PROCUREMENT, India
Date Posted: 08-Jan-2004
DEFENCE EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS
India's defence procurement slowed in the 1990s as a result of reductions in the national defence budget and the break up of the Soviet Union, which traditionally provided the country with much defence equipment at 'friendship prices'. Suggestions of corruption and bribe-taking in the procurement process following the Bofors scandal in the 1980s also had a major impact, as did internal wrangling over price and technology transfer. Both served to delay the procurement of much needed systems such as the Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT).
It looked as if this trend would continue when the Tehelka.com scandal of March 2001 broke, not least because it had an unprecedented impact on the procurement process. The scandal followed an investigation undertaken by reporters from an Internet magazine who caught several senior Indian politicians and military personnel on camera receiving bribes and demanding illegal commissions of defence purchases. The scandal resulted in the dismissal of a number of senior military officers, and the resignation of the defence minister George Fernandes (who went on to regain his post in October 2001). When coupled with the Bofors corruption scandal, the Tehelka.com affair served to slow down the much needed procurement of weapons systems.
However, events in Kashmir in 2001 and 2002 forced a rethink in India, with the authorities becoming acutely aware that they needed to modify the defence forces after years of drift. This prompted a significant increased in defence budgets, which is expected to continue. The allocation for the country's state-owned ordnance factories was increased to Rs11.82 billion in FY2002/03, while the amount earmarked for R&D was raised by Rs915 million to Rs9.6 billion. This money enabled the armed forces to replace obsolete weapon systems and build up India's nuclear deterrent.
Since his return to office Defence Minister George Fernandes has been critical of policy-makers for their unwillingness to take crucial purchase decisions, making it difficult to fully utilise the money allocated for capital purchases. Fernandes especially criticised the recurring inability of his ministry to fully utilise its capital budget for equipment purchases and upgrades.
In March 2003 Fernandes accused 'non-serious' bidders of delaying the purchase of essential equipment such as the Advanced Jet Trainers (AJTs). Fernandes claimed that because of directives issued by the Central Vigilance Committee (CVC), established post-Tehelka, whenever a deal is almost completed and a rival company alleges impropriety or offers a lower price, the whole process is frozen while an investigation takes place. Fernandes implied that Pakistan may be using intermediaries to slow down India's procurement process.
Approach to defence modernisation
Despite the difficulties in procurement India is unlikely to shift from a two pronged defence modernisation strategy, adopted at the end of the Cold War in order to achieve this goal. The key elements are:
* To procure defence equipment from several sources, particularly Russia, with who India signed a series of agreements since 1997, providing for joint production and development of a whole range of military and civilian aircraft in India. In October 2000 most of these agreements were finalised when Russian President Putin agreed to push ahead with a number of projects (including the purchase and joint production of SU-30MKs and purchase of the Admiral Gorshkov ) and establish a commission on military technical co-operation to accelerate decision-making in the defence procurement process.
* The development of a number of indigenous weapons systems, despite the serious delays and setbacks experienced. Significant examples include the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), the Indian Small-Arm System (INSAS) 5.56 mm assault rifle and light machine gun, the Delhi class destroyers and the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) and an indigenous nuclear submarine.
In December 2003, Fernandes reiterated the government's intention to pursue indigenous production of weapons systems and in a departure from past practice, announced that India would export various defence equipment under a new policy.
Land Forces Requirements
In FY2003-04 the army's allocation of the defence budget was US$7.20 billion, compared with US$7.18 billion for FY2002-03. Major procurement projects included the continuing acquisition of 310 T-90S main battle tanks, the purchase of eight Raytheon AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder weapon-locating radars from the US and various artillery projects.
Tanks
Arjun: The Indian-built Arjun was originally seen as the ideal replacement for the ageing Vijayanta tanks, as well as the older T-55s. However, following delays in the Arjun programme the Indian Army bought the T-72 tank and also built a production line for them in India. Subsequently, as the Arjun reached trials stage it was still found wanting in several spheres, particularly in engine power.
In December 2003, the Indian parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) criticised the defence ministry for what it described as an 'inordinate delay' on the tank's development. As the committee pointed out, the original schedule was for the first Arjun tank regiment to be in place by 2002, with two further such regiments in existence by 2007. It also moved to criticise the rise in the number of foreign components used in the tank prototypes, comprising around 60 per cent of the final product. Furthermore, the committee argued that continued delays would have an adverse impact on wider planning regarding equipping the armed forces.
