The MOD is finally planning to beef up is arms procurement and plans to spend over 20 billion dollars. Now that would mean more than twice then amount spent since the Kargil war, that too on an annual basis. According to sources we are set to overtake Britain in its defense budget spend within the next 5 years.
These might be start figures to look at especially since the world seems to be still recovering from the sub prime crisis, there is a recession is place and cost of procurement is as high as ever. But then draw a picture around your mind and picturize, we have Pakistan to our left and Bangladesh to our right. Both have caused enough headaches in the past. But now a new threat has arrived and the DRAGON has made the ELEPHANT dance. China has risen form a cheap goods manufacturer to a military superpower within no time. The dragon has been sharpening its claws and made its intent quite clear by showing keen military interest in Tibet, especially the part’s where our borders meet. Large scale military movement has already started and the clearest picture of the threat comes from the Air Force who plans to have a Sukhoi 30 MKI base at Texpur. China has made its intentions quite clear at sea too planning to have 6 aircraft carriers and nuclear subs all done in a bid to become true blue water navy. It has already started phasing out its older fighter aircrafts for the newer JF 10’s.
Given the threat around us the MOD has been quite right in upping the defense budgets spend. Our Air Force has aging fighter fleet, mostly a combination of Jaguars, Russian-made MiGs and French Mirage aircraft, and some are up for replacement. Further the IAF’s combat strength is further declining as older airplanes are being phased out. The most recent of them being the MIG 23 ground attack aircraft. From a commissioned strength of almost 40 squadrons we have fallen to 32. The strength is pushing the IAF to constantly keep a vigil on our airspaces.
The answer to the above situation was to source Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA). Except the Sukhoi 30 MKI which has been ordered separately each of the F 16, Euro fighter Typhoon, MIG 35, Saab Gripen, F 18 and the Rafale comes as the latest variant with the most advanced technology available. Lockheed Martin may be a bit ahead than the others in the race as buying from their stable would mean a bundled offer of receiving the much famed F 35. Also in a bid to reduce its dependence on Russia as well as the delays faced in several key acquisitions Moscow seems to be losing out on quite a huge share of the India’s defense procurement. This is clearly visible by the the deals for the Airborne Early Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) and six refueling aircraft for the Air Force has gone to Israel for the AWACS and Airbus for the tankers.
Now delays in deals were like a trademark for India. While in the past such delays were ignored, the bitter experience with the Admiral Gorshkov deal the MOD has reacted strongly. This clearly reflects the urgency sited by the MOD for modernization of the armed forces.
The urgency is no wonder comes out of the rising fact of China as a military threat. But with increased threat from failing Pakistan a rebellious Bangladesh and an emerging China the urgency comes a little too late.
To be fair to the MOD however the urgency shown has not been going on a shopping spree to buy arms. The deals have been made in accordance to our strategic requirements. The best deals which have finally been cracked have been the Airborne Early Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) and the P8I maritime patrol aircraft the Indian Navy is on the verge of acquiring. The AWACS move represents a quantum jump in the IAF’s air superiority as it would enable the IAF to look deep into China and Pakistan. The system can simultaneously track nearly 250 flying objects within a radius of 800 km and also has a 'look-down' capability. India is one of the few countries that has this facility. The Boeing P8I maritime patrol aircraft will give the navy a marked edge in the South East Asia region. India in a bid to better protect its airbases has signed a deal to acquire SPYDER air to air missiles with Israel. Spyder is a static low level, quick reaction missile (LLQRM) to neutralize hostile targets up to 15 km away, and at heights between 20 to 9000 meters.
But the biggest deal of all was kept for the procurement of the Super Hercules C130J aircraft. . The C 130J model is the latest optimized version of the Hercules C 130, configured for landing and takeoff from a grassy, or dirt patches the size of a football field. It can climb and get out of a threat area faster after dropping or carrying troops or wounded personnel.
Finally even though all the delays India cannot do without Russia and the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA), being jointly developed by Russia and India, will fly by the end of 2009, with serial production starting by 2010. This and the Gorshkov deal along with the newer 30 more carrier borne Mig-29K (Fulcrum-D) fighters for the Indian Navy would give Moscow something to cheer about. They have already bagged quite a sum, double actually from the Gorshkov deal and the MIG came as the icing on the cake. But given the immaculate record of the MIG’s (only the 29’s not the 21’s) the deal is well made. The recent problem of corrosion at the junction of the MiG-29’s fuselage and vertical stabilizer has led to the crash of some Russian air force aircraft, and the entire Russian fleet had been grounded for some time. However, IAF MiG-29s seem unaffected.
So given the circumstances we are reading ourselves to prove a match for any whether in air or sea but are our ground forces ready ?
Next time more on the FAMED Arjun Fiasco. Time we see whether the student can oust the mentor.
No comments:
Post a Comment