Defense unpreparedness - Who is responsible?

Indian Express | New Delhi | March 23, 2018 | Page 15

India’s defense budget for FY 2018-19 is a meager Rs 2.95 lakh crore, an increase by 7.81% over last year but  just about 1.58% of the GDP, the lowest figure since the 1962 war with China wherein it was 1.65%. 

• In the light of military threats from both Pakistan and China, the defence outlay is unlikely to completely meet the requirements defense forces. Even though several defense procurement projects were approved, large amounts of funds continue to be surrendered unspent from the capital budget in the past few years.
• China's defense budget is $175 billion i.e. nearly Rs.12 lakh crores. And their massive spending on modernizing armed forces, started 5 years ago, is nearing completion. In terms of capabilities & preparedness, India stands no where near China.
• India’s military equipment is ageing rapidly and replacements are not keeping pace. The budget will not even meet the army’s operational requirements and meeting the threats against China and Pakistan. 
• Deficiencies in ammunition have an adverse impact on the ability to sustain prolonged military operations. The ammunition and weapons stocks available last for less than ten days of fighting against the norm of maintaining 30 days stock. 
• The navy and air force services are no better off. The obsolescent weapons and equipment also affects the country’s defence preparedness as fighter and bomber aircraft are extremely difficult to maintain towards the end of the life cycle. Air force units are also equipped with obsolete equipment and depleting fleet. 
• While the Indian navy is far from acquiring the capabilities of a blue water navy, the People’s Liberation Army navy is getting ready to sail into the Indian Ocean.
• Modern wars are fought mostly during the hours of darkness, but a large number of the army’s armoured fighting vehicles, tanks and infantry combat vehicles are still ‘night blind’. 

The government sanctioned some funds to acquire the wherewithal necessary for combat readiness. Unless the remaining deficiencies in weapons, ammunition and equipment are also made up quickly, the management of the defence budget improves by an order of magnitude and the defence procurement process is streamlined further, thoughts of critical hollowness in defence preparedness will continue to haunt India’s defence planners.

It is strange that India thinks of military when compelled to plan for augmenting their protection against the adversaries. The fact of the matter is India is not war ready. We don't have ability and ammunition stocks for a two front war. At best we can defend from aggressors. The military modernization which was conceived in 2004 after exposure of weaknesses during Kargil war has not taken shape till now. Both UPA and present NDA governments are responsible for India's today's utter defense unpreparedness.