In response, the Defence Ministry announced that tank production had started and that 124 tanks were still expected to be manufactured. This contradicted previous speculation that the Arjun chassis was expected to be used as the platform for a future Indian self-propelled artillery system and would not enter service as an MBT. As such, the precise status of the Arjun remained unclear going into 2004.
South Africa has also entered the competition to supply India with a turret for the Arjun tank, and has offered the T-6 155 mm/52-cal. In June 2003 serious differences over cost were made apparent when Denel Ordinance asked for between US$3.2 to 3.5 m for each T-6 turret.
T-90S: In October 2000 a deal was signed to purchase 310 T-90S tanks from Russia, half of which were to be manufactured in India. The first batch of 10 arrived from Russia in January 2002 with India requesting early delivery of a further 140. The remaining 160 are due to be manufactured in India.
Artillery
Under its Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan, the army intends to buy up to 400 howitzers from one of three contenders. The plan stipulates spending about Rs900 billion (US$18.75 billion) by 2020 to acquire towed howitzers, wheeled 155 mm self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) and the Bhim tracked SPH.
155 mm artillery system: A modern 155 mm self-propelled howitzer is considered to be crucial to replace obsolete Abbots and mechanise other units. The need for new artillery became even more apparent in the wake of the Kashmir crisis of March 1999, in which India's Bofors guns played a major role.
Trials of Israel's Soltam TIG-2002, South Africa's Denel G5/2000 and Sweden's Bofors FH-77 B05 L52 were completed in November 2003. Negotiations with the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) are scheduled to commence in the first half of 2004 upon completion of the trial reports.
Denel and Soltam have close ties to the army's artillery projects. Soltam is upgrading 180 Soviet-built M-46 130 mm field guns to 155 mm/39-cal and 155 mm/45-cal while Denel's LIW T6 155 mm/52-cal turret system has been successfully integrated with the chassis of the locally designed Arjun main battle tank to produce the Bhim tracked weapon.
UAVs and Mortar Locating Radars
The army is also seeking the expansion of its unmanned aerial reconnaissance vehicles (UAVs) fleet to provide corps commanders with real time information about the build up of the battlefield in depth. The locally built, low endurance Nishant (Restless) system underwent flight trials in mid-2000; a subsequent trial was witnessed by Defence Minister George Fernandes on 31 January 2001, with the last set of trials to date being conducted in early January 2002.
India has also explored openings with Israel, including December 2000's US$300 million contract with Israel Aircraft Industries for Searcher-2 tactical UAVs.
A further requirement that is to be fulfilled is for weapon-locating radars, 12 examples of which were delivered from the US in 1998. The models, AN/TPQ-37 Firefinders, are part of the plan to modernise the artillery with major procurements. Along with the procurement of UAVs, this is seen as a critical requirement before Prithvi surface-to-surface missiles can be inducted and deployed.
Helicopters
Another ambitious programme underway is the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), which is being developed for all three services by Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) and MBB of Germany. The army will receive 120 helicopters, the majority heavily-armed versions equipped with advanced electro-optics and anti-tank guided missiles as well as guns and rockets. Initial deliveries of the ALH in 2002 comprised three aircraft to the Indian Army, two each for the air force and navy and one for the coast guard. The Weapons Systems Integrated ALH is scheduled to be delivered in 2004.
India also has a long-term requirement for 200 attack helicopters from an as yet undecided source.
Air Defence
There are unconfirmed reports that India purchased the Russian Tor-M1 (SA-15 'Gauntlet') towed SAM system. India is also in the market for an unspecified number of S-300 ground to air missiles. Indeed, Russia is believed to have agreed not only to supply New Delhi with the missiles, but also to help it develop a sophisticated air defence system based around them. India is reported to have purchased additional Tangusta self-propelled guns/missiles from Russia to strengthen its air defence.
In June 2001 New Delhi purchased six S-300 PMU (SA-20 NATO reporting name 'Grumble') SAMs from Russia for air defence, and the Antey-2500 anti-tactical ballistic missile (ATBM). There is also speculation about the possibility of Russia providing India with a limited "missile shield", although the nature of such a system has not yet been defined.
