tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post546168301618073234..comments2024-03-28T05:22:10.255-07:00Comments on Broadsword by Ajai Shukla - Strategy. Economics. Defence.: How weakness buys strengthBroadswordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076780076240598482noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-59950861597963339642013-04-18T08:22:58.705-07:002013-04-18T08:22:58.705-07:00can you name a single project that IAF/Army is fun...can you name a single project that IAF/Army is funding with IITs. Nil. Do IITs conduct research that eventually fixes like peaces of a jigsaw puzzle into a larger US requirement. Yes<br />Does DRDO/PSUs supports FDI? NO<br />The need of the hour is Defence Tech commission. with representation from academia,Services technocrates and DRDO<br />that should dictate the requirements,guide the research,evaluate the Offsets,monitor their implementation and suggest govt at the highest levl about Mil Ind Complex development. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-48518267216507940572013-04-18T07:25:38.121-07:002013-04-18T07:25:38.121-07:00To Anonymous at 21:33 17th April,
AK-47 is not mo...To Anonymous at 21:33 17th April,<br /><br />AK-47 is not modern. In fact it was first produced in 1948. Actually the SLR, the Belgian FN FAL, was put into production in 1950, and has been phased out by the Indian Army in favor of the INSAS some time ago. So you see, we already have more modern weapons in the hands of our soldiers than the ancient AK.<br /><br />Secondly which useless fighter are we forcing on our pilots? And what are the super duper fighters our enemies are enjoying?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-65878802264370779782013-04-18T04:55:45.643-07:002013-04-18T04:55:45.643-07:00I think you got it all wrong! The facts:
1. Army b...I think you got it all wrong! The facts:<br />1. Army buys entire personal kit, including boots, socks, trouser, shirt, cap, jersey and coat from Ordnance Factories based on self-certification by the factory. Meaning Army can not reject these items, even if these are sub-standard.<br />2. Army buys personal weapons like rifle, pistol and stencil gun from Ordnance Factories. Again self - certified by factories. That is why Napalese Army may refuse but Indian Army can not refuse INSAS.<br />3. The 2.5 and 5 Ton trucks are made by Ordnance Factories with ToT and their quality is far lower than those made by Tatar or Ashok Layland.<br />4. As for tanks assembled at Awadi, you would know better than me and should share the reality with your reader.<br />Need of the hour is not to browbeat this or that organization but create a level playing field, where the professional (army or IAF) can put it's need on the table and system allows fair competition between PSU and Private (including foreign) and forces a transparent decision within reasonable time limit.Yogihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10813642555904398272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-83337654843859257632013-04-17T09:03:46.186-07:002013-04-17T09:03:46.186-07:00While I agree with sentiments of your article..pls...While I agree with sentiments of your article..pls tell me why a Jawab facing the business end of a modern Ak 47 does not deserve a travor or a Fn ...just because lazy babushka are wiling away their time till retirement in DRDO? Or a fighter pilot must risk his life flying a useless fighter when the enemy he would comfort had access to latest weapons...in combat ,as you would know, there are no runners upAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-11103501879261151902013-04-17T05:25:11.797-07:002013-04-17T05:25:11.797-07:00Procure locally is a mantra which can throw up som...Procure locally is a mantra which can throw up some very interesting situations. Will we see PSU's employ "agents" to facilitate orders from the MOD.What if there is only one local Indian psu/Pvt vendor, then how does the govt propose to view single vendor situations??<br />Basically irrespective of how much we give St Antony a clean chit re his honesty, the grim truth is that he has been Defence Minister since 2005 ie 8 years -long enough for him to have given strategic direction to the Indian arms industry (psu/ pvt).The blame for our sorry situation today must be placed squarely on St Antony's head .dannyboynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-37603683276338936232013-04-17T00:20:19.038-07:002013-04-17T00:20:19.038-07:00Col. Shukla
Who was going to imbibe strategic thi...Col. Shukla<br /><br />Who was going to imbibe strategic thinking into the political class which has failed in providing the strategic direction for all this?<br /><br />American Generals like from Eisenhower to Powell rose to promiment leadership positions. Robert Gates and Chuck Hagel have served in the military. Our faujis either become pundits like you, or 3rd echelon politicians like Khanduri and Roychowdhury.<br /><br />The biggest damage to India's military has been done by its military men running away from the field of battle - how about an op-ed on that someday.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-2529234952918390622013-04-17T00:12:13.245-07:002013-04-17T00:12:13.245-07:00A good and timely article.
