From M777 howitzers to K9 Vajra, Apache choppers to Scorpene submarines, the Modi govt has finished what Manmohan Singh’s UPA started.
New Delhi: The Indian military is set for several big-ticket military inductions this year, all of which have been in the pipeline for years.
Given the Indian polity’s propensity to turn every other military deal into a potential scandal, it’s no wonder, for example, that the Indian Air Force’s 2001 request for new fighter aircraft will turn into the Rafale jets only beginning 2019.
Of course, it is the prerogative of the government of the day to take credit for making things happen, and one can be sure that each of these inductions will be credited to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his BJP government. After all, his government has got these files moving far enough for the deals to fruition.
But in each of these six instances, the UPA government, much-maligned for its inaction in the face of multiple scam allegations, was the one that set the ball rolling.
1. M777 ultra-light Howitzers
The first regiment of the M777 ultra-light howitzers is set to be operationalised this year. The Rs 5,000-crore deal will see the induction of 145 M777 ultra-light howitzers, which will be deployed mostly on the northern borders facing China.
In May 2012, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by then defence minister A.K. Antony, had cleared the deal for the BAE Systems’ M777 through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route of the US government.
This purchase had to be approved by the Finance Ministry and the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). However, the process did not move forward from there.
In February 2014, the Ministry of Defence once again moved the cleared file, but then the general elections saw a change of government.
In May 2015, the deal was again cleared by then defence minister Manohar Parrikar. The contract for purchasing the guns was finally signed in 2016.
Also read: The 10 big defence inductions by Indian military in 2019
2. K9 Vajra
The process of buying 100 155mm/52 calibre tracked (self-propelled) guns was also initiated during the UPA regime.
The first Request-For-Proposal (RFP) was floated in 2007. In 2011, L&T emerged as the top bidder.
In 2013, Antony had told the Lok Sabha that the deal is in progress, and three Indian vendors, including two private companies, had been selected for trials. However, the deal only got cleared last year by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) headed by the prime minister.
3. Rafale fighter jets
While the IAF first moved the proposal to acquire new fighter aircraft during the tenure of the Vajpayee government, it was only in 2007 that a formal RFP was issued.
Following a series of trials, French aviation giant Dassault emerged as the winner in 2012.
In 2013, Antony told the Lok Sabha that proposal for procuring 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) for the IAF was at ‘commercial discussion’ stage with Dassault Aviation.
However, the deal never materialised. It was only in 2016 that a fresh deal for 36 Rafale fighters in flyaway condition was inked by the Modi government.
4. Apache and Chinook helicopters
The acquisition process for the two helicopters was started in 2009, and was expected to be completed by December 2012.
However, due to bureaucratic delays both in the defence and finance ministries, the acquisition had been hanging fire since 2013, following the completion of all negotiations.
In 2015, the Finance Ministry gave its nod to acquire 22 Apache attack and 15 Chinook heavy deployment helicopters with over 13 price extensions, but it was only last year that the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) cleared the multi-billion dollar deal with American aviation giant Boeing.
5. INS Arihant
India’s first indigenously-developed nuclear submarine was sanctioned in the late 1970s, but it was only launched on 26 July 2009, by then prime minister Manmohan Singh.
In August 2013, the submarine’s atomic reactor was activated. Three years later, Prime Minister Modi inducted the submarine into the Navy.
INS Arihant, which completes India’s nuclear triad successfully, completed its deterrence patrol in November last year. The crew was received and felicitated by Modi.
Also read: Jatropha plant fuel from Chhattisgarh to power Indian military aircraft
6. Scorpene
In October 2005, India had signed a $3.75 billion (approx. Rs 16,875 crore at the time) deal for six submarines to be built by Mazgaon Dock Limited in Mumbai, with transfer of technology from what was then known as the DCNS Group (now Naval Group).
The project saw several delays, and the first submarine, INS Kalvari, was only commissioned by Prime Minister Modi on 14 December 2017.
INS Khandari, the second submarine, was launched on 12 January 2018, and is currently undergoing sea trials.
chk all details of M777 guns and how much we paid extra for delay the tender…..
almost double amount for nothing
it wz total mess……
When will THE PRINT will stop printing crap material ? Dont they get any idea by reading about people reaction in comment section ?
