The Parliamentary Panel termed the army-aviation, tank
ammunition and artillery as the Achilles Heel of the Indian Army.
In its report tabled in the Parliament on Monday, the
Standing Committee on Defence said: “The Committee fails to understand how the
Army would be able to address the issue of critical shortages of armaments. The
Committee strongly feels that the issue of shortage of armaments with Army at
various fronts, need immediate attention.”
However, the Defence Ministry in its Annual Defence Report
2011-12 had contended that the Army was in pink of health with all the
modernization programmes on track. The report was followed by Antony rubbishing
the reports of ammunition shortages as “rumours”. “These are all rumours. I can
assure you that the country is fully prepared. India is in much stronger
position compared to the past. There may always some short comings, that also is
in the process of filling up,” Antony had said.
The report observed “huge” gaps between the sanctioned and
existing machines with Army Aviation. As per the data in the report, the Army
is short of 155 helicopters. And the existing Cheetah/Chetak helicopters used
for maintenance at high-altitude forward bases are ageing and in dire need of
replacement. However, the efforts to replace the rotor wing machines have been
stalled repeatedly as the tender for 197 helicopters was scrapped in 2007 and the
new tender is also on the verge of cancellation.
"If the sanctioned and the existing strength is compared, there is shortage of 18 Cheetah, 1 Chetak, 76 Advance Light Helicopter and 60 Advance Light Helicopter (Weapons Systems Integrated) with Army Aviation," the report observes.
Concurring with the Army Chief, who had red-flagged the shortage
of critical tank ammunition in his letter to the Prime Minister on March 12,
the Panel said: “Tank ammunition is another critical area having shortages. The
problems with regard to tank ammunition have further compounded due to
blacklisting of IMI (Israeli Munitions Industries).”
The Army’s armoured piercing tank ammunition depleted
critically following the blacklisting of the Israeli Firm IMI. The force has
been dependent on the firm for its ammunition after the Ordnance Factory
Board’s ammunition failed to pass the trials.
On the issue of artillery, the Committee comprising of MPs
deplored on how upgradation of Bofors gun has taken such a long time.
Expressing alarm over how these deficiencies have been
allowed to linger on for so long, the Committee has recommended fast-tracking
of the procurement.
How can the Army be on the elite and efficient fighting machine its is supposed to be when the General who leads it does not know is own age.
ReplyDeleteNo sir, the General is forced to accept the age that the Government assigns him. The Govt tells him in which year he was born, supported in this venture by a Supreme Court ruling
DeleteActually it is the general who is confused.He has got two different years on different documents. Also if he was so sure about his age, why did he not say so when he was promoted as COAS or before that throughout his term in the army? Why speak about it at retirement. He had no problems with this 'wrong' records as he puts it to get seniority and the post of COAS. When it is time to step down, he has issue with it?
DeleteHe has severely dented the credibility of Army and continues to do so with his gimmicks and attempts at revenge by leaking internal matters.
Those who call the General as confused are trully Indians.Always focus on the non-issue and ignore the real issue - a product of the Congress & BJP parties. The MoD if full of greedy selfish people and is being led by an equally incompetent person that will compromise the country's security to satisfy his ego is the issue. Not the general's age. Grow up and smell the coffee. If the Chinese or Pakis attack us today, it will be sheer grit of the Indian soldier that wins us the was (if we do). There is a lot of coverage of India launching an RFI for this and that but very little has resulted in orders being placed for actual weapons for the army (not IAF or IN). Our army is strong but the govt has weakened their means of fighting and survival.
ReplyDelete