news details |
|
|
| Decisive firepower | | Rescue Artillery from obsolescence | |
by Gurmeet Kanwal
Despite the increasing obsolescence of Artillery guns, mortars and rocket launchers in the Army, the government has been unable to conclude contracts for their replacement. Protracted trials of several 155 mm howitzers have been carried out over the last few years. The failure to modernise the Indian Artillery is likely to have unacceptable repercussions for national security.
From its original status as a “supporting” arm, Artillery has now graduated to a full-fledged combat arm that dominates the battlefield with its inherently destructive firepower. In the classic “fire and manoeuvre” tactics practised during operations on 20th century battlefields, Artillery traditionally provided the firepower punch, while armoured, mechanised and infantry units manoeuvred to gain tactical advantage.
Artillery engagements were generally limited to the battle where once own troops were in direct contact with the enemy. “Covering fire” during attack and “defensive fire” to beat back enemy attacks were provided in a supporting role. Artillery guns, mortars and rocket launchers were considered area weapons and the neutralisation of large areas with inherent dispersion of fire, rather than destruction, was the established primary task.
In the post-Kargil 1999 scenario on the Indian Sub-continent, Artillery is clearly seen to be a decisive arm, indeed even a battle-winning one. It was clear to all perceptive observers who followed the Kargil conflict closely, that, though hundreds of valiant infantrymen took back the mountaintops of Kargil foot-by-bloody-foot from the soldiers of the Pakistan Army, it was the Artillery that had paved the way for victory with the overwhelming superiority of its concentrated firepower.
Once a threat from across the borders has been discerned, the artillery, firing 155 mm precision strike ammunition, can be employed to destroy the intruding forces quickly so that the aggression can be vacated and sanctity of the international boundary restored. Today, Laser-guided artillery shells can destroy bunkers, bridges and small buildings with a single-shot kill probability (SSKP) as high as 80 per cent.
Targets that can be seen by the troops in contact with the enemy can be illuminated by a Laser beam by a ground-based artillery observer (spotter) carrying a Laser Target Designator. Those targets that are behind crest lines and on reverse slopes can be designated by an airborne artillery observer in an army aviation helicopter or even by an Unarmed Aerial Vehicle (UAV).
Improved conventional munition (ICMs) shells carrying anti-personnel grenades and lethal “air-burst” ammunition can be “dispensed” over soft targets such as administrative bases, rations and fuel storage dumps, headquarters and rest areas. As these are not precision strike munitions, these have to be accurately directed using commando artillery observers or TV camera equipped UAVs to achieve the desired effect.
Though “smart” precision strike munitions are relatively more costly than standard high explosive shells, these are more effective. When these are available in large quantities, Artillery will be able to cause much greater destruction and indirectly reduce the number of casualties that the infantry has to suffer when the inevitable assault is finally launched.
Long-range MBRLs such as Smerch can enable the enemy’s sensitive command centres to be hit with impunity. Had Smerch MBRLs been available during the Kargil conflict, the Pakistani HQ and administrative base at Skardu and other targets deep inside POK could have been hit with devastating results.
Other force multipliers include gun locating radars for effective counter-bombardment, UAVs equipped with TV cameras and suitable for high altitude operations for target acquisition and engagement and damage assessment, powerful binoculars for target engagement by day and long-range night vision devices for the same purpose at night.
The Indian Artillery is playing an increasingly important role in the successful execution of integrated land-air operations on the modern battlefield. The emerging philosophy of employment of artillery firepower visualises the synergetic orchestration of all firepower resources across the length and breadth of the battlefield to cause destruction, systematically degrade the enemy’s fighting potential and suppress specific combat echelons of the enemy from operating effectively for limited durations. The latter function will include the suppression of the enemy’s air defence (SEAD) assets to enable own attack helicopters to operate freely and to also enable ground attack aircraft of the IAF to launch a strike successfully.
In offensive operations on the future battlefield, the Artillery will launch fire assaults or “attack by firepower” in conjunction with other combat echelons to shape the battlefield and, ultimately, create suitable conditions for the decisive defeat of the enemy. In defensive operations, Artillery firepower will be the primary means of breaking up the enemy’s assault before it can be effectively delivered against a defended locality.
In fact, with the long reach of its missiles, rockets and medium guns, Artillery firepower will systematically degrade the enemy’s preparations for the attack from the concentration area onwards. The concentrated application of massed Artillery firepower will disrupt the enemy’s cohesion and ultimately break his will to fight.
In short, the integrated and synergetic application of Artillery firepower at the point of decision will ensure victory and reduce the Army’s casualties. The Artillery will be a co-equal partner with the manoeuvre arms in the successful execution of firepower and manoeuvre provided it is given modern guns and rocket launchers without any further delay.
The writer is Senior Fellow, Centre for Air Power Studies, New Delhi
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
