Feb. 25, 2005
Sudhir Chadda
India Daily
India is planning a major upgrade in Military hardware, software and overall capabilities. The goal is to match China and not consider Pakistan as any point of benchmark. Sources close to the Ministry of Defense, defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Ministers office confirmed the fact that India’s current goal is to be a region power matching the strength of China, France and UK.
Reuters also reported similar analysis. According to Reuters, India is planning to increase annual defense spending by at least 10 percent, Reuters reported on Feb. 24 citing military experts. Expected purchases include six French submarines, 126 combat aircraft, Israeli airborne radar systems, Russian advanced rocket launcher systems and an Old Russian aircraft carrier.
What is not reported in mainstream media is the fact that India is planning an American style defense establishment. The private software and technology companies will be allowed to come and build weapon systems matching the best in the world. The Private industry will bring in Israeli, American, French and Russian companies as collaborators and build world-class joint programs.
According to the current leaders in India, India’ real achievement lies in the coexistence of equally efficient Public and Private industry in the country. When Hindustan Aeronautics Limited works with privately Indian software industry and build world-class missile systems, India shines in true sense.
In addition to hardware acquisition, India plans to upgrade intelligence effort in a massive way. India understands the futures war in the war will be fought covertly, with field as well signal intelligence.
India plans to reduce the number of armed forces and make the forces technically capable to the level of NATO. That is the long-term goal. Current political and military leaderships understand that India will have to compete in the long term with China, America and Russia. Though technically the military may not match any of the three today, the goal is to turn the table over in ten to fifteen years.
The six French submarines, 126 combat aircraft, Israeli airborne radar systems, Russian advanced rocket launcher systems and an Old Russian aircraft carrier will provide the necessary stopgap for a few years. That will provide the Indian technocrats to create indigenous weapon systems that will surprise the whole world.
The main goal in front of Indian political leadership is not to have any confrontation with Pakistan or any other nation for the next ten years and have a stable source of energy. That will provide India the opportunity to become militarily equal to a superpower.
http://www.indiadaily.com/editorial/1707.asp