India developing integrated defence logistics system for three services

Govt is developing an integrated logistics structure on the lines of the US to support its planned theatre commands and integrate defence logistics infrastructure.

NEW DELHI: In a move to integrate defence logistics infrastructure that will help in seamless coordination among three services, especially during conflicts, the Union govt is developing an integrated logistics structure on the lines of the US to support its planned theatre commands.The details of the project, being spearheaded by the department of military affairs (DMA), have been explained in a letter that Rear Admiral Kunal Singh Rajkumar, a joint secretary (navy and defence staff) in DMA, wrote to Rajya Sabha MP Ajeet Madhavrao Gopchade in response to his missive to PM Narendra Modi in which the latter gave suggestions for “examining a unified defence logistics and fuel management framework on the lines of the US Defence Logistics Agency”.In his letter, MP Gopchade has drawn attention to the functioning of US DLA, which serves as a single centralised combat logistics support agency for the entire US department of defence. US DLA manages fuel supply, military procurement, spare parts, logistics AI systems, defence standardisation, petroleum quality assurance, warehousing, technical support, and global supply-chain management under an integrated tri-service structure.

He also told PM that at present, logistics management in India is largely distributed across multiple service-specific structures such as Army Service Corps, Army Ordnance Corps, EME, Naval logistics branches, Air Force maintenance systems, fuel depots and various procurement and inventory mechanisms.

Rajya Sabha MP Ajeet Madhavrao Gopchade

Talking to TOI, Gopchade said DMA has informed him that “all best practices relevant in India’s context are being incorporated in creation of an integrated logistics structure to support planned theatre commands”.

To give proper shape to the proposal, he has been told that “joint operations logistics committee (JOLC), joint services study group (JSSGs), joint working groups (JWGs) and inter-service maintenance working groups (IMWGs) have been constituted at appropriate levels to integrate logistics process and procedures among the services.

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India’s proposed Integrated Defence Logistics Network

The MP further told TOI DMA has informed him “tri-services logistics management application is also under development to provide real time inter-service inventory visibility and to integrate service specific enterprise resource planning software”.

He was also briefed in the letter that “work on the National Defence Codification System is also under way and that joint logistics node and subsequently joint ammunition depots, air stores supply parks and material organisations are being planned pan-India”.The PM Gati Shakti defence portal is also under development to align with National Logistics Policy and Unified Logistics Interface Platform for providing a defence-equivalent ‘joint logistics interface’ across three services and theatre boundaries.

Furthermore, emerging AI and machine learning technologies are being incorporated for logistic optimisation. A joint logistics integration, akin to US DLA, is a strategic imperative for the country and its realisation is a prime priority for the defence ministry, he was told.In his letter to the PM, MP Gopchade had suggested a slew of reforms such as setting up of a unified defence fuel management system, introduction of a secure military fuel card system, an AI-enabled predictive logistics and maintenance and integrated petroleum quality assurance network.