The Indian Army has announced plans to operationalize command cyber operations and support wings (CCOSW) as part of its modernization plan. The decision was made during the Army Commanders Conference held from April 17 to 21, which reviewed the need to safeguard the Army’s networks in light of increased reliance on modern communication systems.
With the rapid migration towards net centricity, the Army is inducting a large number of niche technology-enabled equipment, including swarm drones, loitering weapon systems, and ant-drone equipment. The expansion of cyber warfare capabilities by India’s adversaries has made the cyber domain more competitive and contested than ever before.
The CCOSW will be dedicated cyber operations wings responsible for securing the Army’s networks and safeguarding them against cyber threats. They will be tasked with absorbing niche technologies and equipment to augment the Army’s capabilities, with lead directorates and ‘Test Bed’ formations nominated to evolve optimal employment philosophies.
The Army also approved a new technical entry scheme (TES) for officers, which will come into effect from January 2024. Under the new model, officers will undergo a four-year training program, with three years focused on technical training at the Cadet Training Wings (CTWs) and one year of basic military training at the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun.
In addition, the Army plans to identify and train selected motivated soldiers for paralympic events by training them at Army sports and mission Olympic nodes in nine sporting events. This is part of a larger effort to harness the indomitable spirit and never say die attitude of soldiers who are battle and physical casualties.
The Army Commanders Conference is an apex-level biannual event held in April and October every year. It is an institutional platform for conceptual-level deliberations, culminating in making important policy decisions for the Indian Army.
Overall, the decision to operationalize CCOSW is a significant step towards modernizing the Indian Army’s online networks and safeguarding them against cyber threats. With the cyber domain becoming increasingly contested, it is crucial for the Army to stay ahead of the curve by absorbing niche technologies and equipment and evolving optimal employment philosophies.