Indian Armed Force Programs: Large budget increases
Incredible India is the campaign slogan used to attract tourists to this South Asian nation that punches below its weight on the international arena. This 59-year-old pacifist republic, home to more than one-sixth of the worlds population, is tyrannised by internal security issues and victimised by cross-border security challenges from Pakistan and China. The Indian Armed Forces are the third largest in the world with an estimated 1,400,000 personnel. Yet this land of talent and possibility remains dependent on overseas defence suppliers,1 which poses the question whether its military can transform incredible India into a credible India!
This article examines some of the key defence acquisition programmes India is relying on to establish itself as a strategic power on the world stage. In the past four years, India has committed to spending USD12 billion on defence, with this expected to reach 30-40 billion by 2012 and 80 billion by 2022. Despite small increases in annual defence budgets since FY2000-2001, expenditure has decreased in real terms and as a percentage of GDP2. However, there is a glaring shortfall of more than 25% between what is required by the services and what they are allocated. There is also no Chief of Defence Staff to prioritise expenditure for the services, and inter-service jointness is illusory. Capital expenditure for modernisation is the main casualty of bottlenecks and paralysing bureaucratic procedures. The Ministry of Defence [MoD] is thus unable to fully utilise available funds, with no mechanism to carry over large unspent sums to successive financial years. Despite much-trumpeted reforms such as Defence Procurement Procedure-2006 (DPP-2006) and DPP-2008 that mandate 30% offsets to benefit local industries, the acquisition of new equipment and long-term defence planning remain mired in red tape.
Indian Army
Indias military strength has traditionally lain in its Army, second in size only to Chinas. It has been described as a first-rate army with second-rate equipment, with modernisation needs competing against ongoing internal security operations.
Indias armoured regiments rely on main battle tanks [MBT] to counter Pakistan. At the core are 1,950 T-72 Ajeya MBTs and an eventual 1,657 T-90S Bhishma MBTs. Recurring technical problems, delays and cost overruns with the 58.5-ton Arjun meant production is capped at 124 examples, these supposed to be delivered by the end of 2009. The indigenous Arjun was in development for 36 years and ironically 60% of its components ended up foreign-made! The first five Arjun MBTs were not delivered by the Defence Research and Development Organisation [DRDO] until 2004 whereupon the Army found their performance unacceptable. Perhaps the projects greatest contribution is technology spin-offs exploited for other programmes, such as the Project Rhino upgrade of around 250 T-72 MBTs to T-72M1 standard with Drawa-T fire control systems, Israeli El-Op thermal imaging systems, upgraded 1,000hp engines and explosive reactive armour [ERA].
India opted for the T-90S after incessant delays with the Arjun. A contract incorporating a transfer of technology clause was concluded with Russia on 1 February 2001 for 310 T-90S tanks, of which 220 were to be built under license. The first local example rolled off the Avadi Heavy Vehicle Factory production line in January 2004. A further 347 were ordered in November 2007, and an order for 1,000 further license-built vehicles was subsequently approved, these to be delivered by 2020. The Army is also pushing for a further batch of 330 MBTs. India is pursuing a hard-kill active protection system [APS] for these Bhishma tanks. Six international bidders are expected to compete in a mid-2009 demonstration with the Russian KBM Arena-E system seen as the APS frontrunner.
Artillery is in dire need of modernisation, Indias most recent artillery purchase being 400 Bofors FH-77B 155mm towed howitzers back in the mid-1980s. India was on the brink of ordering 120 tracked and 180 wheeled self-propelled howitzers [SPH] from Denel of South Africa, until hints of a prior scam brought Denels bid to a grinding halt. New tenders have been floated but the programme is now years behind schedule, meaning the Army will not have any SPHs in the near future. A global tender for 140 ultra-light 155mm 39-calibre howitzers was floated in January 2008. In 2006, a contract for 38 Smerch 300mm multiple-launch rocket systems was signed with Russia. The Corps of Army Air Defence also has seriously obsolete equipment, such as the ZSU-23-4 Shilka, SAM-6 and SAM-8 OSA-AK that need replacement.
Indian infantry units require a potent anti-tank capability against Pakistans T-80UD and Al-Khalid MBTs. The indigenous third-generation Nag fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile [ATGM] was conceived more than 20 years ago, the DRDO struggling with its development as requirements constantly changed. The Army has ordered 443 Nag missiles, even though it was still undergoing final user trials in late 2008 and was not fully operational. To fill the gap caused by its delay, India recently purchased 15,000 Konkurs-M ATGMs to be assembled locally by Bharat Dynamics Limited [BDL]. An urgent order for 4,100 Milan-2T ATGMs was signed on 3 December 2008, BDL manufacturing them under license over the next four years.
The Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited [HAL] is a multi-role helicopter that started development in 1984. First deliveries occurred in 2002 and it now serves in the Coast Guard, Army, Indian Navy [IN] and Indian Air Force [IAF]. A total of 75 had been delivered to the Army and 35 to the IAF by 2007, one of its strengths being its high-altitude capability. An additional USD3.56 billion order for 159 helicopters has been placed, of which 105 will go to the Army and the remainder to the IN for delivery by 2014. Turbomeca helped HAL develop the more powerful Shakti engine, which will likely be fitted after 2009. The Dhruv is notable in that it is the first Indian system to achieve significant foreign sales.
In July 2008, India relaunched its long-awaited USD750 million tender for 197 light utility helicopters to replace ageing Cheetah and Chetak helicopters. The Eurocopter AS550 had originally been selected, but citing irregularities, the MoD scrapped the deal in 2007 and reopened the tendering process. Deliveries should begin in 2010, with 133 helicopters for the Army and 64 for the IAF. Tenders were issued to six companies Bell 407, Boeing MD 520N, Eurocopter AS550, Kamov Ka-226 and AgustaWestland A109/A119. HAL is also offering its Light Observation Helicopter that is still on the drawing board. The programme has a 30% offset policy and submissions were required by 19 December 2008, with a contract expected to be signed in mid-2010. Craft are to be supplied in both flyaway and knocked-down kit conditions.
Indian Air Force
The fourth largest air force in the world, the IAF is moving towards greater indigenous production despite being handicapped by equipment price hikes and delayed delivery schedules. Its revised role envisages full-spectrum operations and strategic reach from the Persian Gulf to the Malacca Straits. Modernisation and serviceability are key aims, with the IAF suffering 700 crashes from 1974-2004! It is only the fourth country in the world to test an anti-ballistic missile defence system, and it is also seeking a space command.
The IAFs biggest programme is the Medium Multi-role Combat Aircraft [MMRCA] requirement for 126 fighters. The MMRCA is covered in detail in a separate article in this edition. Another project the IAF is depending on is the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft [LCA]. Development of this lightweight single-engine fighter to replace the MiG-21 commenced in 1983. The HAL Tejas was an ambitious project to advance Indian aeronautical capabilities, although this self-reliance and lack of experience in designing sophisticated fighters have led to a series of delays. In 2005, the IAF ordered 16 fighters and four trainers of an expected total of 220. Because of intractable delays with its indigenous GTX-35VS Kaveri engine, pre-production models and the first 20 craft employ General Electrics F404-GE-IN20 engines. However, in late 2008, the IAF announced it had categorically ruled out further orders of the underpowered Tejas because it did not meet requirements. Instead, it will consider acquiring 125 Tejas LCAs once a redesigned Mk 2 version with a more powerful engine3 and other improvements is available. Analysts predict induction into the IAF will not occur until 2012, years behind schedule. Naval variants are also being developed for an IN requirement of up to 40 fighters to replace its Sea Harriers.
The IAF awarded a USD965 million contract to Russia on 8 March 2008 to give a 15-year life extension to its fleet of 66 MiG-29 fighters. They will receive air-to-air missiles, increased fuel capacity and the latest avionics. The IAFs 52 Mirage 2000 fighters will be enhanced to Mirage 2000-5 standard, while 123 MiG-21s are also being upgraded. Around 40 Jaguars will also be modified. The IAFs superiority fighter is the Su-30MKI. A contract for 40 Su-30K was signed in 1997, with an agreement for 140 Su-30MKI to be manufactured locally by HAL concluded in December 2000. Production is occurring at a slow rate, but all should be delivered by 2013. In 2007, another 40 were ordered so the IAF will eventually operate well over 200 Su-30MKIs incorporating French and Israeli avionics.
BAE has a USD1.75 billion contract to supply 66 Hawk Mk 132 Advanced Jet Trainers [AJT], with the final 42 being assembled in India. The first British Hawk was delivered in November 2007, whilst the first Hawk AJT built under license by HAL was completed in August last year. A further 57 were ordered in 2008, with 40 going to the IAF and 17 to the IN. The Hawk is an essential tool for training pilots, especially in light of the dreadful number of MiG-21 crashes. India is also designing the HAL HJT-36 Intermediate Jet Trainer, which had its maiden flight in 2003. A total of 187 are required, though only 30 are on order so far. It could enter service within five years.
