In order to fast-track synergy amongst the three Services and cut down costs, Chief of Defence Staff(CDS)General Bipin Rawat on Thursday operationalised the third Joint Logistics Node in Mumbai. This node will supply ammunition rations and fuel besides other items to the Army. Navy and IAF. Earlier, the services used to have their own set-ups to cater to these needs thereby enhancing expenses and duplication.
With the rapidly changing nature of war fighting and operational preparedness, all future conflicts will be conducted by Tri-Service in an integrated manner. Keeping this objective in focus and to enable the Indian Armed Forces to conduct successful operations, it is essential that they be provided with sound logistics support during all stages of the war, officials said here on the need for such nodes.
The third node in Mumbai was operationalized by Rawat from New Delhi through video conferencing. These nodes will provide integrated logistics cover to the Armed Forces for their small arms ammunition, rations, fuel, general stores, civil hired transport, aviation clothing, spares and also engineering support in an effort to synergise their operational efforts.
Speaking on the occasion, Rawat said establishment and operationalisation of joint nodes is a very important first step in the direction of logistics integration of our three Services. Acceptance of each other’s limitations and learning from each other’s strengths and best practices is essential to help improve the functioning and efficacy of these nodes.
This initiative will accrue advantages in terms of saving of manpower, economise utilisation of resources, besides financial savings. Successful functioning of these three nodes will prove to be important stepping stones for opening of more such centres in different parts of the country.
The nodes would enhance joint inter-operability between the Services and go a long way in improving the logistics processes of the Armed Forces in accordance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s directions to enhance the jointness among the three Services.
The CDS also emphasised on the need to work towards greater logistics integration with national logistics, which has been provided renewed impetus in the recent past by saying it would help the Armed Forces to take benefit from the infrastructural and logistics improvements taking place at the national level.