Even though Sri Lanka army has fought the battle for about three decades the experiences and the knowledge that the officers and the men had gain after being in the battlefield were not taken into the consideration for future advantages. There were no any proper case studies had been conducted for even the major defeats that they experienced in past. That is because mainly due to the non-availability of research and development organization in the military system.
8. Since the Sri Lanka is an island which closer to India, there will not be any possibility for an external threat to the country from outside. But in future there could be possible internal threats to security of the country. To fight against such incidents it needs the development of weapon systems and technology to suit the terrain and weather condition of this country.
THE PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED DUE TO NON AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION IN SRI LANKA ARMY
1. The Army in any country has established under the law for the purpose of protecting the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the state from external internal force. The army is therefore, bound to protect the sovereignty of the State and its territory. To do so the fighting capability of the army has to be higher than the opposing force. The Sri Lanka army had been fought the war against terrorist around three decades with only the experienced which they had taken from the battle.
The experience and knowledge that the Sri Lanka Army has gained in counter insurgency warfare were much more than the other Armies in the world. However the attention was not paid to have those in record. The officers and the men were not been encouraged to put their experience and thoughts in writing. Because of this reason the younger generation in the Army will lost the golden opportunity to refer those experiences. There were very limited numbers of books published on this subject.
2. It is important to apply the advanced technology to increase the fighting capability of the force even there is no more war to fight but for future advantages in the country. No proper actions were taken to develop methods and systems to improve such capabilities. Sri Lanka Army acquires almost all its military requirements from foreign countries, which includes weapon systems, equipments and other defence stores. Some of the problems in this system could be identified as follows:
a. Standardization of Equipments and Vehicles. At present, there are more than 300 types of vehicles; both light and heavy are used in the Army. With these unbearable types, the repair and the maintenance of those vehicles have created a genuine problem.
b. Unplanned Purchases. There were occasions during the conflict, for the army to ask for equipments an 'ad hoc 'manner and named them as "crisis" purchases. This would be happened if there was a proper planning.
c. Economic restrictions. To increase the efficiency and the fighting capability of the Army, it is required to get more sophisticated and high-tech weapons and equipments. Due to the cost factor most of the time it would not be possible to get those equipments. Even though it was manage to purchase, the maintenance and repair cost would be very high.
LESSONS FROM THE LIBERATION TIGERS OF TAMIL EALAM (LTTE) FOR THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
4. The LTTE organization had been built up systematically, unlike other groups. That is why they were able to fight with Sri Lankan armed forces for around three decades. The military strategy of the LTTE had formulated to act against any situation if not they had made every possible effort to strengthen and reorganized its military capabilities by going at least for a peace talk between the government whilst analyzing every detail of the government military plans and strategies.
5. LTTE had effectively used their research and development for the fighting capabilities. They started with petrol bombs then developed systems to make Anti Personnel mines, Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) and Rifle Grenades call 'ARUL'. Following are the few advanced products of LTTE:
a. Weapon-PASILAN 2000. LTTE's most advanced indigenously produced weapon- pasilan 2000, with a range of 1 KM, carrying 25kg of gelignite-was developed by the weapons research department of the LTTE in July 1990.
b. Suicide Body Suit. It was proved that the LTTE had produced body suit as more sophisticated than any other terrorist groups. The body suit of the LTTE had been refined since it was first used to assassinate Mr. Rajiv Gandhi.
8. During and after the humanitarian operation troops found there were many sophisticated weapons and equipments had been produced and used by the LTTE.
EXPERIMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS CARRIED OUT BY THE SRI LANKA ARMY
9. History reveled that there were several attempts taken by the army to develop indigenous fighting equipments in order to defeat the enemy. There was a project for manufacturing of Unicorns/Uni Buffles could be highlighted as an example.
10. In the year 1990 several Army camps ware attacked by the terrorist using their indigenous developed weapon, 'PASILAN- 2000'. That made the armed forces to study the enemy threat, and developed actions to counter it by constructing a gun, but the project has stopped after some time.
