Congress has no moral right to complain about Rafale The Statesman 21 Nov 17
A war of words has broken out between the Congress and the BJP on the Rafale aircraft deal, even sucking in the air force chief, who felt it essential to clear the air. It has led to press conferences from both sides, with each blaming the other for dragging their feet on defence procurements and kickbacks, including favouring Reliance Defence.
The Indian armed forces, presently amongst the most powerful in the world, are largely dependent on imported equipment. Realistically, no nation can become a superpower, without its own strong military technological base. India had remained dependent on the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
The DRDO was founded in 1958 by merging three existing departments and comprises of fifty-two laboratories. It has held sway over Indian defence procurements. In many cases it has opted to develop technology, rather than permitting imports. The latest is the cancellation of the $500 Million Spike ATGM deal with Israel, to enable developing inhouse by the DRDO. Other than rocket and missile development, it has failed in almost all sectors. The recent decisions by the army and air force in rejecting the Arjun tanks and advanced Tejas due to shortfalls in capabilities bears testimony.
Indian defence imports have always been under a scanner, despite efforts by any government in power. In recent times, every defence deal has been questioned. The Bofors and the Augusta Westland helicopter purchases continue to be under investigation. Rafale joins the group. The UPA government remained haunted by the Bofors ghost all through its tenure. Even a leak in the papers about kickbacks had Anthony scrapping the deal.
Anthony fearful of being blamed in any kickback scandal, took the effortless way out and scrapped almost all procurements, while delaying decision making in even the Rafale purchase. His cancelling and blacklisting actions had adverse impacts on defence preparedness.
Cancellations were done at the final stages of trials or even after they were completed. The artillery, desperate for modern guns found its ‘request for proposal’ cancelled umpteen times. The scuttling of deals at the last moment and blacklisting of firms implied denying a capability, not halting a company from further contracts.
Being the defence minister, he was aware that trials of an equipment involve immense time, effort and expenditure. Once cancelled, the entire process is set back by years. Hence all the three services were way behind in desired capabilities essential for warfare. It even led to a frustrated Air Vice Marshall Kapil Kak commenting, ‘We need a person who is not pro-self but pro-India and can utilize the resources to the best, rather than sitting on files for personal intangible gains’.
Ageing equipment, becoming the main inventory, enhanced accidents. Spares, essential for maintenance were lacking, as contracts were not being cleared. The situation became such that the navy chief resigned, claiming moral responsibility for a series of naval accidents, which claimed unnecessary lives. Yet, the UPA and Anthony refused to budge. Never in history have the armed forces been denied equipment, the way they were under the UPA.
Military capabilities take time to develop. Contracts inked today would commence induction a few years hence and would be completely inducted after almost a decade. The equipment would remain in service for decades thereafter. Delay in concluding contracts, especially for a country with a poor internal military technology base, would compel it to forcibly continue exploiting outdated technological equipment.
Non-commencement of negotiations for the Rafale aircraft had the air force worried. Its ageing fleet, facing increased accidents, led to losing professional pilots. While the issue is being contested politically, what neither party wishes to divulge is the variation in price depends on addons and modifications in the equipment profile that the air force seeks. For a layman to understand that what the UPA had was just a base price, not the additions, training and maintenance essentials that the air force desired.
Bringing defence deals, which were delayed for a decade to their conclusion, required a government willing to take a step forward. It had to be proactive, meet the requirements of the armed forces and ensure desired capabilities are procured, to ensure that the armed forces are capable of meeting future challenges.
The offsets going to the private sector has advantages as dependence on DRDO and ordnance factories must reduce. The involvement of the DRDO and its affiliate the Ordnance Factories into defence production was an ancient practice. Neither of the two organizations have either the commitment nor the responsibility to ensure quality checks. It took decades before the ordnance factory realized that it had the technology transfer for the Bofors guns and has now finally produced its Indian version of the same, undergoing trials.
Inferior quality of artillery and tank ammunition from ordnance factories have resulted in multiple accidents. The fire which claimed sixteen lives at Phulgaon was the result of faulty tank mines manufactured by ordnance factories, which they subsequently refused to recollect. The overhauling of armoured vehicles is perpetually years behind schedule, solely due to lack of spares. This because it neither has responsibility nor accountability being a government department under the same ministry of defence.
The private sector, seeking profit would meet deadlines and quality. Further, they would ensure employment of technology and not be manpower intensive. Future production lines should be given to the private sector. They would remain accountable, since finances are involved.
Those presently in service and veterans who had served during the ten years of UPA regime are aware of the limitations in ammunition even for training, lack of spares and desperate shortfalls in capabilities, which now appear to be ending. A political party which showed no concern for the armed forces while in power, is suddenly finding its voice. For the Congress, which had placed the armed forces on a down slide throughout its tenure, to now seek to question those completing projects which they failed to implement, is akin to living in a glass house and throwing stones at others.
About the Author
Maj Gen Harsha Kakkar
Retired Major General Indian Army