Indo-Asian News Service,
New Delhi: India's armed forces are woefully short of equipment, reveals a parliamentary committee, calling for immediate measures to rectify the situation if the military is to deliver what it is intended to.
Be it the Indian Army, the Indian Navy, the Indian Air Force (IAF) or the Coast Guard, they are either pathetically short of equipment or what they hold does not perform at optimum, parliament's standing committee on defence has said in its 11th report.
Take first the army.
'The committee is deeply concerned about the progress of the (home grown) Arjun (main battle tank) as its production schedule is going very slow,' it said.
While the defence ministry has projected it would hand over 124 Arjuns to the army by 2007-08, the ground situation is far different.
Five Arjuns are being evaluated by the army, after which the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) would carry out modifications in the gunners main sight and gun control systems. Another 24 Arjuns have been assembled at the Heavy Vehicles Factory at Avadi, where they are manufactured.
Noting that there should be no delay in handing over the rectified tanks to the army by 2007-08, the committee 'desired that accountability for delay in Arjun's production may be fixed'.
This apart, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee told parliament last week that the Indian Army was short of a staggering 11,256 officers – 27 percent of its sanctioned strength – of the rank of lieutenant colonel and below.
Noting that the procurement of 280 tracked and wheeled guns from single vendor Denel of South Africa had been put on hold after corruption was alleged in the deal, the committee recommended that the Procurement Board while clearing a deal 'should always have at least three vendors on the panel so that in case of any irregularity…other vendors can be considered…and delays minimised'.
The committee was also 'constrained' to note that DRDO had not undertaken research work on developing a 155 mm self-propelled gun as had been recommended 'so that the country does not depend on foreign suppliers for this crucial equipment'.
The army currently deploys the Bofors 155mm howitzers whose purchase in the 1980s has been mired in controversy due to allegations of kickbacks.
The committee was also 'constrained' to note that the quality of the army's night fighting devices was 'not at par' with advanced countries.
In the case of the navy, the committee noted that in comparison to aircraft carriers like USS Nimitz, INS Viraat and Admiral Gorshkov that was due to join the fleet in 2008 'stand nowhere in terms of various features like dimension, displacement and aircraft carrying capacity'.
Thus, the features of the air defence ship – dubbed a lean aircraft carrier – currently under construction at the Cochin Shipyard 'be re-examined and steps taken to match the capabilities of the best aircraft carrier to the extent possible', the committee said, noting that the project was behind schedule.
It also pointed out that the navy faces shortages of short- and long-range maritime surveillance aircraft, UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) and Dornier aircraft used for coastal surveillance.
'The committee feels the navy is an equipment-intensive service and procurement of such critical equipment cannot be sidelined.'
The committee was 'dismayed' to note that some naval ships were operating without radars, even as most of the radars fitted on ships were imported.
In the case of the IAF, the committee noted that the phasing out of several ageing aircraft during 2005-17 'is likely to be a major concern, thereby causing substantial depletion of squadron strengths'.
The committee was 'constrained' to note the 'ever-increasing delay' in the operational clearance of the home grown Tejas light combat aircraft. It recommended the government explore the 'alternate option' of importing the engine for the aircraft on a ToT (transfer of technology) basis.
The committee also expressed concern over the inadequate coverage by existing IAF radars resulting in 'significant gaps' all over the country. This was particularly so in peninsular India 'thereby making it vulnerable to sudden attacks die to failure of timely detection'.
It noted with 'serious concern' that most of the IAF's missile firing units 'are of extreme vintage' and lacked spares.
On the Coast Guard, the committee expressed 'concern' over 'serious shortages' in its force levels.
Against an authorised strength of 158 comprising 106 vessels and 52 aircraft, the force level was at 111 – 66 vessels and 45 aircraft.
In the case of the DRDO, the committee noted with 'deep concern' that only eight to 10 percent of its budget was spent on fundamental research and that imports continued to account for almost 26 percent of the total defence expenditure.