11. Development of a shoe, for soldiers to protect their limbs from the Anti Personal mines call 'Mine Shoes', was another occasion where the Sri Lanka Army had used the science and the technology to enhance the fighting.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS OF FOREIGN ARMIES
1. It is necessary to get an idea about the organizational structure and functions of research and development organizations of some leading modern armies in the world. Their systems will not be suited to our Army. But an idea in these systems can be taken into consideration.
BRITISH ARMY
2. Through out its history the British army was able to lead with the new technology. There were many experiments researched and developed by them. The aim of defence research is to ensure that the army is able to get maximum defence benefits from current advances in science and technology. Some of the current priorities of the defence research programme are,
a. Keep the armed forces well equipped with modern, capable equipment.
b. Support flexible and mobile response forces.
c. Support the procurement of military equipment, which is sustainable, has high reliability and availability, and gives good value for money.
d. Ensure that the research programme reflects the changing international situation and defence objectives.
e. Maintain the longer-term research programme to sustain the science and technology base.
4. The Defence Evaluation and Research Agency is the largest research organization of its kind in Western Europe, and is a center of excellence for science, technology and evaluation. The role of this is to deliver advance technological systems though the management of world-class science and technology resources and is to ensure that the highest standards of quality and service are maintained in support of UK defence and industry.
5. Defence Evaluation and Research Agency provides a broad depth of expertise within land, sea and aerospace environments, encompassing technical advice on procurements policy for equipment and systems. It provides tri-service support and maintains a balance between technology development and systems applications.
INDIAN ARMY
9. Defence Research and Development Organization is deeply engaged in developing defence technologies covering various disciplines, like aeronautics, armaments, electronics, combat vehicles, engineering systems, instrumentation, missiles, advanced computing and simulation, special materials, naval systems, life sciences, training, information systems and agriculture. Several major projects for the development of missiles, armaments, and light combat aircrafts, radars, electronic warfare systems are significant achievements which researched by them.
11. Defence and Research Development Organization Vision Is to" make India prosperous by establishing world class science and technology base and to provide Defence Services decisive edge by equipping them with internationally competitive systems and solutions. "
12. Defence and Research Development Organization Mission is to:
a. Design, develop lead to production stare-of-art sensors, weapon systems, platforms and allied equipment for Defence Services.
b. Provide technological solutions to the services to optimize combat effectiveness and to promote well-being of the troops.
c. Develop infrastructure and committed quality manpower and build strong indigenous technology base.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. The experience and knowledge that the Sri Lanka Army has gained from the battle fought with the LTTE to be recorded. The officers and the men should be encouraged to put their experience and thoughts in writing.
2. In the countries like British and India, the military Research and Development wings to be organized and there should be projects to made available for officers and soldiers to make their experiences and thoughts in writing.
.
a. The Conceptual Component. This can be describes as thought process behind ability to fight. This made up of:
(1) Principles of War. Broad aspects, which influence the conduct of war.
(2) Military Doctrine. The framework of understanding of the approach to the war, it compliments and the principles of war.
(3) Development. Development requires an innovative approach to all aspects of fighting power. Development will be clearly seen in the work of Research Establishments.
b. The Moral Component. The morale component concerns the ability to get people to fight. High morale will stem from sound training, confidence in equipment and good administration.
c. The Physical Component. The physical component is the means to fight. It is the equivalent of the term 'combat power,' defined as 'the total means of destructive and /or disruptive force which a military unit or formation can apply against the opponent at a given time'. The total means included organization of the main elements of combat power, which are:
(1) Manpower.
(2) Equipments.
(3) Logistics.
(4) Training and readiness.
4. To increase the fighting capability of the Army, development of a 'Military Doctrine' and development of military equipments to suite the Sri Lanka Army will have a direct impact in increasing the efficiency and fighting capability of troops. Due to non-availability of Research and Development organization, Doctrine development and the development of military equipments by using modern science and technology had not been implemented in Sri Lanka Army.
6. One of the aims of defence research in British military is to grow expertise in support of the procurement programme, which could provide technical advice on procurement policy for equipment and systems. By adopting a similar system in Sri Lanka Army, will facilitate to overcome problem of unplanned purchases.