UPA headed by a pvt ltd Party sanctioned lot of defence deals but it was a pure “eye wash” as it was deliberately delayed to make the technology outdated..
Congress headed by a foreign lady had signed a MoU with China to make India’s defence weak by not purchasing/making required arms and ammunitions.
They under a sinister plan appointmented a honest but coward person Sri A.K.Anthony as defence minister. Who never wanted to accelerate a deal as there was attend in Congress rule to have a solid kickback and Anthony never wanted to be a party for facing allegations…
Result no significant defence purchases..
From 42 squadrons Airforce was made to dangerously reduce to 25… Half of the Submarine fleet were made defunct for repair/overhauling… No proper rifles for soldiers, even stock of bullets and other ammunitions were reduced to 2 days capacity in case of a war.
When there is enemy inside your house and that too holding high offices you can’t expect any defence(safety) from ouside aggressions.
Thank God we get rid of it in 2014 and some patriotic peoples took the charge
In the years of its rule it divided India on the basis of caste and religion to stay in power. Suppressed media or used it to preach its agenda. Stole businesses for companies that were an extended arm of the govt and financed the ruler, these companies grew and looted India while the people suffered. The rulers Suppressed people’s dissent by using law enforcement against them, putting people who didn’t agree with them in jails, murdering the representatives of people’s voices. The rulers came in the name of doing better business and helping people.
Now tell me Mr. Gopal Sharma what is the difference between the British and the BJP?
This govt certainly will undo the God works of the previous govts and the rot has begun.
UPA headed by a pvt ltd Party sanctioned lot of deal but it was a pure “eye wash” as it was deliberately delayed to make the technology outdated..
Congress headed by a foreign lady had signed a MoU with China to make India’s defence weak by not purchasing/making required arms and ammunitions.
They under a sinister plan appointmented a honest but coward person A.K.Anthony as defence minister. Who never wanted to accelerate a deal as there was attend in Congress rule to have a solid kickback and Anthony never wanted to be a party for facing allegations… Result no defence purchases..
From 42 squadrons Airforce dangerously reduced to 25… Half of the Submarine fleet were made defunct… No proper rifles for soldiers, Even stock of bullets and other ammunitions were reduced to 2 days capacity in case of war.
When there is enemy inside uour house and that too holding high offices you can’t expect any defence(safety) from ouside aggressions.
Thank God we get rid of it in 2014 and some patriotic peoples took the charge
The cases where the UPA can genuinely take credit for are the nuclear sub development and launch, the development of a Bofors equivalent by the OFB, bringing LCA to the IOC status, induction of the INS Vikramaditya, Agni 4 and 5 launches, ASTRA missile development, Barak missile induction and completion of the hull- launch of the Indian aircraft carrier . In many other projects there was unnecessary delay and bureaucracy with no one willing to make things happen. Prime examples are the SCorpene sub delays ( 4 years), Rafale tender delay ( no excuses here) , delays in any number of artillery gun tenders and delays in finalisng combat rifles and bullet proof vests.
UPA failed. Period. Deals pending admittedly since 2005 didn’t see the light of day till post 2014. So to say that UPA set the “ball rolling” is essentially giving credit where none is due. The headline is ridiculously misleading.
EXACTLY. FALSIFIED HEADING.
THE CASE IS INITIATED BY THE SERVICES. UPA SAT UPON THOSE CASES. NOW IT IS BEING EXECUTED.
“Ball rolling” is not good enough if you do not have the courage to go against the delaying and backward-motion tactics of the corrupt members of the dynasty. So MMS failed.
The reason for the delays is all political dispensations in power at the centre have been depending on filling their coffers ( party accounts) from the collateral commissions from defence deals. They have to find a safe conduit for the same before the deal is inked. From Bofors to Augusta it is the same story. Even during Vajpayee’s tenure Tehelka proved that it was happening. Remember Bandaru Laxman, the National President receiving wads of currency notes literally from under the table in the field of the secret camera of the sting operator. This practice could have been totally dispensed with, with a few changes in the election laws covering donations to parties and a more transparent audit of their accounts. But no party comes forward to put an end to this corruption which is the mother of all corruptions.