Land Forces Modernisation
T-90S
Kits to build the first 80 of 310 Russian T-90S main battle tanks (MBTs) arrived in India in December 2001. Defence Minister Fernandes told a parliamentary committee that the licensed production of T-90S will begin at the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) at Avadi by 2006.
The T-90S, acquired to counter Pakistan's Ukrainian-built T-80UD MBTs that entered service in 1997, will ultimately replace the service's T-72M1s. Indian defence officials consider the T-90S superior to the T-80UD and will deploy them along the frontier in northern Punjab state and in the western Rajasthan desert region. The 46.5-tonne T-90S can fire 125 mm rounds at a rate of 8 rds/min, or laser-guided missiles. The tank also has the TshU1-7 Shtora-1 countermeasures system.
Howitzers
The army successfully tested Bhim, a combination of Denel's T-6 155 mm/52-cal turret system on the chassis of the locally developed Arjun main battle tank in 1999 to meet its requirement for a tracked weapon. Senior army and MoD officials subsequently agreed that procuring a towed weapon of the same calibre would ensure commonality of ammunition and component and thus reduce production and maintenance costs.
To meet the army's operational requirements, Soltam is upgrading 180 M-46 130 mm field guns to 155 mm/39-cal and 155 mm/45-cal. Official sources said six of the upgraded guns sent to Delhi in December 2001 for testing required 21 further modifications. These changes have been included in the retrofit package. Initially the upgraded weapons, enough to equip between 25 and 30 artillery regiments, and FH-77B will constitute the nucleus of a newly formed artillery division that will comprise around 12 to 15 regiments, each of 18 weapons. This will be assigned to corps tasked with the security of the border with Pakistan. The army plans to form at least one more artillery division.
Guided Missile Development Programme
India's Nag (Cobra) anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) completed a successful control and guidance flight test at the interim test range at Chandipur in Orissa state in early 2002, and was in production as of late 2003. The Nag, being developed by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is one of five missiles comprising that organisation's controversial and troubled Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP). Nag testing started in November 1990 and has included both the helicopter and ground launched versions.
A further order for 25 Nag missiles for testing was placed with Bharat Electronics in 2000. This would allow a limited operational capability. Total requirements are 500 missiles for the Indian Army and 100 for helicopter use by the IAF.
Air Force Requirements
The Air Force was allocated US$3.20 billion of the defence budget for FY2003-04, compared with US$2.58 billion for FY2002-03. Funds have been allocated for: the purchase of three Israel Aircraft Industries Phalcon airborne early-warning systems; 40 General Electric F 404-GE-F2J3 engines for the Light Combat Aircraft; the continuing modernisation of 125 MiG-21bis (NATO reporting name: 'Fishbed') fighters; licence payment to build Su-30MKI multirole fighters locally; and, the purchase of additional Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd Jaguar fighters.
Fighters
In late 2000 the air force announced that it was to purchase 10 additional Mirage 2000Hs and Ds from France and 150 SU-30s from Russia, a number of which were built under license. The first instalment of SU-30s arrived in 2001. It was not clear if the deal incorporated a previous obligation by Russia of 1996 to supply India with 40 to 50 SU-30MKs.
Trainers
After a 21-year wait, in September 2003 India finally decided to complete its planned purchase of 66 Hawk advanced jet trainers (AJTs) for Rs80 billion (US$1.7 billion) in a bid to reduce its air force's accident rate, which is among the world's highest. India's Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, cleared the purchase of the Hawk Mk 115 Y AJTs, which are a further development of the Hawk Mk 115 already in use by the NATO Flying Training programme in Canada.
The project's first 24 aircraft will be built at BAE Systems Brough facility in the UK, with the remainder to be manufactured under licence by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Bangalore, southern India. The aircraft's Adour Mk 871 turbofan engines will also be assembled by Rolls-Royce in Bristol and by HAL in India.
Announcing the CCS's decision, Defence Secretary Ajay Prasad outlined that "difficulties" over the Hawk's unit cost had delayed the deal. The official said "the decision [to select the Hawk AJT] fulfils the long-standing needs of the Indian Air Force ", adding that a rival proposal to equip the service with the Aero Vodochody L 159B trainer was found unsuitable.