The tendency to claw do...A good and timely article.<br />The tendency to claw down for ‘Buy Global’ category items seems to be the line that Army and the Air Force have practiced in the past. Navy, though not much of a culprit gets caught in this web occasionally (eg the 80 nos -Shallow Water Crafts procurement case which Navy/MoD progressed under Buy Global category despite adequate capability and capacity available within our DPSU & private yards… ). The Army and the Air Force needs to dispense this urge for the present and future of our country dependency on these foreign arm suppliers.<br />By and large, one of our most successful story in defence indigenisation is undoubtly, our naval indigenous warship building programme. Here too, the Navy for its weaponry fit largely depend upon foreign OEMS as there is little or no choice to fall back within our country. I feel time has now come for our industry to take up this challenge and support these indigenous efforts. Our government besides advocating for clean procurement practices, should also act as a facilitator by favouring our own indigenous industry by virtue of bringing in favourable and unambiguous industrial policies in this direction.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-31803343929361961972013-04-16T21:12:15.013-07:002013-04-16T21:12:15.013-07:00Ajai Ji,
Any updates that you could share about t...Ajai Ji,<br /><br />Any updates that you could share about the status of IJT? What happened to the project? Are the first batch of 12 planes going to be delivered this year end?<br /><br />Please share news on this front<br /><br />GuruGuruhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17207506803118876840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-24023660254000981522013-04-16T16:32:31.818-07:002013-04-16T16:32:31.818-07:00Ajai,
I point out the story "The Necklace&qu...Ajai,<br /><br />I point out the story "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant to you and any lurking Indian Army Generals. The story is about a young woman who borrows an expensive necklace to go to a party, proceeds to lose the necklace and spends the best years of her life toiling to save enough money to pay back the debt. <br /><br />Strategic capability given by imported weapons is a borrowed necklace, that we can not afford to loose or use. In countries that manufacture their own weapons, times of war are boom times - as the economy shifts into a higher gear to provide for a nation at war. <br /><br />On the other hand, in our case, our economy will likely face a balance of payments crisis if we enter a short 4 week war. We will have to depreciate the ruppee as we scour the arms markets of the world to replace weapons wasted in war at extortionate prices. No wonder, with an arms budget several times larger than Pakistan, we have not been able to stem their terror exports, or to settle the border in the NE on a relatively equal basis with China. Our Army/Airforce prefer to preen with borrowed expensive necklaces like T90s/Rafales than create a genuine war fighting force, that the country can afford to use and lose. <br /><br />Armed forces may think these imported weapons are a necklace, but they are actually a noose around their necks, they will be yanked this way and that as per the convenience of the seller.sudeephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14251507861876745967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-52620014302592702092013-04-16T11:10:33.605-07:002013-04-16T11:10:33.605-07:00What is "honesty" worth if it isn't ...What is "honesty" worth if it isn't supported by competence or even basic intelligence ? <br /><br />"Honesty" as a political gimmick is useless. It's better to have a patriotic crook than a honest fool .<br /><br />AK Anthony has absolutely no strategic thinking, no prior defense exposure and utterly lacks the ability to motivate, plan or prioritize needs with an eye on the strategic environment. <br /><br />What has AK Anthony's "honesty" brought India except Delay, missed opportunities, mismanagement and outright negligent behavior to plan for the future ?? Rahjnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-62711564855182736502013-04-16T10:00:25.008-07:002013-04-16T10:00:25.008-07:00अजय साब,
आप ना एकदम, वो कहते है ना "झांसू&qu...अजय साब,<br /><br />आप ना एकदम, वो कहते है ना "झांसू" लिखते हो| You are an e-lawyer having the guts and will to impeach,convict and punish this supposedly 'honest' Defense Minister(At least in the web-world!) जो देशकी 'वाट' लगारेला है! <br /><br />Deshdaazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13072694845029489289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-25700475018901696682013-04-16T09:03:19.922-07:002013-04-16T09:03:19.922-07:00It should become mandatory for all defence contrac...It should become mandatory for all defence contracts to Plough back at least 25 % of the profit for next version development.hiremathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08858103778601289621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-12883067790444504042013-04-16T08:18:26.881-07:002013-04-16T08:18:26.881-07:00Hi, Ajai Sir,
A very good article.
