Help secure bases and borders, Army chief tells private sector

New Delhi, Oct 25 (IANS) Army chief General Bipin Rawat on Wednesday called upon the private sector to provide solutions for perimeter security of defence installations across the country, and for surveillance along the country's borders.

Speaking at a seminar on "Indigenous Technological Empowerment of the Indian Army", Rawat said the Army was looking at electronic warfare and early-warning systems not only for the front lines, but also for the hinterland amid threats of more terror attacks like at the air base in Pathankot in Punjab and the Army camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir.

"We are also looking at electronic warfare and early-warning systems to help us not just on the front line but hinterland as well... security of our installations in the hinterland is becoming a concern due to reports of (possibility of) attacks on the lines of Uri and Pathankot on some of our other bases," General Rawat said.

"Therefore, we have to look at solutions to our security problems... relying entirely on manpower is not the best way forward. We will have to integrate technology with manpower to ensure that human resources are committed to the least and we are able to imbibe technology," he said.

The Army chief called upon the private sector to provide technology solutions and systems for surveillance along India's borders.

"Our major requirement, as of now, is to look at intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance systems to keep an eye on our adversaries, both on the northern and western frontier, and then to integrate the system with other systems in the battlefield," he said.

Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said self-reliance in defence manufacture will come only with home-grown technologies.

"True self-reliance in defence will flow from fully home-grown technologies," Bhamre said.

Bhamre said the central government has put defence at the core of its 'Make in India' programme, adding that various companies had expressed willingness to invest in India by utilising the country's highly talented and skilled manpower.