Recognising its need for network-centricity, India is pursuing two Airborne Early Warning & Control [AEW&C] programmes to detect and track targets. The first USD1.5 billion AEW&C programme is Israeli Aerospace Industries Phalcon radar fitted on Il-76 aircraft. Three systems were ordered in 2004 and three more could possibly be acquired in the future. The second Airavat Project is being pursued domestically, and involves development of phased array radar atop three Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft. The first aircraft should be delivered in 2011, with flight testing and system integration scheduled for 2012.
The IAF is also planning to upgrade its ageing An-32 transport fleet of around 80 aircraft to give them another 15-20 years of life. At the same time, HAL is contributing to the Indo-Russian Multirole Transport Aircraft that will eventually replace the An-32 fleet. The IAF also bought six C-130J Super Hercules in January 2008 for USD1.059 billion, with deliveries expected by 2011. Aerial refuelling tankers are an important power-projection platform, and Indias sixth and final Il-76MKI tanker was delivered in 2006.
India is in the market for six heavy-lift helicopters, with the MoD issuing a Request for Information [RFI] in a USD600 million contract. These craft need an aerial refuelling capability, and Boeings CH-47F is being offered. India also ordered 80 upgraded Mi-171V-5 Russian helicopters in December 2008, with all to be delivered before 2014. In late May 2008, Delhi issued a Request for Proposals [RFP] for 22 twin-engine attack helicopters and associated weapons worth up to USD550 million. Original contenders included the AgustaWestland AW129, Eurocopter Tiger, Kamov Ka-50, Mil Mi-28, HAL Light Combat Helicopter (a Dhruv variant still under development) and Bell AH-1Z Super Cobra. These IAF assets in the 2,500+kg class require high-altitude operational abilities and will replace ageing Mi-35 helicopters.
Indian Navy
India boasts the worlds fifth biggest navy, with 55,000 personnel and 131 vessels4. The IN is already one of the most powerful navies in the region, but it aspires to a greater blue-water capability and to expand its sphere of influence in the Indian Ocean region from East Africa through to Australia. However, plans to gain longer sea-legs are again being hamstrung by equipment delays and cost overruns, particularly from Russian suppliers upon whom the IN is precariously reliant.
India currently operates a solitary aircraft carrier, but it hopes to eventually field three to allow two fully operational carrier battle groups and one reserve carrier. After protracted negotiations, Delhi agreed in 2004 to buy the 45,000-ton Admiral Gorshkov/ INS Vikramaditya, twelve single-seat MiG-29K and four MiG-29KUB twin-seat fighters, and six Ka-31 helicopters for USD1.5 billion. The vessel was essentially free, with India paying for its refit and complement of aircraft. Russia is converting this ex-Soviet carrier into a short-takeoff-but-assisted-recovery configuration. However, amidst stern diplomatic vitriol, Russia demanding an additional USD1.2 billion for its refit, and announced a delivery delay of at least four years until 2012. As of November 2008, India had only paid USD400 million, but Delhi has since reasserted its desire to obtain the INS Vikramaditya.
India began constructing a 37,500-tonne Vikrant-class aircraft carrier at the state-run Cochin Shipyard in April 2005. Its commissioning has been pushed back until at least 2014, and work on a third aircraft carrier is expected to start in 2010, with entry into service by 2017. Instead of having a modern three-carrier fleet, these holdups mean the INS Viraat will have to soldier on for a few years yet. India could even possibly find itself without a carrier for a period of time.
Likewise, submarines have an important role in Indias military expansion, especially in light of Chinas nuclear-powered submarine programme. The IN is on track to have its first ever nuclear-powered attack submarine [SSN] later this year. It will lease an Akula-class SSN from Russia, although it will principally be used for training. This SSN precedes the launch of a locally designed SSN under construction at Mumbais Mazagaon Docks. This new class entitled the advanced technology vehicle [ATV] is the fruit of a programme that only gained momentum in the last decade. It is expected the first ATV will be ready for sea trials in two years time and access to the Akula-class SSN will assist Indian technicians to overcome ATV design hurdles. With their survivable second-strike capability, SSNs complete the third sea-based leg of Indias strategic nuclear-deterrence credibility.
