‘Atma
Nirbharta (Self Sufficiency) is the only route to Strategic Independence’
Views of CDS
To attain great power status India must
strengthen its internationally identified weak link - defense procurement. In
the current environment we either indigenize or remain a soft power. The CDS recently
made statements to the effect - Boost
‘Make in India’. Give opportunity and hand-hold domestic industry to deliver
cutting edge technology. Initially
accept weapons with 70% GSQRs. Formulate GSQRS on acceptable and desirable
requirements, give a plus minus leeway. Be flexible while not compromising on performance. Need to promote domestic defense
manufacturing and reduce imports. All this was later
emphasized by our FM. It appeared that GSQRs are the main culprits and Armed
Forces do not hold the hand of indigenous defense industry.
GSQRS
Let us examine GSQRs first. There are
15 -30 layers to penetrate before a GSQR/JSQR/PSQR is finalized. Each layer
gives its input to justify its existence. It complicates and stiffens GSQRs to kill
flexibility and enhance unattainability. Further, vested interests attempt to
modify QRs to suit their ends or eliminate competition like in the Augusta
Westland case. Vendors make tall claims
during post RFI interactions. Later
they cannot deliver. Weapons based on a new QR get finally acquired after a
decade. Hence, vision and knowledge are important. That is not institutionally
available in India. Overambition is normal like the QR of a replaceable barrel
for a rifle. Sufficient leeway and flexibility in QRs are available only in the
developmental route via the DRDO. However that route has many pitfalls despite best
potential. The whole thing needs greater thought. There is no doubt about that.
Hand Holding Indigenization Efforts
Development
of Pinaka MBRL commenced in 1987 with a QR of 45 km range, based on 60s vintage
technology of USSR. After meandering for
23 years, Army, DRDO, OFB, L&T and TATAs came up with a system. It was
inducted into the Army in 2010. Range – 37.5 km! What if the range was 7.5 KM
short? It was indigenous, fully supported and accepted. The system stabilized.
An extended range (55 km) version was quickly developed. It was inaccurate. Hence
in an out of the box solution a guidance system was incorporated in 2016. Within a year initial trials were carried out
successfully with a range of 70 km and outstanding accuracy. The investment
paid off. As further trials continued, production facilities should have been
set up in parallel. If parallel production had been set up, by now some of the
critical Chinese facilities in Ladakh would be in reach including parts of the
Western Highway. The Guided Pinaka increases range and precision. It enhances
firepower tremendously. It has potential for 30% range enhancement. It has a
plethora of warheads. It offsets the gap
in depletion of aircraft in the IAF. Completely indigenous. It
has deterrent value. This is what Pakistan says “Pinaka is an artillery missile system capable of
destroying 900 square metres at a 20-80 kilometre range by firing a salvo of 12
rockets within 48 seconds. The Pinaka Mk-II rocket is modified as a missile by
integrating with the navigation, control, and guidance system to improve the
end accuracy and enhance the range. It is believed that the guided version of
the Pinaka system is being developed to deliver nuclear warheads at short
ranges” Clearly worried! However, four years back, we halved the number of
regiments which were originally visualized. Even for the number of regiments sanctioned,
orders are hanging fire. Force
multiplication or force division?
The
Dhanush 45 cal 155mm gun started off as a reverse engineered and upgraded Bofors.
We realized more could be achieved, took the risk, and went big. A Weapon
Development Team under a Brigadier was placed at GCF Jabalpur for constant
interaction, input, and monitoring. The first gun was developed and fired. It
went well. The OFB team kept asking for the QRs. I constantly refused. My logic
- develop the gun, establish all parameters, and then make the QRs. The gun was put through all trials internally
by Artillery. Once satisfied, the QRs
were made. It could not fail. Ultimately Dhanush met all parameters during
actual trials barring some minor ones. It was still cleared with some provisos
but not stopped. Afterall this was the first modern gun India was making in 30
years. Despite a major accident which rattled everyone, invoked widespread
skepticism and vested interest calls to shut the project and go in for a
reliable foreign gun, we continued. All hurdles were crossed. Uniquely, Dhanush
was put through special trials with three guns in high altitude and three in
plains. Thereafter six guns were used as a subunit. Literally speaking, Dhanush
went through a trial by fire when cleared for production. Finally!
India had a topline 155 mm Gun. Our future. However,
the Government started negotiating for a foreign gun! Dhanush was sidelined
after 10 years of hard work! Even the OFB which had quoted Dhanush as a shining
example of success dumped its own baby. Atma Samman and Atma Nirbharta go hand
in hand.
