However, no such effort was made into creating a strong process procurement process that would further the interest of the country and keep defense procurement outside the ambit of political bickering or personal financial gain. The major losers of this impasse were the Air force and Navy. The Air force could not upgrade its ageing fleet, get jet trainer train new pilots, and plan for a new age conflict. The Navy, frequently treated as a stepchild just a step above the Coast Guard, could not replace its aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, build a blue water navy, or upgrade its submarine fleet. The Army was only marginally successful in skirting such large-scale disaster primarily because of its constant engagement with terrorism. During the Kargil War, India had to swallow its pride to obtain shells to fire from its Bofors Artillery guns.

The present scandal comes at a very bad time for India. Several long pending orders such as a 126 fighter aircraft deal is pending, small but crucial orders needed for the special forces from Israel are delayed, and China has just hiked its defense budget by close to 15%. It might have been better for the NDA to have raised a transparency and reform issue and insist that India hold back a portion of the contract back pending investigation. Asking for the deal to be scrapped at this late stage means it sets the clock back where the Navy has to raise a new tender, invite quotes, evaluate quotes, etc. In any case, most commissions and investigations in India always end up absolving those who have been accused.