Indian Navy al...Hi, Ajai Sir,<br /><br />A very good article.<br />Indian Navy always gives importance to indigenous development.<br />Read somewhere that HTT 40 basic trainer has verbal support of Indian Navy.HAL seems assured that Navy will select HTT40<br />when creating separate facility for Pilot training.So at least they get a customer.<br /><br />The path followed by HAL by funding a project from internal funds is a welcome sign.<br /><br />It should be made compulsory that profit making DPSU to invest in projects which are outside the GSQR and whose requirement may just be speculative.<br />We can very well absorb commercial failures like Amogh carbine and Excalibur also TAR but the experience gained from it will not go in vain.<br /><br />Also what should be made compulsory is participation of universities in such projects which will help creating a greater talent pool.<br />This is far more necessary because participation of our University in technology development is minimal.<br /><br />The lack of confidence of Army in DRDO, OFB and Avadi are two fold.<br />1. For lack of foresight in design stage and <br />2. Sloppy manufacturing.<br />By stating the above I am not giving clean chit to our Army.<br /><br />But if Army doesn't want to give order for second lot of 310 t-90 fearing QC issues then situation is grim. One cannot blame Army for that.<br />But not giving orders for Arjun mk1 till mk1A/mk2 arrives was wrong on the part of Army as Avadi has completed 1st batch orders for 124 Arjun mk1.<br />and Arjun production line would sit idle for next 2-3 years.<br /><br />If such is the situation which domestic manufacturer would come forward for manufacturing sub-components?<br /><br />Finally, a sustained order for all domestic product is need of the hour.But don't you think they should be insured against sloppy manufacturing.<br />And how will that be done is also a question.<br /><br />But Colonel,I feel you and your likes are the best persons to come out with a solution how to address the concerns of both worlds.( DRDO/OFB on one side and Army on the other).<br /><br />Many knowledgeable persons have come out with many solutions, some are practical and some whose implementation will be difficult. while some have advocated solution which are far away from ground reality.<br /><br />But, the solution to the problem lies in one of them. Wish those in power critically examine the views and suggestions put forward by you and other blogs and forums along with others in business and come out with a solution and implement it ASAP.<br /><br />Lastly, All I can say is Thank you and carry on the good work.<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /> <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-22805933732779550472013-04-16T07:52:44.393-07:002013-04-16T07:52:44.393-07:00It was well known about your band vagon. So why no...It was well known about your band vagon. So why not equip the Army with .303 in the name of indegeniousation while CRPF equip with Berreta...<br /><br />Something wrong somewhere..<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-14092960333931284692013-04-16T05:40:52.287-07:002013-04-16T05:40:52.287-07:00Col.Shukla,
I hope the next government inducts y...Col.Shukla, <br /><br />I hope the next government inducts you in the national security council. I am not being facetious or flippant about the suggestion. <br /><br />Rgds <br /><br />Jayant Mnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-66912162501211796992013-04-16T05:09:33.354-07:002013-04-16T05:09:33.354-07:00Brilliant and practical article... I am software p...Brilliant and practical article... I am software professional and I have experienced it first hand myself... We cannot, cannot, cannot build a perfect software the first time... You first build it, make it stable them improvise it...<br />Hopefully our Army and Airforce understands this and go for incremental improvement... Also hopefully our DRDO and private industry makes that extra push to atleast deliver things on time... then can improve it later... Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-49060133695402395072013-04-16T04:36:30.509-07:002013-04-16T04:36:30.509-07:00Ajai,
Thanks once again for hitting the nail on t...Ajai, <br />Thanks once again for hitting the nail on the head. A nation without its own military production capabilities can at best be seen as an amateur part time military power. <br /><br />I think that given our recent history wherein we have not had the kind of conflict that threatens the existence of the nation and kills millions of soldiers and citizens, it is quite easy for our government and our military to have such a easygoing attitude towards our defence capabilities.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-33824597452738249482013-04-15T23:39:02.349-07:002013-04-15T23:39:02.349-07:00By blaming the Army/Air force we are giving cover ...By blaming the Army/Air force we are giving cover to the real culprits-the nameless faceless Bureaucrats. As the eminent Mr.Sridharan of Delhi Metro said "Even the Politicians are keen for progress but the Bureaucracy..."