India ordered six Scorpene submarines as part of Project 75, and the IN is now on the lookout for six more next-generation diesel-electric submarines with RFIs issued to French, German and Russian manufacturers. These newest craft will have air-independent propulsion to increase stealth and operational capacity an RFP is expected in early 2009.
As part of the INs rapid expansion, it is procuring six Project 1135.6 Talwar-class guided missile frigates from Russia. However, this project has thrown up some unexpected obstacles, with costs reportedly escalating USD100 million above the original USD1 billion price tag. The IN has already received three 4,000-ton vessels commissioned in 2003-2004 two years behind schedule. Despite India signing a contract for three further vessels in July 2006, their delivery will be delayed until pricing issues are ironed out. As successor to the Delhi-class destroyer, India is currently building three 6,800-ton Type 15A Kolkata-class destroyers. Up to six of these stealth destroyers that each carry 16 BrahMos missiles could be produced, with the first expected to enter service in 2010.
Indias 2,010,000km² EEZ means maritime patrolling is essential. India signed a USD2.1 billion contract in January 2009 for eight P-8I Poseidon multi-role maritime reconnaissance aircraft [MRA] with anti-submarine warfare [ASW] capability in Indias biggest ever defence deal with the USA. The first aircraft should be delivered by the end of 2012 and the remainder by 2016. On 13 January 2009, a further RFP for six medium-range MRAs fitted with AEW&C systems was issued to replace elderly Islander aircraft.
India is planning a midlife upgrade to its aging 17 Sea King ASW helicopters, so RFPs were sent to French, Israeli, British and American companies in June 2008. Eight Dhruv helicopters are operated by the IN, but this design was deemed unsuitable for the ASW role. The Navy also wants to procure 16 multi-role naval helicopters, with an RFP issued to AgustaWestland, EADS and Sikorsky. This order has a high possibility of expanding to 60 craft equipped with aerial refuelling, anti-ship and ASW equipment.
The BrahMos is a two-stage supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by Russia and India that can be launched from land, aircraft, ship or submarine. At Mach 2.8, it is the worlds fastest cruise missile, and possesses a range of 290km. BrahMos systems will be fitted to vessels such as Talwar-class and Shivalik-class frigates, as well as Rajput-class and Kolkata-class destroyers. The naval version of the BrahMos was first tested in March 2008, while submarine-launched missiles are being prepared for testing. The BrahMos was inducted into the Army on 21 June 2007, and it is also being prepared for launching from Su-30MKI, Il-38 and Tu-142 aircraft. The air-launched version will not enter IAF service until 2012 at the earliest. The hypersonic BrahMos II, with a speed of Mach 5.26, could be ready by 2013.
Nuclear Command Authority
India possesses 200-250 nuclear warheads as part of its minimum deterrence against nuclear neighbours Pakistan and China. The land-based delivery vehicle is the Agni missile, a product of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme [IDGMDP]5. Three Agni variants are currently in service: 1. Agni-I, a short-range ballistic missile with a 700-800km range; 2. Agni-II, a medium range with a 2,500km radius; 3. Agni-III, an intermediate-range ballistic missile can reach 3,500km. The three-stage Agni-V intercontinental ballistic missile with 5,000-6,000km range is under development and could be test-fired by late 2010. A viable deterrence capability was only achieved with the Agni-III, which brought most Chinese cities within range.
Conclusion
India has a broad defence industrial base, with 39 ordnance factories, eight public sector undertakings and 50 DRDO laboratories. Although the value of public-sector production has increased by nearly 60% in the last five years, India remains an insignificant defence manufacturing nation with minimal exports. In fact, India sources 70% of its equipment from overseas. Thus, self-reliance in critical armaments must remain a chief goal of the government. This will require liberalising defence production and encouraging private-sector participation to shake up IN procurement. India has been zealously pursuing indigenous production to benefit and diversify its defence industry, but ironically this produces a dichotomy. Since the DRDO habitually bites off more than it can chew, indigenous production inevitably results in delays and cost overruns. The solution for India must then be a fine balance of foreign collaboration and local production.
India has historically relied on Russia for defence equipment, but Russian contracts consistently present cost blowouts and delays. India is also eager to develop closer ties with the United States, with post-9/11 events providing real impetus to this strategic relationship. Observers can expect to see more American equipment in Indian service, with the United States articulating a desire to replace 20-25% of obsolete Indian equipment with its own products by 2018. In the meantime, corruption, allegations of impropriety and tortuous contractual procedural arrangements continue to hamper much-needed modernisation of the Indian Armed Forces.
