NB Explains | Will Indian Army's Command Cyber Operations & Support Wings be able to counter Chinese aggression?

New Delhi, April 28: In a major step to safeguard cyberspace, the Indian Army will raise cyber warfare units - Command Cyber Operations & Support Wings - to counter China.

 

 

 

 

 

In the latest Army Commanders Conference which was organised for the first time in a hybrid model from 17-21 April saw deliberations over wide-ranging Strategic, Training, Human Resource Development, and Administrative aspects and took key decisions in shaping the Army for the future including operationalising "Command Cyber Operations and Support Wings (CCOSW)"

 

 

With rapid migration towards net centricity, which entails an increased reliance on modern communication systems, the forum reviewed the requirement to safeguard the networks and decided to operationalise Command Cyber Operations and Support Wings (CCOSW) in the immediate future, accodring to the Defence Ministry.

 

 

In order to secure the country from online threats, the unit will handle threats and challenges under its cuber warfare programs. They will assis the formations to undertake the mandates cyber security functions to strengthen the cyber security posture of Indian Army.

 

 

For a long time now, China has developed a wide array of cyberweapons to degrade or destroy an adversary’s military assets and strategic networks as well as energy, banking, transport and communication grids. It also regularly engages in malicious cyber activities as well as exploits cyberspace for its “grey zone warfare”, which basically revolves exploiting the operational space between peace and war to change the status quo or coerce an adversary.

 

So, the Indian Army assures that the CCOSWs will help to safeguard its networks and increase the preparedness levels in this fifth dimension of warfare after land, sea, air, and space. The step will lead to an overall strengthening of the cyber-security posture of the force for both conventional operations as well as grey zone warfare.

 

So far, India did not get involved in developing cyberwarfare capabilities. However, it was in 2019, the government approved the creation of only a small tri-service Defence Cyber Agency (DCA) at the apex level instead of the full-fledged Cyber Command that the armed forces wanted.

 

However, China, has already a major Strategic Support Force to oversee the People’s Liberation Army’s space, cyber and electronic warfare operations. The US, too, has a huge Cyber Command, led by a four-star general, to launch a “full spectrum” war if required as well as protect over 15,000 American military networks from attacks round-the-clock.