Military Logistics: Challenges and Way Forward

Executive Summary

Introduction

1. The future battlefield shall be characterised by full spectrum conflict ranging from low intensity to full scale conventional combat including non contact warfare in a nuclear backdrop. In such a scenario, logistics sustenance becomes critical thereby necessitating introspection and review of the existing capabilities. Towards this end, a National seminar on “Military Logistics: Challenges and Way Forward” was organized by CLAWS at the Manekshaw Centre on 03 Jul 15 to examine some of the pertinent issues like teeth to tail ratios, challenges of logistics in multiple terrain configurations, outsourcing initiatives, automation and modernisation of logistics Services and steps taken at the national level to integrate logistics and create strategic assets. Major stakeholders of the logistics system namely senior serving and retired Service officers and heads of logistics in the corporate sector from both India and abroad presented their views. Certain important concepts such as, establishment of a National Logistics Council and state of art logistics command and control systems were discussed during the seminar.