In
2000 it was decided that all new Guns would be 155mm guns. Existing 130mm guns
were first upgraded to 155mm. Simultaneously indigenous manufacture of
ammunition commenced. It included modern Bi Modular Charge Systems (BMCS) as
the propellant. We bought some BMCS through a global tender when a plant was
being established at Nalanda through TOT. Scandals surfaced. Firms were
blacklisted. The plant never got commissioned. Our stocks started depleting. We
went in for a global tender with the old GSQR. Not a single OEM met the QRs! Ammunition
levels continued dipping. It was suggested to dilute QRs to ensure we got some
ammunition at least. I put my foot down. Inaccurate heavy artillery ammunition
will invariably miss the target, fall short in range, and endanger own troops
apart from wasted expenditures. Taboo! We retendered with the same QRs. An
indigenous route was also opened. DRDO by new development and OFB by reverse
engineering. The second-round tender and trials were successful. In the
meanwhile OFB and DRDO came up with BMCS which were 80% ok. 20 % missing with
one was available with the other. Due to internecine animosity they would not
share technology. We stepped in and virtually read out the riot act. The then
Member OFB, Dir HEMRL and I, finally came to a mature understanding. An
Artillery officer led committee forged a way forward. However the Nalanda
Factory was still non-operational. So with some dedicated DRDO and OFB officers
a hybrid solution to start producing BMCS at Nalanda evolved. That process has
now stabilized. I understand that for the present, adequate amount of BMCS are
available for the new 155mm guns being inducted. However the main plant remains
dysfunctional even now. It needs to be operationalized. Otherwise it will impinge
on operational effectiveness as more new guns are inducted. Ammunition!
I could give half a
dozen more examples. However, analyze these cases. There are many sides to this
story. The sides differ for each story. They also reinforce the views of the FM
and CDS and disprove them at the same time. The government needs to do a lot more if we are to truly indigenize.
It will be argued that all these cases pertain to Artillery only. Agreed. In
fact the Navy has a better model. So has Air Defense. Should successful models
not be replicated elsewhere? Incompetent leadership or lack of knowledge or both? To further elucidate,
all Artillery programs, if aggregated, and prioritized as per current
operational requirements, and appropriated equitably to defense industry as per
capability and capacity, all indigenous defense majors(public and private) will
have assured orders for the next three decades and beyond. India will not be
ever short of firepower. If this concept is expanded sensibly and transparently
in a consultative manner, it will lead to a major revival to propel India to
strategic Independence. Extend this concept to identified, measurable and
benchmarked Import Substitution, Reverse Engineering and Upgradation projects
and India will be at a different level. It needs Vision, Knowledge, and Innovation.
Financial issues can be worked out if a virtuous cycle of confidence is
injected. The government must get its act together if it means business. Holistic
thinking needed. Professional integrity and a Nationalist outlook is required.
Fundamental
Shifts and Ground Realities
Some fundamental overarching shifts have occurred
in this pandemic period. These will be constants hereafter.
India’s role in world affairs is expanding. Its weight will
increase only if it can indigenize defense.
Our rise is a direct threat to our adversaries. They will act
in concert to put us down. Atma Nirbharta is the only answer.
Amidst the economic squeeze which is likely to last at least
5 years, imports are unaffordable.
India’s bureaucratic process-oriented procurement needs an
overhaul to promote timely outcomes. Our situation demands extraordinary
responses.
There is an ongoing ‘Disruption in Military Affairs’
through concepts like ‘Multi Domain Operations’ and ‘Unrestricted Warfare’.
Manpower preponderance of Indian Armed Forces inhibits
modernization.
There are some ground realities. Armed Forces who face the enemy and the Politicians
who face the country need Weapons not Bureaucracy or OFB or DRDO or Industry.
They need cases, indents, projects, and orders, respectively. Hence Forces must
assume leadership and control their destiny. Insist on it from the MOD. Everyone
responds when Generals know their
beans.
The CDS
says “You have to see what your threat and what kind of a weapon
you should need…. Very correct. We need
a national threat perception and a strategy to
develop requisite capabilities. Hence a prioritized strategy
based on threats, affordability, availability, alternate means, technology
trendline, alliances, jointness and operational concepts is mandatory. Import Substitution, Reverse Engineering, Upgrading,
and Innovation are part of the deal. The ‘Ideal’ will never happen. Examine how
Iran has done it. Eyeopener.
The DPP
has been amended a greater number of
times than the weapon systems procured. The
DPP is only a GO TO reference for procedure and rules. It has enough leeway to go
around all hurdles. Let me confess. I never took the DPP seriously.
Civil-military
fusion in cyberspace, AI, telecom, space, nuclear, ISR, and Robotics should be
the watchword. There is adequate technology and knowledge available in India.
Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and many multinationals are tapping this knowledge
daily. That knowledge will not come to South Block. It must be harnessed and
harvested from grass roots. Do not treat the knowledge centers as another DRDO
or OFB or DPSU. AI is
one of the priority programs of US Army Futures Command. It is being executed
from Carnegie Mellon University and not Pentagon. There is a 3 bn USD lesson
there.