BAE will receive around Rs60 billion of the project sum, according to Prasad, with HAL to receive the remaining Rs20 billion. First aircraft deliveries are expected within 35 months of contract signature, with India's last trainer to be handed over in 2009. The contract with BAE will provide for IAF pilots to train on Hawks in the UK as an interim measure.
Prasad said the Hawk's induction will improve the skill of the IAF's trainee pilots in graduating from low speed trainers to high performance front-line fighters. The service lost 273 fighters - mostly Soviet-designed MiG-21s - in crashes between 1991 and 2003, killing more than 100 pilots and leading to repeated demands to complete the AJT purchase. A 2003 Public Accounts Committee report declared that 42 per cent of the IAF's accidents were due to human error and inadequate training. It also severely criticized the IAF's training regimen on the locally built HPT-32 and Kiran trainers before pilots moved on to supersonic fighters without the "intermediate AJT interface".
Airborne Early Warning and Control Systems (AWACS)
In May 2003 the US told Pakistan that it could not prevent Israel from selling two Phalcon airborne early warning and control systems (AWACS) to India. The US$1 billion deal, concluded in October 2003, will give India an operational edge over Pakistan and China. The systems will be mounted on Russian Ilyushin Il-76TD aircraft. A deal has been signed with Russia for the aircraft and as of October 2003, India was negotiating with Israel over the purchase of the anti-missile system, Arrow, with the aim of neutralising Pakistan's nuclear threat.
Air to Air/Air to Surface Missiles
At the end of 1998 India unveiled for the first time its Astra long-range active radar guided missile. The missile, which has been designed for the LCA, was tested for the second time in May 2003. Under development as a long-range weapon to arm the HAL Light Combat Aircraft, Astra could also be retrofitted to India's Mirage 2000, Sea Harrier, Su-30MKI 'Flanker' and MiG-29 'Fulcrum' aircraft.
With the fitting of new aviation packages, the IAF will also be able to utilise the AA-11 (NATO reporting name 'Archer') intra-red homing short-range missile, the AA-12 (NATO reporting name 'Adder') medium-range radar homing missile and the AS-12 (NATO reporting name 'Kegler') anti-radiation missile.
In the long term, the country remains in the market for more combat aircraft, AEW and maritime patrol craft, transport aircraft, and helicopters.
Air Force Modernisation
The slippage in the LCA programme caused a severe dent in the defence preparedness of the IAF, particularly as several old MiG-21 squadrons were scrapped. Thus, the IAF strength dwindled in actual terms and the service became desperate to replace the MiG-21s.
Upgrades
In the face of limited resources, the only option that the IAF had was to upgrade the MiG-21s until such time that they could be replaced by the LCA. The IAF has now embarked on a major upgrade programme for the MiG-21, at a cost of US$300 million, which is likely to make these aircraft effective until 2011. Between 100 and 110 MiG-21s will be upgraded by MiG-MAPO of Russia in conjunction with Thomson-CSF and Sextant Avionique of France; the remainder will be brought to upgrade standard by HAL.
The IAF is considering adding stealth modifications to its MiG-21s through the application of radar-absorbent materials (RAM) developed by the Moscow Institute of Applied and Theoretical Electodynamics. A total of 125 IAF MiG-21bis aircraft are believed to have been earmarked for this upgrade. This will bring them up to MiG-21-93 standard. The main feature of the improved avionics is the Phazotron Kopyo multi-mode radar that will enable the MiG-21-93 to deliver air-to-air and air-to-ground ordnance.
Light Combat Aircraft
Although India flight-tested the LCA three times in 2000, it failed to make an appearance at the Aero India 2001 Airshow. The plane is still not expected to become operational in the near future. The cost of the project has quadrupled since 1985 and the project remains 10 years behind schedule, with the first flight test being 20 months behind schedule. The plane is powered by General Electric engines, although the indigenously produced Kaveri engine is expected to be used in production versions of the plane.
Indian Air Force (IAF) officers privately admit to not taking the LCA into "serious" operational consideration since it will be "technologically obsolete" by the time it enters service around 2006-07. IN officers treat the LCA's proposed naval version with similar scepticism.
