Manohar Parrikar's defence rejig saved Rs 49,300 crore

[Agent_47]

NEW DELHI: In a rare exercise, India's air defence plans have been altered after an intervention by defence minister Parrikar that may have saved the taxpayer Rs 49,300 crore in acquisitions over the next decade.

Faced with the high cost of acquiring the Russian S 400 long range missile shield - the cutting edge system that can bring down incoming stealth fighters and missiles at a range of 380 km - the minister ordered a review of the 15 year long term plan to purchase new air defence systems upto 2027.

The recently concluded review, which involved a technical study by the air force and an evaluation of all available air defence systems in the world, has resulted in a consensus decision to cut down on purchase plans of shorter range missiles, senior officials have told ET.

Air defence strategy hinges around three layers - a short range system that protects high value installations upto 25 km, a medium range system that covers an area of around 40 km and a long range system for threats coming from further.

Sources told ET that the revaluation conducted by the air force concluded that with the S400 acquisition, the long term acquisition plan for over 100 each Medium and Short range systems have been cut down. "The study found that we will require a much lesser number of the shorter range systems. Minister Parrikar convinced the air force that according to its layered defence plan, the long range system (S 400) would make the long range system (S 400) would make the larger number of MR SAM and SR SAM redundant," a top official told ET. The S 400 is expected to cost $ 6.1 billion for five systems - the most expensive air defence system ever bought by India. But, on a per square km covered basis, if is the cheapest of known systems available globally.

Read more at:
Manohar Parrikar's defence rejig saved Rs 49,300 crore - The Economic Times

 

[satishkumarcsc]

Bad idea......as always. We need SR and MR SAMs. Our rivals are right beside us and we might engage them at more shorter ranges. The S 400 might be a great system but it is more of a strategic system compared to the MR and SR SAMs that are more tactical in nature. Hope We get more Akash MK1 and MK2 along with Spyder systems.

 

[Ankit Kumar]

@PARIKRAMA So S400 is basically for the long range. While Barak 8/ ER , SPYDER and AKASH will take care of short and medium range.

And finally as there is some news, my hopes are rekindled for a December deal.

 

[Abingdonboy]

@PARIKRAMA So S400 is basically for the long range. While Barak 8/ ER , SPYDER and AKASH will take care of short and medium range.

And finally as there is some news, my hopes are rekindled for a December deal.

S-400 won't be signed this year, maybe in 2017.

This year the sole big ticket item will be the Rafale- the GoI has failed to significantly increase the defence budget to accomodate mulitple "big ticket" items in a single FY.

 

[Ankit Kumar]

Bad idea......as always. We need SR and MR SAMs. Our rivals are right beside us and we might engage them at more shorter ranges. The S 400 might be a great system but it is more of a strategic system compared to the MR and SR SAMs that are more tactical in nature. Hope We get more Akash MK1 and MK2 along with Spyder systems.

Sir , the article in all probability refers to reduction in numbers of
9M96 SR and MR missiles of S400.We will buy more 48N6 and 40N6 Long range missiles of S400 and less short range missiles of S400 as we will have Akash, SPYDER, MRSAM/B8 to cover the lower gap.

S-400 won't be signed this year, maybe in 2017.

This year the sole big ticket item will be the Rafale- the GoI has failed to significantly increase the defence budget to accomodate mulitple "big ticket" items in a single FY.

Actually no. As soon as Pakistan officially accepts that it has its hands on Chinese S300V copies we will be under immense pressure to get S400 , it does not matter at what cost it comes.

And very likely they will display their new toy in their parade.

 

[Abingdonboy]

Sir , the article in all probability refers to reduction in numbers of
9M96 SR and MR missiles of S400.We will buy more 48N6 and 40N6 Long range missiles of S400 and less short range missiles of S400 as we will have Akash, SPYDER, MRSAM/B8 to cover the lower gap.

Right, I think this article is alluding to the tackling of duplication of services- less Russian MR/SR SAMs will come as part of the S-400 package as similar systems are already being inducted that are of Indian design (or at least in part).

 

[Ankit Kumar]

The article says a reduction of near ~6 billions , so if I take the cost of 10 billion USD for initial order of S400, We can very well arrange for 10-15% of initial payment of ~6billions.

Also we will not be paying all 9 billion USD from our 12 billion USD this year for Rafale. So money is there.

 

[Abingdonboy]

Actually no. As soon as Pakistan officially accepts that it has its hands on Chinese S300V copies we will be under immense pressure to get S400 , it does not matter at what cost it comes.

And very likely they will display their new toy in their parade.

The defence planners aleady know of Pakistan's abilities and thus a parade appearance shouldn't alter much.