<br /><br />The Armed Forces are NOT against Indigenous equipment They are against plain lying. Why did ADA say the LCA would be in Service by 2000 when in fact it's service entry continues to be uncertain even today. Who forwarded the proposal that project for the replacement for the MiG 21 should be go to an Organization (ADA) that did not exist. The RM? HAL? IAF? Who repeatedly supported the slippages in schedules without intervening to correct things? These are the questions that need to be asked and answered before we bleame the RM,IAF,IA,HAL.Prodyutnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-371683041734468962013-04-15T23:21:16.722-07:002013-04-15T23:21:16.722-07:00Bludgeon the Generals... into submission... Bludge...Bludgeon the Generals... into submission... Bludgeon the Chief Marshals... into submission... Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-65836051004770607672013-04-15T22:33:48.266-07:002013-04-15T22:33:48.266-07:00Ajai, Good article. We all need to stay focused on...Ajai, Good article. We all need to stay focused on make and improve model. Challenging environment calls for innovative persistent solutions and not knee jerk small and delayed foreign procurements... or it will be 1962 all over again in multidimension.Sachin Khandelwalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-83736945206165905352013-04-15T21:51:31.346-07:002013-04-15T21:51:31.346-07:00Indian army generals are fat generals of a peace t...Indian army generals are fat generals of a peace time army. They have never had to face to the possibility of annihilation of their division, their corps, their nation in war. Right now their priority is to look good by pinning two chestfulls of medals and to make post retirement arrangements. With a budget several times the size of Pakistan, they could not control the low intensity war imposed on us. A purge would be in order..skjhttp://www.google.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-80082296455505538182013-04-15T21:50:03.949-07:002013-04-15T21:50:03.949-07:00Well written with good arguments, bt do u really t...Well written with good arguments, bt do u really think its correct to crucify MoD for everything?<br /><br />Just wondering about a number of indegenious projects, <br />INSAS rifles with other leading assult rifles<br />GTRE GTX-35VS Kaveri engine in Tejas program<br />LCA Tejas itself (started 'long' back in 80s)<br /><br />Sajeev<br />xpsajeevk.blogspot.comSajeevhttp://xpsajeevk.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-54702095855272016252013-04-15T21:32:52.162-07:002013-04-15T21:32:52.162-07:00Dear Sir, let me make a humorous comment on the De...Dear Sir, let me make a humorous comment on the Defence PSU which aptly describes the situation;<br />"Never in history have so many used so much resources and produced so little".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-33343313221887528982013-04-15T21:22:57.247-07:002013-04-15T21:22:57.247-07:00Dude, our politicians/so called leaders don't ...Dude, our politicians/so called leaders don't have a long-term vision, instead they only have a 5-year "plan". Guess what that 5-year plan constitutes? Make "hay" (money) while the sun shines! You cannot expect high standards from those who haven't sacrificed for their country. Instead most of today's politicians belong to "princeling" generation and some were born with a silver spoon in their mouth. The only solution to this morass in Indian politics is a revolution! Democracy has clearly not delivered to Indians what our Independence leaders promised. Instead as Anna Hazare said, these leaders have actually robbed us more than the British. So, if you have talent, quit India. India's fate, is/will always be, governed by its "lowest denominator" (cattle class) not by its brightest. Our culture has become so fragmented by external pollutants that's its impossible to change it. Nations with higher culture will be successful, ex Western culture. Arabs/Muslims will be at the bottom pile. Indians will be content at whatever they get. China will emulate West and become successful eventually. This is our fate and only "lowest denomination" Indians can change it...No wonder, this "lowest denominator" (aam aadmi) is being very shrewdly exploited by our founding father's party. India's slogan should be "Aam aadmi ka 'aam' desh" (common man's ordinary nation).<br /><br />-Amol (Mumbai)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-15705418151052618162013-04-15T20:58:15.284-07:002013-04-15T20:58:15.284-07:00State owned production establishment has promised ...State owned production establishment has promised much but delivered little is the reason why the generals and marshals tend to look abroad for weaponry. The Tezas started in 1980 , it has been 33 years now and it hasn't seen the light of day, God knows when it will touch production, can the AF wait this long ? And why did the HF 24 and the vijayant tank not progress to MK versions ? We maybe good at making the outer structure but simply don't have it in us to produce intricate engines and systems. <br />Also to be blamed are governments which lack a sense of vision .sharanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12940512284218821806noreply@blogger.com