Defence Review Asia Magazine
Incredible India is the campaign slogan used to attract tourists to this South Asian nation that punches below its weight on the international arena. This 59-year-old pacifist republic, home to more than one-sixth of the worlds population, is tyrannised by internal security issues and victimised by cross-border security challenges from Pakistan and China. The Indian Armed Forces are the third largest in the world with an estimated 1,400,000 personnel. Yet this land of talent and possibility remains dependent on overseas defence suppliers,1 which poses the question whether its military can transform incredible India into a credible India!
This article examines some of the key defence acquisition programmes India is relying on to establish itself as a strategic power on the world stage. In the past four years, India has committed to spending USD12 billion on defence, with this expected to reach 30-40 billion by 2012 and 80 billion by 2022. Despite small increases in annual defence budgets since FY2000-2001, expenditure has decreased in real terms and as a percentage of GDP2. However, there is a glaring shortfall of more than 25% between what is required by the services and what they are allocated. There is also no Chief of Defence Staff to prioritise expenditure for the services, and inter-service jointness is illusory. Capital expenditure for modernisation is the main casualty of bottlenecks and paralysing bureaucratic procedures. The Ministry of Defence [MoD] is thus unable to fully utilise available funds, with no mechanism to carry over large unspent sums to successive financial years. Despite much-trumpeted reforms such as Defence Procurement Procedure-2006 (DPP-2006) and DPP-2008 that mandate 30% offsets to benefit local industries, the acquisition of new equipment and long-term defence planning remain mired in red tape.
Indian Army
Indias military strength has traditionally lain in its Army, second in size only to Chinas. It has been described as a first-rate army with second-rate equipment, with modernisation needs competing against ongoing internal security operations.
Indias armoured regiments rely on main battle tanks [MBT] to counter Pakistan. At the core are 1,950 T-72 Ajeya MBTs and an eventual 1,657 T-90S Bhishma MBTs. Recurring technical problems, delays and cost overruns with the 58.5-ton Arjun meant production is capped at 124 examples, these supposed to be delivered by the end of 2009. The indigenous Arjun was in development for 36 years and ironically 60% of its components ended up foreign-made! The first five Arjun MBTs were not delivered by the Defence Research and Development Organisation [DRDO] until 2004 whereupon the Army found their performance unacceptable. Perhaps the projects greatest contribution is technology spin-offs exploited for other programmes, such as the Project Rhino upgrade of around 250 T-72 MBTs to T-72M1 standard with Drawa-T fire control systems, Israeli El-Op thermal imaging systems, upgraded 1,000hp engines and explosive reactive armour [ERA].
India opted for the T-90S after incessant delays with the Arjun. A contract incorporating a transfer of technology clause was concluded with Russia on 1 February 2001 for 310 T-90S tanks, of which 220 were to be built under license. The first local example rolled off the Avadi Heavy Vehicle Factory production line in January 2004. A further 347 were ordered in November 2007, and an order for 1,000 further license-built vehicles was subsequently approved, these to be delivered by 2020. The Army is also pushing for a further batch of 330 MBTs. India is pursuing a hard-kill active protection system [APS] for these Bhishma tanks. Six international bidders are expected to compete in a mid-2009 demonstration with the Russian KBM Arena-E system seen as the APS frontrunner.
Artillery is in dire need of modernisation, Indias most recent artillery purchase being 400 Bofors FH-77B 155mm towed howitzers back in the mid-1980s. India was on the brink of ordering 120 tracked and 180 wheeled self-propelled howitzers [SPH] from Denel of South Africa, until hints of a prior scam brought Denels bid to a grinding halt. New tenders have been floated but the programme is now years behind schedule, meaning the Army will not have any SPHs in the near future. A global tender for 140 ultra-light 155mm 39-calibre howitzers was floated in January 2008. In 2006, a contract for 38 Smerch 300mm multiple-launch rocket systems was signed with Russia. The Corps of Army Air Defence also has seriously obsolete equipment, such as the ZSU-23-4 Shilka, SAM-6 and SAM-8 OSA-AK that need replacement.
Indian infantry units require a potent anti-tank capability against Pakistans T-80UD and Al-Khalid MBTs. The indigenous third-generation Nag fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile [ATGM] was conceived more than 20 years ago, the DRDO struggling with its development as requirements constantly changed. The Army has ordered 443 Nag missiles, even though it was still undergoing final user trials in late 2008 and was not fully operational. To fill the gap caused by its delay, India recently purchased 15,000 Konkurs-M ATGMs to be assembled locally by Bharat Dynamics Limited [BDL]. An urgent order for 4,100 Milan-2T ATGMs was signed on 3 December 2008, BDL manufacturing them under license over the next four years.
The Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited [HAL] is a multi-role helicopter that started development in 1984. First deliveries occurred in 2002 and it now serves in the Coast Guard, Army, Indian Navy [IN] and Indian Air Force [IAF]. A total of 75 had been delivered to the Army and 35 to the IAF by 2007, one of its strengths being its high-altitude capability. An additional USD3.56 billion order for 159 helicopters has been placed, of which 105 will go to the Army and the remainder to the IN for delivery by 2014. Turbomeca helped HAL develop the more powerful Shakti engine, which will likely be fitted after 2009. The Dhruv is notable in that it is the first Indian system to achieve significant foreign sales.
In July 2008, India relaunched its long-awaited USD750 million tender for 197 light utility helicopters to replace ageing Cheetah and Chetak helicopters. The Eurocopter AS550 had originally been selected, but citing irregularities, the MoD scrapped the deal in 2007 and reopened the tendering process. Deliveries should begin in 2010, with 133 helicopters for the Army and 64 for the IAF. Tenders were issued to six companies Bell 407, Boeing MD 520N, Eurocopter AS550, Kamov Ka-226 and AgustaWestland A109/A119. HAL is also offering its Light Observation Helicopter that is still on the drawing board. The programme has a 30% offset policy and submissions were required by 19 December 2008, with a contract expected to be signed in mid-2010. Craft are to be supplied in both flyaway and knocked-down kit conditions.
Indian Air Force
The fourth largest air force in the world, the IAF is moving towards greater indigenous production despite being handicapped by equipment price hikes and delayed delivery schedules. Its revised role envisages full-spectrum operations and strategic reach from the Persian Gulf to the Malacca Straits. Modernisation and serviceability are key aims, with the IAF suffering 700 crashes from 1974-2004! It is only the fourth country in the world to test an anti-ballistic missile defence system, and it is also seeking a space command.
The IAFs biggest programme is the Medium Multi-role Combat Aircraft [MMRCA] requirement for 126 fighters. The MMRCA is covered in detail in a separate article in this edition. Another project the IAF is depending on is the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft [LCA]. Development of this lightweight single-engine fighter to replace the MiG-21 commenced in 1983. The HAL Tejas was an ambitious project to advance Indian aeronautical capabilities, although this self-reliance and lack of experience in designing sophisticated fighters have led to a series of delays. In 2005, the IAF ordered 16 fighters and four trainers of an expected total of 220. Because of intractable delays with its indigenous GTX-35VS Kaveri engine, pre-production models and the first 20 craft employ General Electrics F404-GE-IN20 engines. However, in late 2008, the IAF announced it had categorically ruled out further orders of the underpowered Tejas because it did not meet requirements. Instead, it will consider acquiring 125 Tejas LCAs once a redesigned Mk 2 version with a more powerful engine3 and other improvements is available. Analysts predict induction into the IAF will not occur until 2012, years behind schedule. Naval variants are also being developed for an IN requirement of up to 40 fighters to replace its Sea Harriers.
The IAF awarded a USD965 million contract to Russia on 8 March 2008 to give a 15-year life extension to its fleet of 66 MiG-29 fighters. They will receive air-to-air missiles, increased fuel capacity and the latest avionics. The IAFs 52 Mirage 2000 fighters will be enhanced to Mirage 2000-5 standard, while 123 MiG-21s are also being upgraded. Around 40 Jaguars will also be modified. The IAFs superiority fighter is the Su-30MKI. A contract for 40 Su-30K was signed in 1997, with an agreement for 140 Su-30MKI to be manufactured locally by HAL concluded in December 2000. Production is occurring at a slow rate, but all should be delivered by 2013. In 2007, another 40 were ordered so the IAF will eventually operate well over 200 Su-30MKIs incorporating French and Israeli avionics.
BAE has a USD1.75 billion contract to supply 66 Hawk Mk 132 Advanced Jet Trainers [AJT], with the final 42 being assembled in India. The first British Hawk was delivered in November 2007, whilst the first Hawk AJT built under license by HAL was completed in August last year. A further 57 were ordered in 2008, with 40 going to the IAF and 17 to the IN. The Hawk is an essential tool for training pilots, especially in light of the dreadful number of MiG-21 crashes. India is also designing the HAL HJT-36 Intermediate Jet Trainer, which had its maiden flight in 2003. A total of 187 are required, though only 30 are on order so far. It could enter service within five years.
