The Indian Army relied heavily on Artillery to degrade and dislodge the Pakistani’s from their dug-in positions at high altitudes. The massive use of artillery firepower determined the outcome of the Kargil war. However, when they use airstrikes or missile strikes to destroy the enemy’s capability and then advance and stay at areas sterilised by other components, then it is obvious that both Infantry and Armour arms have no combat role. If the foot soldiers are holding the ground and advancing with the support of other systems, definitely they could be called ‘direct combat’. This body of troops then automatically fits into the definition of Combat Arms as they shape the outcome of the battlefield with direct intervention. In modern-day warfare, this combat and shaping of the battlefield by direct intervention can be done by air, artillery fire assaults, missiles, and even Naval gunfire and missile attacks. The British Army named the Artillery as Combat Support Arm, although Artillery was at the forefront of the battle in those days for reasons best known to them. What then is the definition of combat arms? Combat Arms or fighting arms is the collective name given to a body of troops within the Armed Forces that participate in direct tactical ground combat and shape the battle’s outcome.ĭuring olden times the Infantry, Artillery, and Cavalry did most of the fighting determining the outcome of the battle and hence were termed as Combat arms. The definitions need to change as the concept of warfare itself is changing with the advent of emerging technologies and this will undergo further changes in the coming decades. The debate arises from a legacy that is a derivative of the medieval ages. We have both formal and informal exchanges on the subject topic by both serving and retired officers of the military. The composition of the theatre command planned is yet to take shape.
Combat Arms and Combat Support Arms roles have been in the public domain recently and are a very hot topic that has been debated among military commanders.
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