Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth has laid out a seven-point 'SAMARTH' framework to enhance the Army's operational readiness and prepare it for an era of rapidly changing warfare.
Speaking at the NDTV Defence Summit recently, Gen Seth said future warfare will demand a force that is technologically superior, adaptable and resilient, and possesses the endurance to fight prolonged wars and conflicts. The Army must also modernise and upgrade its capabilities faster than emerging threats, he noted.
The Army Chief encapsulated these requirements in the acronym 'SAMARTH', which means "capable" in Hindi.
According to Gen Seth, 'S' stands for Sustainability, referring to the Army's ability to sustain itself during long-drawn conflicts.
'A' represents Adaptation, requiring the force to adjust and upgrade its capabilities faster than the threats confronting it.
'M' stands for Modernisation, aimed at ensuring the Army remains mission-ready as the nature of warfare undergoes transformation.
The second 'A' represents Acceleration. This involves integrating capabilities that can improve the effectiveness of existing legacy systems, besides accelerating the infusion of technology.
'R' stands for Resilience, another key requirement for a force preparing for future conflicts.
Technology forms the next pillar. 'T' represents Technology, encompassing artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, robotics and drones.
"Technology must make our soldiers faster, better informed and more effective. It should allow him to make better judgement," Gen Seth said.
The final element, 'H', stands for Human-Machine Teaming, reflecting the increasing integration of soldiers and technology on the battlefield.
Together, the seven elements form Gen Seth's vision of a force capable of responding to emerging security challenges across different domains.
"That is what 'SAMARTH' means being a capable force, having endurance and an ability to adapt, and stay ahead of others in this era of transformative wars," the Army Chief said.
With PTI inputs
