By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd) Former Director General of Information Systems, Indian Army

Akash Surface to Air Missile System successfully flight tested at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur

ZU-23MM-2B at Siachen

The DAC recently cleared pending projects worth Rs 30,000 crores including warship combat management systems, artillery bi-modular charge systems, multi-spectrum camouflage nets, and microlights for NCC cadets. But more importantly, these included Rs 4,380 crores for acquiring another 4 x P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft for the Navy and Rs 16,900 crore to replace the L-70 and Zu-23mm guns, which are of the vintage of 1960s and 1970s. The DAC has reportedly "revalidated" the "acceptance of validity" for the Rs 16,900 crore proposal to acquire an initial 428 air AD guns under a 'Buy & Make India' project. Private sector players like Tatas, Punj Llyod and Bharat Forge have shown interest in the project, which will now see a tender being floated for import of an initial lot of the guns with the rest to be made in India in a joint venture with the foreign collaborator. "Revalidating Validity" would be a concept alien to any country focused on its own defence but here it is routine despite the leaked letter from then Army Chief General VK Singh to then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2012 categorically pointing out that 97 percent of Army's AD weapon systems were obsolete. But then, we have had cases like the Army's TCS approved by three different Defence Ministers, files closed shut after approval, fresh cases initiated, till it finally has been offered to the industry after delay of more than a decade. That something more sinister is going on beyond red tape would a plausible conclusion.

Coming to the initial 428 AD guns under a 'Buy & Make India' project, it would take anything from 10-15 years for the project to fructify, considering that the much awaited new Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) still appears some months away, and the industry continues to be frustrated with the procedures in vogue. The project itself will require the CCS nod but even then cancellation of the project at a future date can hardly be ruled out, taking the recent example of the infantry's assault rifles. Tatas, Punj Llyod and Bharat Forge have yet to resolve the issue of poor metallurgy and that is why a Rs 750-crore project in conjunction Russia is underway to upgrade about 50 Schilka anti-aircraft systems (imported from Russia in 1980's) that are equipped with four 23mm automatic guns. Yes the first of the two planned Akash Regiment is under conversion albeit the defects in the Akash System noticed during initial trials have reportedly not been fully addressed. The indigenous Akash SAM was primarily developed to replace vintage Kvadrat system for AD cover during fast paced mechanized manoeuvres but failed in mobility tests, and in acquiring and engaging targets on the move despite such technology already in use in indigenously developed naval platforms and tanks in service with the army.

So, Akash was given to IAF to replace Pechora missiles in static role to beef up layered AD of areas like airfields. Procurement is planned for three types of SAMs (medium-range, quick-reaction and man-portable short-range missile systems) to replace AAD's Kvadrat, Strela and other systems, and there is talk of collaboration with Israel to develop AD missiles systems but all this is years away. These will be in addition to two regiments of the indigenous Akash systems for the AAD. The AAD also needs Rs 200 crores ground infrastructure for these two Akash regiments. AAD units are also inducting some 30 three-dimensional tactical control radars, which can track airborne targets up to a range of 90 kms, plus over 15 low-level light-weight radars, which can be used in mountainous terrain, costing over Rs 1,500 crores but again how soon these systems will get fielded is anybody's guess. Army's AD Control and Reporting System (ADC&RS) is running way behind schedule. This needs to be mated with its IAF counterpart and fielded early. AD units of Pakistan are apparently better equipped including quick-reaction missiles and man-portable SAMs like laser-guided stingers and mistral. The accidental shooting of ISI's Chinese make drone by the Pakistani military indicates the new type of threat that needs to taken seriously — armed drones by Pakistan and Pakistani proxies that may even be carrying lethal CBRN payloads. The military and the Indian government need to think about this. Meanwhile the AAD continues to be grossly underequipped. We can't afford to waste time on revalidating what already stood validated.