Su-30s
The IAF inducted the first 10 of 40 Su-30MKIs purchased for US$1.8 billion with advanced French and Israeli avionics and weaponry nearly three years behind schedule in 2003. The service will induct another 24 Su-30MKIs into service by the end of 2004, after which the remaining basic Su-30s that entered service in March 1997 will return to the Irkutsk Aviation Plant in Siberia for conversion to the advanced version.
The first completed Su-30MKI of the 140 to 150 being built locally under a US$3 billion contract are scheduled for delivery to the IAF by the end of 2004 and the rest by 2012-13 at a rate of around 17 per year.
Mirages
Mirage 2000H: The IAF will complete delivery of 10 Mirage 2000Hs with mid-air refuelling capability by the end of 2004. India acquired 50 Mirage 2000H/TH fighter trainers in the mid-1980s to equip two of its air-defence squadrons, but has lost at least seven through accidents. All of India's new aircraft will be equipped with inflight-refuelling equipment, and a similar capability will be activated in the IAF's existing Mirage 2000H fleet.
Mirage 2000-5: In August 2003 the IAF approved the acquisition of 12 Mirage 2000-5 fighters from Qatar that Pakistan had also been trying to buy. Indian Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani had reportedly told Qatari authorities that India would be forced to reconsider a major gas contract with the country if it chose to sell its fighters to Pakistan.
Dassault also negotiated the possible supply to the IAF of up to 126 Mirage 2000-5s to equip seven squadrons to strengthen the country's strategic nuclear command. The French company had offered to buy back the 12 Mirage 2000-5EDA/DDAs from Qatar before upgrading them and selling them to India as part of its future fighter package.
Naval Requirements
The navy was allocated US$2.45 billion of the defence budget in FY2003-04, compared with US$1.8 billion in FY2002-03. By mid-2004 the navy claims that it will finalise an eight-year deliberation to procure the Kiev-class Soviet aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov . Russia has offered the 44,500-ton carrier for the cost of its refit and the 'interconnected' lease-purchase of two Russian Akula (Bars)-class Type 971 nuclear-powered attack submarines for around US$1 billion and four Tu-22M strategic bomber/maritime strike aircraft.
Carriers
The parliamentary defence committee urged the government in 2003 to finalise the Admiral Gorshkov carrier purchase immediately, as it will take 52 months after the contract is concluded with the Servmarsh dockyard at Sverdovesk, northern Russia, to resurrect the vessel - which was crippled by fire and abandoned for more than a decade. In April 2003 the committee warned the Ministry of Defence that any further delays in clinching the Gorshkov deal might lead to an operational gap as INS Viraat, the navy's sole ageing carrier, is due to be decommissioned by 2007-08.
The IN has also decided to acquire around 40 nuclear-capable MiG-29K fighters with inflight refuelling capability for around US$2.5 billion for the Gorshkov and Air Defence Ship (ADS) air groups.
Disagreement over price: In December 2003 the IN was locked into an embarrassing row with Moscow over the price of the Admiral Gorshkov . Hours after IN Chief of Staff Adm Madhavendra Singh told a news conference in New Delhi that the carrier retrofit had been finalised for US$625 million, Russia's defence ministry staunchly denied this claim. Russia stated that three issues remained "unco-ordinated" - the final price of the contract, the choice of vendors for the armaments to be fitted to the vessel and "related changes in the ship's systems".
The systems referred to were believed to be anti-missile defence systems for the carrier. While the IN wanted Israel Aircraft Industries/Rafael Armament Development Authority Barak point-defence systems, the Russians were insisting on equipping the vessel with their indigenous Kashtan system.
Frigates
INS Brahmaputra, the first Project 16A frigate, took 13 years to build and at its commissioning in 2000 Defence Minister Fernandes stressed the need to install a greater degree of "discipline and integrity" in India's defence industry workforce. INS Betwa and INS Beas, the remaining two Project 16A ships being built at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in Calcutta, are scheduled for commission in 2004, some four-to-five years behind schedule.
INS Shivalik, the first of three indigenously built 4,500-ton Project 17 stealth frigates was launched at MDL in April 2003. Project 17 is a modified version of the three Russian-built Project 1135.6 frigates the IN commissioned in 2003. INS Talwar, the first of these Project 1135.6 frigates, was closely scrutinised during the first part of its delivery voyage from St Petersburg to Mumbai in July 2003.
