It is really hard to answer the above question. India is fighting at the domestic as well as on the international borders for decades against more than one enemy. The domestic violence is also fueled by the enemy across the border. Undoubtedly India has progressed in the business world, space technology, IT sector, Health care and education. But truth is that we are still an insecure nation. Every national as well religious fest are seen as threat and everyone including security agencies have a sigh of relief once the fest is passed peacefully. Most of the time it is Hindu fest and National days are under severe threat from the various terrorist organisations. These terrorists cannot be countered with the WWII weapons. Terrorists are using such an advance weapons that sometime security agencies are surprised with the seizure of weapons after the operations against these terrorists .
India is traditionally buyer of weapons from the eastern block in the Soviet era except few western friends. But things are taking a big turn now. India is not seeing Russia as only supplier of the military hredware but looking toward west and US. This has resulted in cooperation among China and Russia in a big way. Russia who would not sell arms to Pakistan, now offering SU F 35 top of the line fighter aircraft to him. Pakistan has already ordered MI 35 heavy lift attack Helicopters from Russian stable. Pakistan further exploring the options from Russia. China has been always a close aide to Pak. Recent acquisition of Z 10 attack helicopter will give biting teeth to the (NA)PAK air force. China has developed Gwadar Naval HQ of Pakistan and it is much more secure now. Pakistan airforce is already flying J10 and J17 fighter aircrafts of China. Pakistan is going to acquire nuclear submarines from China and operating Kilo class sub of France. US few days back cleared sale of F16 fighters to Pakistan with advanced avionics and Hellfire missiles.
Picture of Indian armed forces is not so rosy, because we need to equip our forces on two fronts against Pakistan and China plus domestic disturbances. India has not added any piece of artillery gin since 28 years after the Bofors. Thanks God TATA developed the new version of the same Bofors and now India is going to upgrade their old Howitzers. All of us know that Indian Airforce is running far behind schedule for upgradation. Still outdated, upgraded MIG 21 are the major chunk of our airforce strength. MIG 27 are too old now. Mirage and Jaguars are II generation aircrafts. India is having only saving grace in the name of SU 30 as generation 3.5 - 4 fighting aircraft. But we do not have fast generation 4 or 5 interceptors. Our missile system is not that reliable except Brahmos and Barak air defense syste. Aakash, Prithvi are becoming outdated fast. Nag has failed in the tests and India is looking for the spider from Israel. We donot have missiles matching the Hellfire from US which is being used by Pak airforce. The Rafale deal is finalised just now and this means that we are not going to get the first piece till next one year. Against the need of 80 fighter aircrafts , we are settling for 36. India is ordering Apache and Chinuhk form US to appease them. Indian made ALH Rudra which is capable of giving close fight to Apache is being rejected. Indian army is demanding quick reaction missiles from Israel. They do not want to rely on Aakash. Indian MBT Arjun hs passed the test of endurance only by 33%. It is a shame on DRDO. Pakistan is using their home made Al Khalid as MBT and it appear to be superior to Arjun.
India is having a long list of purchase but the question is how and when. Spending on the defense make a cut in the spending of the govt. on the welfare activities of the citizens.
Pakistan and China is making India to spend more and more on the defense equipment so that India should not be able to develop the basic infrastructure. But as this is generally said that the peace is the prerogative of the strong only so India do not have any other option. But the million dollar question is that Can India rely so much on US, who on one side is strengthening Pakistan with the military as well as non military aid and on other hand extends hand of friendship to India. Russia refused to sell S400 air defense system to India and French negotiated hard for the supply of Rafale to India. India's own capability of developing top of the line military hardware is always questionable as we have seen in the past about the developmental delay in Tejas, Arjun, field gun, cryogenic engine and the list goes on.
No comments:
Post a Comment