"it doesn't matter at what cost" is not a phrase the pencil pushers that are found in the GoI will understand. There simply isn't the budget for the Rafale and S-400 in the same FY given the measly outlay the GoI has allocated. Unless Russia is able to offer some favourable terms (like deffered payment) that is.

 

[satishkumarcsc]

Sir , the article in all probability refers to reduction in numbers of
9M96 SR and MR missiles of S400.We will buy more 48N6 and 40N6 Long range missiles of S400 and less short range missiles of S400 as we will have Akash, SPYDER, MRSAM/B8 to cover the lower gap.



Actually no. As soon as Pakistan officially accepts that it has its hands on Chinese S300V copies we will be under immense pressure to get S400 , it does not matter at what cost it comes.

And very likely they will display their new toy in their parade.

Well this is where you are making a mistake. S 400 is a system. One missile complements another. If you are going to introduce a new system inbetween then a lot of changes are supposed to be made to accommodate it. This will lead to further discrepancies. let the MR and SR SAMs function separately and the S 400 function as a unit. Or just make the AAD and PAD a new system and accommodate it with the BaraK8/NG and Akash/SPYDER system.

 

[graphican]

I am almost a fan of Manohiar Phitkaar. The guy who cries publicly and still earns zero results on F-16 deal, cries more and ears absolutely nothing more. He cuts down Indian defence lines and saves India the most unreasonable money it could save. Wao.. India should have more of this guys! Now with people like these.. India is actually about to shine!

 

[K M Cariappa]

Bad idea......as always. We need SR and MR SAMs. Our rivals are right beside us and we might engage them at more shorter ranges. The S 400 might be a great system but it is more of a strategic system compared to the MR and SR SAMs that are more tactical in nature. Hope We get more Akash MK1 and MK2 along with Spyder systems.

So you know something that the review committee does not know.?

 

[Skull and Bones]

I believe Akash can satisfy the short and medium range defense effectively, all they need to do is induct an active seeking version.

 

[Abingdonboy]

The article says a reduction of near ~6 billions , so if I take the cost of 10 billion USD for initial order of S400, We can very well arrange for 10-15% of initial payment of ~6billions.

Also we will not be paying all 9 billion USD from our 12 billion USD this year for Rafale. So money is there.

Yes, only part payments are made for large deals such as the Rafale and S-400 but these are not the only 2 deals to be signed this year, there are plenty of others that have been stalled for years now- S-70B, M777, A330 MRTT ad many smaller ones. The cumlative cost of these deals won't allow for the Rafale and S-400 in the same FY, unless the GoI/MoD make a one off budget increase for strategic purposes. Why the GoI has let the defence budget slip to as low as 1.65% of GDP that has created such a paucity of funds I don't know.

I believe Akash can satisfy the short and medium range defense effectively, all they need to do is induct an active seeking version.

Akash is an okay SR-SAM but the MR-SAM version (AKASH 2) will be an entirely new design. The BARAK-8 (designated MR-SAM by IA and IAF) on the other hand is exceptional.

Well this is where you are making a mistake. S 400 is a system. One missile complements another. If you are going to introduce a new system inbetween then a lot of changes are supposed to be made to accommodate it. This will lead to further discrepancies. let the MR and SR SAMs function separately and the S 400 function as a unit. Or just make the AAD and PAD a new system and accommodate it with the BaraK8/NG and Akash/SPYDER system.

There shouldn't be any issue with interfacing the S-400 with Indian SR and MR SAMs, just like India customised the Su-30 for their needs, it will customise their S-400 package.

 

[Ankit Kumar]

Well this is where you are making a mistake. S 400 is a system. One missile complements another. If you are going to introduce a new system inbetween then a lot of changes are supposed to be made to accommodate it. This will lead to further discrepancies. let the MR and SR SAMs function separately and the S 400 function as a unit. Or just make the AAD and PAD a new system and accommodate it with the BaraK8/NG and Akash/SPYDER system.

We are not adding anything new. We will just remove the short range missiles. And the short range radars. I think it will only simplify the system unless we try to insert anything.

 

[Eminent Mainstream Media]

Bad idea......as always. We need SR and MR SAMs. Our rivals are right beside us and we might engage them at more shorter ranges. The S 400 might be a great system but it is more of a strategic system compared to the MR and SR SAMs that are more tactical in nature. Hope We get more Akash MK1 and MK2 along with Spyder systems.

I think DRDO and LRDE should start working on long range SAM capable of hitting fighters and other planes 200-400km inside enemy airspace- If I remember such tech- demonstration was showed upon some missile from Aegis Guided Missile Destroyer- Other than that I think over the time MR and SR will dominate our air defense-