Submarines
The navy is also seeking to augment its submarine fleet to replace the ageing 'Foxtrots'. Therefore, the government has agreed a purchase of two improved 'Kilo' class submarines, costing about Rs40 billion (US$1.1 billion) and to be built in Russia. Orders for two indigenously built German-designed T-209/1500 HDW submarines, likely to be commissioned in five years, have been placed with Mazagon Docks in Mumbai.
Nuclear Submarines
India is also progressing with the development of a nuclear submarine, currently known as the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV), which received the official go-ahead in 1999. The project is finally moving forward after a portion of the project was handed over to private defence contractor Larsen and Tourbo by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Technological problems have delayed the programme by a decade. Based on a Russian Charlie-I-class cruise missile submarine design, the ATV is likely to be commissioned around 2008. The problems of miniaturising the pressurised water reactor, providing sufficient containment and mating it with the hull that troubled the DRDO and the Department of Atomic Energy for several years, are believed to have been resolved with Russian help.
India is also looking into the possibility of leasing a Russian SSK submarine in order to keep its advanced technology vessel (ATV) project moving forward.
Naval Modernisation
Conventional Submarines
The IN has completed negotiations with France's Direction des Constructions Navales (DCN) to build six Project 75 Scorpene diesel-electric submarines at Mazagaon Dockyard Ltd (MDL), Bombay, for Rs90-100 billion. It expects to sign the contract with DCN before the end of FY2003-04 to augment the navy's submarine fleet that will shrink to around 12 by 2010. The IN's submarine building programme forms part of its 30-year plan to construct 24 conventional submarines to maintain adequate operational force levels. By 2010 the IN will have four German HDW Shishumar Type 1500 SSKs (which are already in service) and eight Russian Kilo-class including two Type 877 EKM boats that entered service in the late 1990s.
Helicopters
In August 1999 it was announced that Moscow had agreed to sell New Delhi four Kamov Ka-31 helicopters for use on the new Krivak class frigates and the aircraft carrier, INS Viraat . In December 1999 the India Defence Minister, George Fernandes, told the Lower House of India's parliament (the Lok Sabah) that these helicopters would cost US$55.8 million with tools, spares and ground support equipment. Furthermore, the helicopters will be delivered to the Indian Navy (IN) in two batches. Payments to the supplier, meanwhile, will be made at various stages of production. The defence minister also noted that the cost dollars of each helicopter would be in the region of US$14 million. Sea trials have also begun of the indigenously-developed Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH).
Other Ships
A landing ship INS Ghrial and a missile vessel INS Prahar have been inducted into the navy. The INS Delhi, the first of the Delhi class of destroyers, is basically a stretched version of a Godavari class of frigate. INS Delhi, built for Rs7.6 billion (US$206.8 million), has a complement of 40 officers and 380 sailors. It is armed with 16 Russian SS-N-25 surface-to surface missiles with a range of about 130 km, a quintuple torpedo launcher, 48 SA-N-7 surface-to-air missiles, four AK 360 close-in weapon systems and two Westland Sea King anti-submarine helicopters. Powered by gas turbines, it can achieve a top speed of 32 knots. India has also acquired a tanker from Russia as a replacement for INS Deepak, decommissioned in 1996. On a smaller scale, the Indian Navy purchased in early 1997 two Super Dvora Mk II fast patrol craft from Israel Aircraft Industries' Ramta Division.
Missiles
India is planning to acquire Russian supersonic Kh-31A anti-ship missiles for the navy's Tupolev Tu-142M long-range anti-submarine (ASW) aircraft. These planes are already being upgraded in St Petersburg and will be armed with the missiles. The Tu-142M is a maritime version of the Soviet Tu-95 strategic nuclear missile carrier and acquired by the Indian navy in 1988. The plane has a range of over 12,000 km, with its full weapon load Tu-142M is capable of flying from Mumbai to Johannesburg and back without mid-air refuelling.
Under the terms of the original upgrade programme the IN's existing Tu-142M ASW aircraft were to be fitted with Russian state-of-the-art Morskoyzmey (Sea Serpent) anti-ship warfare system. The Morskoyzmey mission avionics suite is designed to detect and intercept surface vessels and submarines within a range of 150 km. It can also be linked to the satellite based Russian global positioning system 'Glonass' to detect airborne targets. In January 2001 India placed a US$270 million order with Israel for the purchase of the Barak-1 point defence missile. (This is already in service with the Singaporean and South Korean navies.)
Trishul
In January 2002 the naval version of India's Trishul short-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) was successfully test-fired on two successive days from INS Dronacharya, the Indian Navy's shore-based missile testing facility at Cochin, southern India. Navy officials said the 9 km-range SAM, which was tested in the sea-skimming mode on 28 and 29 January against low-flying targets, had met the required parameters. This is part of India's Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme and has taken over two decades to develop. India's Defence Research and Development Organisation's efforts to develop Trishul for the navy have been hampered by technical and financial problems. Trishul's naval version was fired three times in 1998 and once in May 2000 but technical problems and a resource crisis hampered all further development.
Assessment
Financial constraints have had a major impact on the modernisation process of the services. All three have been deprived of essential equipment and this has dented their warfighting capability and harmed morale. However, there are indications that this trend may now be changing. This was evident from the decision to purchase the Sukhoi Su-30MKI aircraft. Similarly, several other procurements, particularly from Russia and Israel, are in the pipeline, including the 155 mm self-propelled gun, submarines and an aircraft carrier. In the meantime, the armed forces have adopted several programmes to upgrade their existing weaponry to try and maintain their military edge over Pakistan.
New procurements will follow FY2003-2004 budget increases, although the scrutiny of procurement deals will result in considerable delays.
The bulk of India's military arsenal was previously supplied by the former Soviet Union and now by Russia. This relationship dates back to the mid-1960s and has remained close even after the collapse of the Soviet Union. However, in the 1980s there was a concerted bid to diversify the sources of supply by seeking western equipment.
There has also been a largely unsuccessful attempt to indigenise the supply of military equipment, although attempts to procure more from the domestic market continue with mixed results.
In the foreseeable future the Indian military is likely to remain dependent on the import of military hardware, particularly from Russia, with whom an agreement was signed in October 1997 to extend a pact of military co-operation by a further 10 years. This also included the promise that Russia would not sell arms to Pakistan. In December 1999 the two countries also signed a new agreement which allows India to build a number of Russian systems under license.
Israel has emerged as a defence supplier of choice for India. India has not only purchased Barak ship defence systems from Israel, and commissioned Israeli company Soltam to upgrade much of its heavy artillery, but is also looking to purchase UAVs, several thousand radio communications devices, truck mounted guns, 1,000 fire control systems for its T-72 tanks, and lightening navigation and targeting pods for IAF fighters. Israel is reputed to believe that the achievable market share for its companies in India is approximately US$200 million per annum.
Major Conventional Military Procurement
Designation - Equipment Type - Quantity - Origin - In-Service Date - Manufacturer
Hawk MK 115 Y - Advanced Jet Trainer - 66 - UK - 2006 (projected) - BAE Systems
Su-30MKI - Multi-Role Fighter - 40 - Russia - 1997 - Sukhoi
636 'Kilo' - Diesel Attack Submarine - 2 - Russia - 1997-98 - Rubin
Prithvi - Surface-to-Surface Missile - 100 - India - 1995- - BDL
LCA - Multi-Role Fighter - Up to 200 - India - 2005? - HAL
ALH - Multi-Role Helicopter - Up to 300 - India - 1997 - HAL
Arjun - Main Battle Tank - 126 - India - 2000 - HVF
Delhi class - Destroyer - 3 - India - 1998-2002 - MDL
T-90S - MBT - 310 - Russia - 2002+ - n/a -
Major Future Conventional Requirements
Equipment Type - Quantity - Origin - In-Service Date
Basic jet trainer aircraft - Up to 200 - Foreign or HAL - n/a
Aircraft Carrier (Admiral Gorshkov) - 1 - Russia - n/a
Kirvak class frigate - 3 - Russia - 2002
Self-propelled artillery system - n/a - Probably Foreign - 2003
Ilyushin Il-78MK tanker/transport aircraft - 4 - Russia - 2003
Air defence ship/aircraft carrier - 2 - Indigenously built and designed - 2005?
Project 17 frigate - 12 - India - 2010?
ATV, nuclear submarine - Up to 5 - Indigenously built - n/a
MiG-29, navalised version for Admiral Gorshkov - 1 Squadron - Russia - n/a