8. Sri Lanka has number of scientists who are capable of conducting the defence research and development programs. A group of scientists form university of Moratuwa had successfully completed a repairing of a Mortar Locating Rader ANTPQ-36, use by the military to locate the enemy's guns and mortar firing locations with the cost of 3500 Rupees whilst the estimated repair cost submitted by the manufactured company in the USA was 40 million Rupees.25 That was one occasion where the local scientists have proved the capability and the technology that they posses to improve the efficiencies and fighting capability of the Army.
9. The experimental developments carried out in the past had proved that the fighting capability has increased due to those equipments. In the other hand it helped to save the money of this country i.e. to purchase a Uni Buffle form Suth Africa, had cost 13 millon Rupees whilst manufacture the same vehicle in Udavalawa was 3millon Rupees. Up to now the Medium Workshop had produced 140 Uni Buffles to the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Air force and to the Special Task Force (STF). The amount of money saved due to that was 1400 million Rupees.
10. The provision of required equipments to the soldiers in the battlefield will make them feel that they are superior to the enemy and in turn it will increase the efficiencies and fighting capabilities. Thus all equipments should be much better than the enemy's equipments. To achieve that, it is required to analyse the capabilities of the enemy and need to develop better equipments.
11. The research reveals that the country's dependence on the Western manufacturers to obtain defence requirement merely because of the lapses in defence policy. Hence it is recommended to rectify lapses with giving much preferences to the military hardware production and with due regard to following areas:
a. Formation of criteria, for the eligibility of private sector entrepreneurs who wish to establish factories for producing equipment for the military.
b. Commence scientific and technological research and development projects on military equipment.
c. Streamline defence procurement.
d. Exchange of technical knowledge.
CONCLUSION
1. When the Army was raised in 1949, it was meant to be a part of a commonwealth force to be employed both locally and overseas in the defence of Sri Lanka (Ceylon). Geo-politics and social changes within the country influenced its development as a strong Internal Security Force, which was required to quell many violent disturbances and attempts at destroying democracy in the country. It is contemporary knowledge that in the last two decade, the Army has been engaged in operations to destroy the military capability of rebel force, which has indulged in terrorism and guerrilla warfare in its quest for seceding from the state. To meet this strong challenge the Army has grown to almost fifty times its original strength.
2. The defence expenditure is rising daily, one reason being the procurement of defence equipments, causing dependence of foreign manufactures instead of developing and exploiting the local production capabilities. In this context it is worthwhile to study and analyse how this problem could be overcome with the assistance of local industrial capabilities, boosting this concept with an establishment of a Research and Development Organization. After analyzing the organizational structures of other Armies, it is recommend that following organizational structure should be to adopted when establishing the Research and Development Organization in the Sri Lanka Army.
4. Research and Development Organization Mission could be to:
a. Design, develop, and production of military equipments required to the Army.
b. Provide technological solutions to the services to optimize combat effectiveness and promote force protection.
c. Build strong indigenous technology base by developing infrastructure and committing quality manpower.
5. Responsibilities of each section could be as follows:
a. Requirement Projection Section. Under this section representatives of all Arms (Armour, Artillery, Engineers, Signals, Infantry, Commando, Special Forces, Medical, Ordnance and Electrical and mechanical engineers) will be working together to identify requirements of each Arms. Once the requirement is identified the proposal will be projected to the Civil Coordination Section.
b. Civil Coordination Section. Once the proposals received from the Joint Arms Requirement Projection Section, the representatives of this section will categorized the proposals and further actions would be taken with civil scientists.
c. Industrial Intelligence. To succeed a research and development project the industrial intelligence section too should active effectively. Lack of this intelligence the progress of the project will be hampered. The main function of this section will be the secret entrance into the organizations of major military industries of the world to obtain information pertaining to our requirement.
d. Finance Section. The main responsibility of this section would be to allocate funds required for research and development projects.
e. Doctrine Section. Military Doctrine is a formal expression of military knowledge and thought, that the Army accepts as being relevant at a given time, which covers the nature of current and future conflicts, the preparation of the Army for such conflicts and the methods of engaging in them to achieve success. Under this section all relevant information pertaining to military should be collected and they first should formulate a Doctrine for the Sir Lanka Army. Then regular reviews should have to be conducted.