Recognising its need for network-centricity, India is pursuing two Airborne Early Warning & Control [AEW&C] programmes to detect and track targets. The first USD1.5 billion AEW&C programme is Israeli Aerospace Industries Phalcon radar fitted on Il-76 aircraft. Three systems were ordered in 2004 and three more could possibly be acquired in the future. The second Airavat Project is being pursued domestically, and involves development of phased array radar atop three Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft. The first aircraft should be delivered in 2011, with flight testing and system integration scheduled for 2012.
The IAF is also planning to upgrade its ageing An-32 transport fleet of around 80 aircraft to give them another 15-20 years of life. At the same time, HAL is contributing to the Indo-Russian Multirole Transport Aircraft that will eventually replace the An-32 fleet. The IAF also bought six C-130J Super Hercules in January 2008 for USD1.059 billion, with deliveries expected by 2011. Aerial refuelling tankers are an important power-projection platform, and Indias sixth and final Il-76MKI tanker was delivered in 2006.
India is in the market for six heavy-lift helicopters, with the MoD issuing a Request for Information [RFI] in a USD600 million contract. These craft need an aerial refuelling capability, and Boeings CH-47F is being offered. India also ordered 80 upgraded Mi-171V-5 Russian helicopters in December 2008, with all to be delivered before 2014. In late May 2008, Delhi issued a Request for Proposals [RFP] for 22 twin-engine attack helicopters and associated weapons worth up to USD550 million. Original contenders included the AgustaWestland AW129, Eurocopter Tiger, Kamov Ka-50, Mil Mi-28, HAL Light Combat Helicopter (a Dhruv variant still under development) and Bell AH-1Z Super Cobra. These IAF assets in the 2,500+kg class require high-altitude operational abilities and will replace ageing Mi-35 helicopters.
Indian Navy
India boasts the worlds fifth biggest navy, with 55,000 personnel and 131 vessels4. The IN is already one of the most powerful navies in the region, but it aspires to a greater blue-water capability and to expand its sphere of influence in the Indian Ocean region from East Africa through to Australia. However, plans to gain longer sea-legs are again being hamstrung by equipment delays and cost overruns, particularly from Russian suppliers upon whom the IN is precariously reliant.
India currently operates a solitary aircraft carrier, but it hopes to eventually field three to allow two fully operational carrier battle groups and one reserve carrier. After protracted negotiations, Delhi agreed in 2004 to buy the 45,000-ton Admiral Gorshkov/ INS Vikramaditya, twelve single-seat MiG-29K and four MiG-29KUB twin-seat fighters, and six Ka-31 helicopters for USD1.5 billion. The vessel was essentially free, with India paying for its refit and complement of aircraft. Russia is converting this ex-Soviet carrier into a short-takeoff-but-assisted-recovery configuration. However, amidst stern diplomatic vitriol, Russia demanding an additional USD1.2 billion for its refit, and announced a delivery delay of at least four years until 2012. As of November 2008, India had only paid USD400 million, but Delhi has since reasserted its desire to obtain the INS Vikramaditya.
India began constructing a 37,500-tonne Vikrant-class aircraft carrier at the state-run Cochin Shipyard in April 2005. Its commissioning has been pushed back until at least 2014, and work on a third aircraft carrier is expected to start in 2010, with entry into service by 2017. Instead of having a modern three-carrier fleet, these holdups mean the INS Viraat will have to soldier on for a few years yet. India could even possibly find itself without a carrier for a period of time.
Likewise, submarines have an important role in Indias military expansion, especially in light of Chinas nuclear-powered submarine programme. The IN is on track to have its first ever nuclear-powered attack submarine [SSN] later this year. It will lease an Akula-class SSN from Russia, although it will principally be used for training. This SSN precedes the launch of a locally designed SSN under construction at Mumbais Mazagaon Docks. This new class entitled the advanced technology vehicle [ATV] is the fruit of a programme that only gained momentum in the last decade. It is expected the first ATV will be ready for sea trials in two years time and access to the Akula-class SSN will assist Indian technicians to overcome ATV design hurdles. With their survivable second-strike capability, SSNs complete the third sea-based leg of Indias strategic nuclear-deterrence credibility.
India ordered six Scorpene submarines as part of Project 75, and the IN is now on the lookout for six more next-generation diesel-electric submarines with RFIs issued to French, German and Russian manufacturers. These newest craft will have air-independent propulsion to increase stealth and operational capacity an RFP is expected in early 2009.
