricting them realistic training in the case of WTC to play, broadcasting its readiness to
formation superiority is essential in to the summer months. would be not only to train in plateau fight the war. In addition, the inte-
gaining strength over the adversary. The transformation of the physi- conditions but also being stationed in grated training exercises and system
The transition to training under cal infrastructure of the theatre com- that region. In Chinese view, as the confrontation strategies are aimed
real combat conditions has been chal- mands, and the WTC has been no international trends seem to be peace at not only hitting the adversary’s
lenging for the WTC. For instance, exception. The Support Department and development, peace accumula- ground forces, but also its air capabil-
before the reforms in 2015, many ex- was newly created after the reforms tion might breed the thinking that ity, logistics and support systems.
ercises were conducted in the plains, were embedded within the corps-lev- automatically peace is going to con-
and training in plateau regions was el units in theatre commands. In the tinue. Such an understanding might M.S. Prathibha is Associate Fellow
seen as a way for the soldiers to adapt WTC, sometimes the problem per- hinder combat effectiveness as possi- at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for
to the climatic conditions. After the tains to the attitude of the officers bility of war cannot be ruled out. Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA),
reforms were implemented, the com- trained or stationed in the plateau Since 2018, the WTC has trained New Delhi
bined armed brigades are increasing- regions. One of the biggest impedi- specifically to eliminate the “peace Views expressed are of the author and
ly stationed in high-altitude areas as ments according to the Chinese Pres- accumulations”. The difficulty of do not necessarily reflect the views of
opposed to staying away during the ident Xi Jinping is the “peace sick- transition is visible according to the the Manohar Parrikar IDSA or of the
winter months. The adjustment has ness” that has afflicted the Chinese Chinese view because even though Government of India.
been tough as the brigades suffered military. For instance, with regard to the military reforms have trans-
from terrain issues, lack of proper the WTC, peace sickness, or peace formed the military region into a the- This is the abridged version of the
training, effective use of artillery and accumulation, meaning practices that atre command, many soldiers “wear article which appeared first in the
coordination, and find a way out to are deep-rooted, long-established new shoes but walk the old road” Comment section of the website (www.
reduce the impact of high-altitude and corrupt are said to be challenges. as they grew up during the peaceful idsa.in) of Manohar Parrikar Institute
environment on physical training and In high-altitude plateau regions, just years. Therefore, top talents from for Defense Studies and Analyses, New
equipment performance. Most im- getting acclimated was seen as train- each unit are now promoted to of- Delhi on November 9, 2021

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