India's Defense Preparation

It is really heartening to realize that finally, India has awakened from its slumber to stand up and rise to the occasion to meet India's necessity to overcome the threat that has been looming over us due to expansionist minded China and unpredictable Pakistan ogling at us with dirty enthused hatred. Yes, India has finalised a road map to spend $130 billion in the next five to seven years to modernise the armed forces and bolster their combat capabilities over rivals in the region, according to an official document and military sources.

Though the need of the hour is much much more, presently India has made a quick short term plan for the next 5 to 7 years. The plan includes procurement of a range of weapons, like Missiles, Air defence systems, Fighter jets, Submarines, Warships, Drones, Surveillance equipment and developing infrastructure for extensive use of artificial intelligence. While India’s spending has remained relatively constant in the last  10 or 15 years, China’s has significantly ramped up defence budget during the period.

The news revealed that “The government will spend $130 billion for fleet modernisation in the next 5-7 years across all armed forces,”. Multiple military sources said the government’s aim is to invest in capabilities so that the armed forces can effectively deal with any possible threat from either China or Pakistan.

Since the Modi government has come to power 5 and half years ago, the government had taken initiatives in almost all departments simultaneously including the defense sector. The placing of much-needed order for 5 Trimfu defence system from Russia, 22 Apache Helicopters from the US and 138 Rafale aircraft from France are seen as the right and most important steps of the government. Also, it is pleasing to note that last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced clearing a long-pending proposal to establish the post of chief of defence staff (CDS) for boosting coordination among the Army, the Indian Airforce and the Navy. The sources said the CDS will play a key role in implementing the modernisation drive in the three forces. The sources also added that establishing India as a military power in the outer space will be another key aspect of the plan.

Apart from the above initiatives of Modi 1., Modi. 2 has taken urgent steps under immediate priority to fast-track pending proposals including procuring 2,600 infantry combat vehicles, 1,700 future-ready combat vehicles for the Indian army and paving way for supplying 110 multi-role fighter aircraft to the Indian Air Force. 

“Infantry modernisation is a key focus area,” said a source. The armed forces have been pushing for adequate allocation of funds so that they are well prepared to deal with the possibility of a “two-front” war on both northern and western borders.

Sources said the government is aware of China significantly ramping up its air and naval powers, adding the aim is to equip both the Indian Air Force and the Indian navy with capabilities on par with its adversaries.

To bolster its operational capability, the Navy has already finalised a plan to have 200 ships, 500 aircraft and 24 attack submarines in the next 3-4 years. At present, the Navy has around 132 ships, 220 aircraft and 15 submarines. But it is important to notice that keeping in view India's geopolitical location with Sea on all three sides and with a huge role India is expected to play in the region,  in the subcontinent as well as to keep the balance of power for  Asia to contain ill intention bearing rogue China, India needs at least 8 Aircraft carriers to be permanently stationed and rotated in the coastal cities like Kandla in Gujrat, Mumbai in Maharashtra, Karwar at Karnataka, Cochin and Trivandrum in Kerala, Chennai, Vizag, Cuttuch and Kolkotta in Bay of Bengal. 

Most heartening news is that, if the sources are to be believed, apart from the decision of the government to significantly enhance IAF’s overall combat capabilities and a detailed plan is being finalized, the government is also working on a Mega defence project to make the airspace over almost all its major cities, including Delhi and Mumbai, virtually impregnable, the sources said. It is also inducting the first batch of its intercontinental ballistic missile system — Agni V — which is expected to significantly bolster the country’s air defence system.

The missile, with a strike range of 5,000 km, is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. Very few countries, including the US, China, Russia, France and North Korea, have intercontinental ballistic missiles. In its missile armoury, India currently has Agni-1 with a 700 km range, Agni-2 with a 2,000-km range, Agni-3 and Agni-4 with 2,500 km to more than 3,500-km range.

It is learned from the sources that the government’s focus will be to develop the domestic defence industry and key policy initiatives are expected to be rolled out for it in the next couple of months. Domestic manufacturing of Rafale Jets and recent agreements with Russia to manufacture many of the military equipment in India on a joint venture are only a few initial baby steps towards the huge picture about to see within a decade or so. 

Sudesh DJV
Indore MP India
10th Sept 2019
8:45 am

Sudesh DJV writes on contemporary subjects in the form of Articles and poems which is in the interest of the Nation in particular and for Mankind in general.