As part of the INs rapid expansion, it is procuring six Project 1135.6 Talwar-class guided missile frigates from Russia. However, this project has thrown up some unexpected obstacles, with costs reportedly escalating USD100 million above the original USD1 billion price tag. The IN has already received three 4,000-ton vessels commissioned in 2003-2004 two years behind schedule. Despite India signing a contract for three further vessels in July 2006, their delivery will be delayed until pricing issues are ironed out. As successor to the Delhi-class destroyer, India is currently building three 6,800-ton Type 15A Kolkata-class destroyers. Up to six of these stealth destroyers that each carry 16 BrahMos missiles could be produced, with the first expected to enter service in 2010.
Indias 2,010,000km² EEZ means maritime patrolling is essential. India signed a USD2.1 billion contract in January 2009 for eight P-8I Poseidon multi-role maritime reconnaissance aircraft [MRA] with anti-submarine warfare [ASW] capability in Indias biggest ever defence deal with the USA. The first aircraft should be delivered by the end of 2012 and the remainder by 2016. On 13 January 2009, a further RFP for six medium-range MRAs fitted with AEW&C systems was issued to replace elderly Islander aircraft.
India is planning a midlife upgrade to its aging 17 Sea King ASW helicopters, so RFPs were sent to French, Israeli, British and American companies in June 2008. Eight Dhruv helicopters are operated by the IN, but this design was deemed unsuitable for the ASW role. The Navy also wants to procure 16 multi-role naval helicopters, with an RFP issued to AgustaWestland, EADS and Sikorsky. This order has a high possibility of expanding to 60 craft equipped with aerial refuelling, anti-ship and ASW equipment.
The BrahMos is a two-stage supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by Russia and India that can be launched from land, aircraft, ship or submarine. At Mach 2.8, it is the worlds fastest cruise missile, and possesses a range of 290km. BrahMos systems will be fitted to vessels such as Talwar-class and Shivalik-class frigates, as well as Rajput-class and Kolkata-class destroyers. The naval version of the BrahMos was first tested in March 2008, while submarine-launched missiles are being prepared for testing. The BrahMos was inducted into the Army on 21 June 2007, and it is also being prepared for launching from Su-30MKI, Il-38 and Tu-142 aircraft. The air-launched version will not enter IAF service until 2012 at the earliest. The hypersonic BrahMos II, with a speed of Mach 5.26, could be ready by 2013.
Nuclear Command Authority
India possesses 200-250 nuclear warheads as part of its minimum deterrence against nuclear neighbours Pakistan and China. The land-based delivery vehicle is the Agni missile, a product of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme [IDGMDP]5. Three Agni variants are currently in service: 1. Agni-I, a short-range ballistic missile with a 700-800km range; 2. Agni-II, a medium range with a 2,500km radius; 3. Agni-III, an intermediate-range ballistic missile can reach 3,500km. The three-stage Agni-V intercontinental ballistic missile with 5,000-6,000km range is under development and could be test-fired by late 2010. A viable deterrence capability was only achieved with the Agni-III, which brought most Chinese cities within range.
Conclusion
India has a broad defence industrial base, with 39 ordnance factories, eight public sector undertakings and 50 DRDO laboratories. Although the value of public-sector production has increased by nearly 60% in the last five years, India remains an insignificant defence manufacturing nation with minimal exports. In fact, India sources 70% of its equipment from overseas. Thus, self-reliance in critical armaments must remain a chief goal of the government. This will require liberalising defence production and encouraging private-sector participation to shake up IN procurement. India has been zealously pursuing indigenous production to benefit and diversify its defence industry, but ironically this produces a dichotomy. Since the DRDO habitually bites off more than it can chew, indigenous production inevitably results in delays and cost overruns. The solution for India must then be a fine balance of foreign collaboration and local production.
India has historically relied on Russia for defence equipment, but Russian contracts consistently present cost blowouts and delays. India is also eager to develop closer ties with the United States, with post-9/11 events providing real impetus to this strategic relationship. Observers can expect to see more American equipment in Indian service, with the United States articulating a desire to replace 20-25% of obsolete Indian equipment with its own products by 2018. In the meantime, corruption, allegations of impropriety and tortuous contractual procedural arrangements continue to hamper much-needed modernisation of the Indian Armed Forces.
Defence Review Asia Magazine
Last edited:
