Editor’s Note
As technology races ahead and takes the battlefield by storm, the application of traditional elements of combat power undergoes transformational changes, too. Between the two basic elements of fire and manoeuvre, the primary constituents of combat power, the application of the former has gathered greater weightage. The development of multi-domain capabilities has also become an absolute imperative, with its focus not just on the combat zone but also in support of geopolitical and geostrategic objectives. The article is being published in two parts. Part II will follow.
Predominance of Firepower in Combined Arms Operations
“Pakistani Perspective: Role of Firepower, Especially Artillery, during Kargil War: The artillery created the most disproportionate adverse impact on Pakistan positions, troops and logistics sustenance, for which artillery equipment, especially the Bofors gun, was pulled in from other formations, not involved in the limited scale of war being waged in Kargil. A fairly large number of guns were deployed in a ‘direct firing’ role. Artillery pounded not only the objectives being assaulted/attacked but also contingency positions, Observer Posts, logistic nodes, and communication hubs. Sustenance of Pakistani forward troops became an existential challenge. It encouraged the brave Indian infantry soldier to close in and fight.”
As per Zehra and her interactions with deployed troops, “The ‘Gunners fire assaults’ became the principal battle-winning factor. Approximately 5000 arty shells, mortar bombs, and rockets were fired daily from 300 guns, mortars and MBRLs, while 9000 shells were fired on the day Indian troops recaptured Tiger Hill. The guns were massed, ranging from 100 to 120 guns for every attack. The fire was so accurate that Indian troops could move up to 40 metres short of the target, with every artillery gun hitting the target. Guns in direct firing roles had a devastating effect, especially on the Bofors, even on bunkers. Pakistani troops learnt to dread enemy artillery, especially direct fire. Physically and emotionally battered with no sleep or rest and isolated with minimal fire support, the Pakistan troops incurred maximum casualties due to artillery fire. This impact was further bolstered with the innovative use of IAF air strikes, which created a tremendous morale-shattering impact on Pakistani troops, especially when their air support was non-existent. The intensity of firepower devastated both men and mountains.” – Paraphrased from Nasim Zehra’s book (2018), ‘From Kargil to the Coup, Events that shook Pakistan’ and other Pakistan publications
Geo-Political and Security Overview Dictates the necessity of Conducting Multi-Domain Operations (MDO)
The global order, which has brought stability since World War II, is changing, bringing geopolitical and security turbulence. Currently, as per the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, there are 110 conflicts/ confrontations ongoing globally! The most visible are the Ukraine and Gaza conflicts and confrontations in the China Seas. The nuclear balance, which was being managed by international protocols between the USA and Russia, has been discarded.
China is on a nuclear expansion and modernisation surge, leading to a race amongst NWS (nuclear weapon states), with ominous portents of the exclusive club expanding. Increased nuclear signalling by some nations (Russia, North Korea) promises to bring Armageddon closer to reality. Incidents and brinkmanship manoeuvres in conflict zones by adversaries and their allies: the ‘Western block led by the USA’, emerging Russia-China-North Korea-Iran nexus, and regional players with their national agendas exacerbate the delicate balance, more so, as there are no incident resolution controls in place.
India needs to Manoeuvre Deftly and keep its Powder Dry
Amidst this turbulence, the increasing China-Pakistan strategic and military collaboration (no longer just collusion), unresolved boundaries, historical distrust and enmity, fragile regional relationships, and sympathetic instability further exacerbated by the global environment make the South Asia plus China region even more vulnerable/unstable. India must avoid geopolitical or military embarrassment or setbacks given her regional power status. India needs to keep its powder dry and continuously upgrade and build its technological and multi-domain (both kinetic and cognitive, especially military) capability and capacity to combat ongoing 24/7 confrontations and probable conflicts.
We are aware that while the situation along our borders with China and Pakistan is under control, it is unstable and dynamic. It just needs a spark, a miscalculation or misadventure to ignite. We must remember that most wars have started despite all antagonists not wanting one. The ongoing wars/confrontations, specially Azerbaijan-Armenia, Ukraine, Gaza, and China Seas, have provided India with enough insights to plan, acquire, train, mobilise and prepare, and also wage multi-domain operations 24X7 (mainly non-kinetic in spheres of geopolitical, economic, diplomatic, informational, legal) just as China, Pakistan and others are waging on us. When the situation shows trends of turning ugly, credible hard power comes into play; the pivotal role of Firepower (close combat and deep fires) acts both as a deterrent and destroyer.
Firepower: an Instrument of ‘Conventional Deterrence’
Current wars have placed firepower in the strategic realm, and artillery has become an instrument of ‘conventional deterrence’ made possible by increased ranges, warhead lethality and precision of conventional firepower (equally applicable against China and Pakistan). Conventional deterrence can focus on counterforce targets with the option of engaging minimal counter-value objectives without retaliatory consequences of a nuclear exchange. Most importantly, it can be delivered at a standoff in multiple modes. Conventional deterrence is far more flexible in application. This article focuses on artillery (combat support and deep fires employing rockets and missiles) and unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Lt Gen PR Shankar’s articles on ‘Artillery and Firepower Series’ in ‘gunnershot.com’ provide a deep insight.
Firepower and Manoeuvre
Firepower and manoeuvre are complementary, optimised, and buttressed by each other. Manoeuvres require space, which could be restricted in areas like urban areas and mountains, making firepower essential. MDO, technological breakthroughs, and RMA have changed the ways wars are fought. Military doctrines, force structures, and weapon systems are constantly reviewed worldwide.
The current environment focuses on precise standoff strikes in a network-centric arena. Firepower is presently undertaken from land, sea, air and sub-surface. Artificial intelligence (AI)/automated weapon systems, UAS, and military use of space are fast-emerging firepower domains. Firepower entails gathering intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), target acquisition, and degradation, followed by post-strike damage assessment (PSDA) and destruction. Victory in any future conflict in the 21st century will be generated through the asymmetries of firepower. An important function of firepower assets is counter bombardment.
Global Scramble for Firepower Assets and Munitions
Globally, nations at war and allies are scrambling to modernise, upscale production, and upgrade their firepower assets and munitions (especially smart) to gain an operational or decisive upper hand. The urgent and all-important acquisitions in firepower are artillery guns, rockets and munitions, and means for real-time ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance), both armed and unarmed UAS (unarmed aerial systems) and air defence (AD) systems. The traditional air power means (fighters and attack helicopters) are vulnerable in today’s battlefield and less effective. Artillery and UAS have become ubiquitous in any conflict zone.
The Azerbaijan-Armenia and Ukraine wars have demonstrated that the nation with more guns, munitions, rockets, and missiles combat UAS; real-time ISR capability will dominate the battlefield. Ukraine has matched Russia and defended itself for so long in the war purely because of ‘firepower’, which has been substantially and constantly boosted by NATO. The recent bonhomie and visit of President Putin to North Korea is all about defence cooperation, with North Korea supplying critically needed one million artillery shells.
In the Russia-Ukraine war, artillery fire accounts for about 80 per cent of the casualties on both sides. Following the US aid cut-off, Ukraine went from being outgunned five to one in artillery fire to ten to one. The resumption of US aid should reduce but not eliminate Ukraine’s disadvantage. According to NATO intelligence estimates, Russia is on track to produce nearly three times as many artillery shells this year, about 3 million, as the United States and Europe combined (about 1.2 million). At the Indo-Pacific Army Chiefs’ Conclave (IPACC) hosted by India and the US in New Delhi on 26-27 Sep 2023, US Army Chief General George spoke of many strategic and operational lessons and takeaways from recent wars, especially Ukraine. He spoke of four focus areas: warfighting, delivering ready combat formations, transformations, strengthening our profession of arms, especially between leaders and men, and warrior ethos. In the operational arena, he emphasised two aspects, “signature management and dominance of firepower with focus on long-range fires”.
UAS is Integral to Combined Arms Warfare and Enhances Firepower
UAS and Drones: The terms are used interchangeably; are also called UAV (unmanned aerial vehicles) or pilotless aircraft. A drone/UAV is simply the aircraft or drone itself, while a UAS includes the entire system that supports and controls the drone and encompasses ground control stations, data links, and any other components like weapons, radars, jammers, cameras, communication equipment, required for the mission.
UAS provides Global Reach and Multi-Mission Capabilities: The emergence of a multi-polar world brings with it the need to monitor multi-domain activities and threats regionally (a reality for India today) and globally for the big two (USA and China, already happening). This involves covering large continental and maritime geographical spaces as well as air and space (entire borders and IOR in the case of India). There will be ever-increasing requirements to possess platforms and systems capable of collecting and processing intelligence, striking targets if necessary, and operating in a contested environment.
Conclusion
Artillery and UAS are now ubiquitous in combined arms operations. Strategically, firepower provides conventional deterrence and is a force multiplier for defensive and offensive operations.
(In Part II, an analysis will be undertaken of how artillery and UAS have been integrated into ongoing wars. Since our adversaries would be analysing ongoing wars very closely (especially China, which has the means), thoughts on how India and her armed forces must stay ahead in the warfighting loop, especially in the domain of firepower, would be elaborated.)
