CDM meet on strategic challenges concludes

Hyderabad: After intense two-day seminar on the theme, ‘Transformation of Armed Forces: Strategic Contours to Shape the Emerging World Order,” at College of Defence Management (CDM), Secunderabad, expert panelists converged on a road map for transformation considering the imperatives and challenges.

The second day witnessed talks by Lieutenant General PR Kumar (Retd), former DGMO, Rear Admiral Monty Khanna, Faculty DSSC, Wellington, Lieutenant General KJS Dhillon, from IHQ of MoD (Army), Air Vice Marshal J Chalapati, Air Force HQ, and Commodore Vineet Mccarty, IHQ of MoD (Navy). The eminent panelists stressed on the need for internal transformation to deal with the emerging environment. Restructured future doctrines and organisational structures were emphasised as an imperative in the path of transformation. Integration and interoperability of equipment, platforms and defence forces and harnessing of the Cyberspace was considered critical while creating desired capability in future.

In his Valedictory address, Lieutenant General Vinod Bhatia (Retd) emphasised the need to develop suitable joint doctrines that would enable common understanding among the tri-services of armed forces. He said that although future operating environment will be highly challenging, however, the Indian Armed Forces and the nation have several times overcome serious impediments, to achieve resounding success.

The armed forces are already seized with the issues of jointness, internal restructuring, revised manpower planning and military leadership transformation. Refining of procurement processes and building up an indigenous defence industrial base are also issues which have received careful attention. Greater synergy between all arms of the government and the industry is essential to achieve the pace and stride expected. Major General Sandeep Sharma, Commandant, College of Defence Management, while thanking the expert panelists, expressed satisfaction at the apt utilization of the prestigious platform of the Annual Seminar at College of Defence Management for discussions of rich content enriched by vast knowledge, experience and professional expertise.