Conclusion
After the recent reforms were announced,
I attended a few webinars by Industry Bodies. I heard people saying the same
old things. It did not bear results earlier. It cannot deliver under the
current extraordinary times. Is the defense establishment reinforcing failure? India needs to do something different. Time
for talking is over.
Very enlightening sir. As I keep saying, I hope the bureaucrats and planning directorates read this.
ReplyDeleteExcellent article!
ReplyDeleteGen Shankar, has taken us through a tried and tested approach model to Atmanirbharta, although at a limited scale.
ReplyDeleteWe need to urgently identify areas where we posses the industrial base, to achieve reasonable success. Simultaneously, identify force multipliers that are light, flexible and that can deliver, a devastating deterrent like the drones, laser weapons, cyber warfare, AI, Robotics, supersonic aircrafts, that can replace multiple weapon platforms in the air, land and sea. Since we have a proven capability to develop and produce them in decent time, Atmanirbharta in these fields should become our first priority.
Let us remember, we developed the capabilities to make rockets and spacecrafts, much before we could develop, a reliable aircraft and tank engine. So, let us start manufacturing what we can, first. Never mind the gap in the mid level technology.
Simultaneously, let us not shy away from continuing to import equipment and ammunition that we are some distance away from achieving success in developing, locally. Concurrently, we should continue with our R&D to achieve self reliance in these areas, as well.
At no stage there should be more than the reasonable reliance on man behind the gun. Our weapons may not have an edge over our adversaries but at least, must match theirs. At no point should our soldiers lives be put to risk due to inferior weaponry. Remember, there is only one winner in war and no consolation at being a runner up or a loser.
Most importantly, a think tank consisting of experts with hands on experience in being involved with ongoing efforts in indigenisation and eminent personalities from Artillery, Air Defence, Navy, ISRO, AI, Robotics and IT industry, should be put together, to formulate a 10/20 years plan, to kick start our quest for Atmanirbharta.
Most importantly, the nominated project heads be given adequate autonomy to execute the projects, within the framework of roadmap laid out by the think tank. Don't hang them if they fall short on certain parameters. Rather, hand hold and nurture them to bigger glory.
Given adequate resources, support, encouragement and guidance, a country with a vast pool of talent like ours is sure to succeed.
A very illuminating & brilliant article from the erstwhile DG Arty. The power games by the vested parties, bureaucracy,rivalry btwn OFB & DRDO well brought out.
ReplyDeleteWell said;for Atmanirbharta to be realised, it requires vision , holistic thinking, professional integrity & national outlook.
And it is time for the def forces to assume ldrship & control their destiny rather than leaving to othersbothers agencies. Rightly summed up*if Generals know their beans, every one listens*.
A very frank & hard hitting article by a General, I have ever read.
Hope the PMO/the govt takes note of this. Also there is a reqmt to constitute a think tank of experts with grand experience to formulate & realise Atmanirbharta for defence forces.
Dear Shankar, well done yet again on your lovely & in-depth analysis of a chronic problem, & solutions thereof.
ReplyDeleteA few words of advice from a gunner & an armament Tech expert.
I think that dev of weapon systems, tech upgradations, & force multiplyers is a very Top secret matter. We should not discuss these matters on this forum. General remarks are ok but discussion on deep secrets or classified matters must be avoided.
While we must hold the hands & support our CDS we must not forget the damages done by him to promote his own carrier. While Atmanirbharta is an ideal situation, wish this had been done on a war footing after the Chinese debacle, 65 & 71 conflicts, but now we have to balance our current inescapable needs & fulfill them immediately instead of import substitutions. We must not allow our Def Forces to be caught napping while waiting for indigenous development, testing & enmass manufacture. Why should we accept 70 % efficiencies, when we lay down 100% of our lives & blood? No body in the world today is totally Atmanirbhar, we cannot live without give & take. We must put our foot down & insist on immediate purchase of readily available weapons, eqpt off the shelf to keep fighting fit, secretly, on the one hand & do reverse engineering etc & own manufacture which takes time. Atmanirbharta only after self protection against our two prong adversaries. We can avoid frivolous purchase from China, but must continue imports our base materials for medicines without which we cannot survive.
Lastly, we must not abandon our age old friends, Russia, to equip us with soft Rupee payments, till we are Atmanirbhar! Trump is also under pressure, let's meet our immediate needs, even if they are made in USA or Timbuktu!
Excellent article.An eye opner about how the system is dammaging army and hence National interest.Hope people in power take it seriously Well done Dear Shankar
DeleteWell analysed
ReplyDeleteSir very well worded and the examples given ver very apt. Hope someone reads this and takes corrective actions.
ReplyDelete