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 India
is emerging as one of the world’s biggest
defence markets for the simple reason that
most of the equipment with the Indian Armed
Forces is of Soviet vintage, and outdated.
There are two reasons for that: the paralysis
triggered in the Ministry of Defence in
the wake of the allegations of kickback
over the Bofors howitzer deal, and the disintegration
of the Soviet Union leading to closure or
shifting of several of its leading arms
manufacturing units. The Soviet Union was
the biggest, and primary, source of weapons
for India.
The drying up of the Soviet source has
created a vacuum. At the same time, in the
short span of last 20 years, there have
been quantum and periodic jumps in technology.
Concepts of precision strike irrespective
of distance are steadily being refined.
So much so that an official report in Russia
last year also said that only about 10 per
cent of the Russian weapons could be regarded
as modern.
Russia is still the dominant supplier
of arms to India. The only modern aircraft
with the Indian Air Force for instance is
the SU 30 MKI, more than 300 of which are
being acquired to make up for the depleting
strength of IAF combat squadrons. India
has been buying some weapons from other
countries and Israel seems to be the # 2
supplier, getting some edge because of its
high technology equipment including missiles
and Phalcon AWACs.
There are 14 countries which have offered
to collaborate with India in hi-tech systems,
USA included.
Over the last few years, Washington has
been making overtures to India to sell various
systems, and in some major deals after the
1974 and 1998 nuclear tests by India, New
Delhi has already ordered/ acquired more
than US$ 4 billion worth of systems. Only
in January this year, New Delhi sent Letters
of Request (LoRs), or firm orders, for 10
Boeing C 17 Globemaster heavy lift aircraft
and 145 ultra light titanium artillery guns
to defend the mountains.
The US has shown interest in selling its
latest F 35 Fifth Generation fighter to
India. It is a different question whether
India will buy it or not, but apparently,
despite occasional negative vibes, Washington
wants warmer ties with New Delhi.
Nonetheless, whatever India buys, from
the US, France, Russia, Israel or elsewhere,
it should come with transfer of vital controlling
technologies.
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