{"id":6652,"date":"2023-12-01T19:39:21","date_gmt":"2023-12-01T14:09:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/?p=6652"},"modified":"2025-01-04T14:48:05","modified_gmt":"2025-01-04T09:18:05","slug":"inputs-to-journalist-recent-defence-procurement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/2023\/12\/01\/inputs-to-journalist-recent-defence-procurement\/","title":{"rendered":"416: INPUTS TO JOURNALIST: RECENT DEFENCE PROCUREMENT"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #008000; text-decoration: underline;\">NEWS<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;\">The defence ministry has cleared acquisition proposals worth \u20b92.23 lakh crore for the armed forces, <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;\">including:-<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><em><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;\">97 additional light combat aircraft from HAL.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><em><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;\">156 light combat helicopters from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL).<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><em><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;\">A \u20b965,000-crore plan to upgrade the mainstay Su 30MKI fighter jet fleet in service with the air force.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #800080; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong><u>Q<\/u><\/strong>.\u00a0 A multi-billion dollar acquisition was approved by DAC. But what is absent is the AoN for MRFA. Do you think the government sees the indigenous LCA Mk2 as a viable option instead of 114 MRFAs??<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000080; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong><u>COMMENTS<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;\">Over the years the IAF capabilities have enhanced manifold.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #993300;\">It is the capacity (war endurance) that needs attention, strength of fighter and combat support platforms.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #0000ff;\">Overall the deterrence capability has not kept pace with the existing threat perception.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #ff6600;\">This aspect needs to be addressed urgently.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #993366;\">The government is aware of it and trying to address it.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #339966;\">Air platforms of the Air Force are technology-intensive, costly, and take time to procure.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #993300;\">While building up the capability and capacity, the most important thing to be kept in mind is that the required minimum deterrence value is to be maintained at all times (either by domestic production or by outside procurement.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #800080;\">The lesson from all the recent wars is that self-reliance in defence production is essential.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;\">Another major factor to be considered is that a balance is to be maintained between the quality and quantity of platforms.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #000080;\">IAF has a drawdown mitigation plan, which is reviewed periodically.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #800000;\">The amount of money for defence spending is limited and the wish list is long.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #333399;\">The government must have taken a decision keeping all the above factors in mind.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #993300;\">They have given preference to the domestic defence industry to build up the numbers.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #800080;\"><u>My recommendations are:-<\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #993300;\">While the domestic production of Tejas would cater to the numbers, there is a requirement for newer-generation multi-role aircraft to maintain a balanced force (till the domestic Tejas MkII and AMCA come up).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #339966;\">MRFA aircraft needs to be procured (maybe in the next instalment of defence spending).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #993366;\">These should be procured in phases (maybe two to three squadrons at a time.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #008080;\">This would spread the expenditure over some time and we would get later and better technology and features.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: #ff6600;\">Keeping the diverse inventory of the IAF and the associated challenges it would be prudent to go in for more Rafael aircraft.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #008000; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><u>Suggestions and value additions are most welcome<\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">For regular updates, please register here:-<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"qy5Ohvv2EA\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/subscribe\/\">Subscribe<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;Subscribe&#8221; &#8212; Air Marshal&#039;s Perspective\" src=\"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/subscribe\/embed\/#?secret=EK919xZ0b9#?secret=qy5Ohvv2EA\" data-secret=\"qy5Ohvv2EA\" width=\"525\" height=\"296\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><u>References and credits<\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">To all the online sites and channels.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><u>Disclaimer<\/u>:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Information and data included in the blog are for educational &amp; non-commercial purposes only and have been carefully adapted, excerpted, or edited from sources deemed reliable and accurate. All copyrighted material belongs to respective owners and is provided only for purposes of wider dissemination.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; NEWS The defence ministry has cleared acquisition proposals worth \u20b92.23 lakh crore for the armed forces, including:- 97 additional light combat aircraft from HAL. 156 light combat helicopters from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). A \u20b965,000-crore plan to upgrade the mainstay Su 30MKI fighter jet fleet in service with the air force. &nbsp; Q.\u00a0 A &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/2023\/12\/01\/inputs-to-journalist-recent-defence-procurement\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;416: INPUTS TO JOURNALIST: RECENT DEFENCE PROCUREMENT&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,5,19,139,75,138,78,122],"tags":[109,47,8,38,79,60],"class_list":["post-6652","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-aircraft","category-airpower","category-article","category-atmanirbharta","category-iaf","category-indigenisation","category-military-capability","category-warfare","tag-aircraft","tag-defence-services","tag-iaf","tag-indian-air-force","tag-military-capability","tag-warfare"],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6652","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6652"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6652\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9156,"href":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6652\/revisions\/9156"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6652"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6652"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6652"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}