| |
Amid rumors of kickbacks over the procurement of Naval Barak anti-missile defense system from Israel , there is increasing evidence that most projects undertaken by the Defense Research & Development Organization (DRDO) are behind schedule. While there have been several successes such as the Agni, Prithivi, Nag, and Akash missiles, most of the other projects are delayed beyond recognition.
The Navy had bought the Barak system to safeguard its naval fleet because it is susceptible to missiles and the DRDO was unwilling to provide concrete delivery plans that the Navy could use to plan their operations. However, a new controversy has arisen because of the former Defense Minister acceding to Navy’s request for an importing a missile defense system approved the import of the Barak system from Israel but overruling objections from the DRDO. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has even fielded a First Information Report (FIR), a short form to say that there is cause for arrest.
After the notice was filed, other dissenting voices emerged from former naval officers saying that the Barak system is completely the wrong choice for India because of technical reasons. They say that the Israeli Navy is not advanced enough to address feature requirements of the Indian Navy for a host of reasons. First, their Navy is much smaller than India ’s. Second, their patrolling duties cover just a day while the Indian Navy ships are out for several months at a time. Third, the scope and area of operation for Israel is only a small portion of what is covered by the Indian Navy. Fourth, India has a blue water Navy covering open seas while Israel at best covers only grey water along the shores. Fifth, the Indian Navy has to contend with a host of potential threats from Pakistan to China while the Israelis would have to only stop fast attack boats. Sixth, the range of threats for India range from asserting fishing rights to tracking and destroying submarines to shooting down nuclear missiles launched from submarines to operating multiple aircraft carriers.
|
|
However, it appears that the anti-missile defense system code named Trishul seems to be perpetually delayed and the Defense Ministry even released a note suggesting that the project may be shut down only to be overruled by the Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee that it will not and that life has been extended by another year. The Research & Development Director of DRDO says that the reasons for the delays are the embargos from developed nations that denies critical components causing delays in projects. Further, to even test the Trishul, they need fast missiles to simulate the real ones but that project is further delayed for the same reason. Hence, the Trishul defense team asserts that it is not their fault but blames the development of these simulation missiles for the Trishul rollout. Moreover, the serving Naval chief defended the Barak deal with these arguments and why it is necessary for the operational effectiveness of the Navy.
Even in the case of the Army, the Main Battle Tank (MBT) is essentially called a “Rajpath Tank” because it used only on Republic Day to showcase India ’s defense. Weighing 40 tons with an overheating German engine, the tank is not highly popular with the Army. Army Chief J.J. Singh dryly remarked that the Army will use the “heavy tank… where it is best suited” because “It must be utilised since it’s an investment and national effort.” He thinks so highly of Arjun that the Army has favored a Russian T-90 based “Bhishma” and an upgraded T-72 M1 “Ajeya” tank. Even so, it has decided to buy 124 Arjun tanks as a measure of appeasement of the DRDO.
With that being the circumstance, why is it that the DRDO insists that the Navy wait indefinitely for the Trishul missile to be ready to be operational which in turn has to wait for simulation missiles? Further, why it is that the CBI thinks that there is prima facie evidence for a case against the former Defense Minister? Mukherjee says that the reason for the FIR is not a witch hunt but suspected kickbacks in the deal. Does this accusation have substance or is it an attempt to ratchet up an excuse to obfuscate the goof-up? Or, is it plain political vendetta?
These developments bring out two important issues that need addressing. The first is a procurement process transparency issue and the other is a lack of a make-or-buy decision making process issue. Every time India makes large defense procurement from a country other than the Soviet Union or Russia , there is a scandal because of these issues. And, this is really hurting India ’s defense strategic preparedness.
|
|
![]()
|
