Now body bags haunt Defence Minister
(Indian Express, 28 February 2002)

The coffin scandal has returned to haunt Defence Minister George Fernandes in the budget session of Parliament too. Fresh allegations of corruption indicating that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) purchased body bags for $87.50 when they were available for $27.50 were levelled by R.K. Anand, MP and Senior Advocate. Anand also attacked R.V. Pandit, who recently released a booklet saying Fernandes’ Christian connection was behind the charges.

He claimed that due to his proximity to Home Minister L.K. Advani’s family, Pandit has access to confidential defence papers. Anand, who claimed to have attained a copy of the body bags contract through an authorised notary in the US, said besides the coffins, there were irregularities in the procurement of body bags as well. "According to papers released by Fernandes himself, the price of the body bags is only $27.50. But in the contract, they have been purchased for $87. Who made $60 per body bag?" he asked.

CAG indulged in unethical action, not me
(Times of India, 28 February 2002)

Defence Minister George Fernandes continued his tirade against the Comptroller & Auditor General of India saying that CAG audit report on coffins purchase was false and baseless. He said he had done nothing wrong and unethical in writing a letter to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament for making the record straight, and also for exposing the wrong and baseless audit report of the CAG. Defence Minister Fernandes brushed aside the stand of PAC chairman Narayan Dutt Tiwari that he (Fernandes) had done an unethical work by writing a letter to the PAC casting aspersions on the CAG. In his opinion, the CAG had indulged in an "unethical action, not me." Defence Minister Fernandes had come to Patna on a day's visit, along with over half a dozen senior MoD officials to review the ongoing work for the laying of the foundation stone of an ordnance factory at Rajgir in his Nalanda Parliamentary constituency.

The work on the ordnance factory would begin in April as all preliminary work in this regard, including the acquisition of land, had been completed, he said. Defence Minister Fernandes said that the MoD had finalised the negotiations with a British company for the purchase of AJTs for the Indian Air Force. In the last three years, the country's defence expenditure had increased manifold. "Despite a huge fund for defence expenditure, we have failed to utilise over Rs.62,000 crore because of many reasons," he said, adding: "These funds for defence expenditure were not utilised for purchasing weapons because of controversies in the purchase deals."

The MoD, he said, had also cleared a proposal, awaiting the approval of the Union Cabinet, for setting up an air force engineering college at Bihta AFS for giving advance training to air force personnel. The college would be the first of its kind in the country, he claimed. Defence Minister Fernandes said that the Indian government had provided some strategic assistance to the Nepal government for containing extremists' activities in that country. "The Nepal government had demanded assistance from us and we have made available some strategic assistance to contain Maoists and other extremists’ activities in that country," he said, but denied that the Indian government had provided military assistance to Nepal. Defence Minister Fernandes, however, declined to comment on the actual assistance and type of help given to the Nepal government.

Leh Corps Commander quits
(Indian Express, 27 February 2002)

In a surprise move, Leh Corps Commander Lt. Gen. Arjun Ray has put in his papers seeking premature retirement. He is the second commander of the crucial corps to do so. His predecessor and the first commander of the corps, Lt. Gen. A.B. Masseh, had been asked to seek premature retirement two years ago. Lt. Gen. Ray, a high-profile mechanised infantry officer, had started an ambitious project to win the hearts and minds of people in the villages bordering Pakistan in Ladakh, including Turtuk. Called 'Operation Sadbhavna', the project was aimed at bringing the villages which were part of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) till 1971 into the national mainstream. Lt. Gen. Ray was said to be in the running for the post of Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) Chief. However, MoD officials say Lt. Gen. Kamal Davar, an armoured corps officer and the present Director General of Mechanised Forces is the front-runner for the post.

The Leh Corps was formed after the May-July 1999 Kargil conflict for managing the Siachen, Kargil and eastern Ladakh region better. Lt. Gen. A.B. Masseh was asked to put in his papers for actions unbecoming of a senior officer, after an Intelligence Bureau (IB) report found him stealing the affections of a brother officer's wife. Lt. Gen. Ray was then handpicked to lead the crucial corps. Sources in Army HQ confirmed that a request seeking premature retirement had been received from Lt. Gen. Ray and after recommendation for necessary action had been forwarded to the MoD. A ministry spokesman said the request was under consideration. However, MoD officials refused to divulge the reasons for the officer seeking retirement. Lt. Gen. Ray was unavailable for comment. His Sadbhavna project had endeared him to the once hostile local population of Turtuk and other neighbouring villages. The government had also increased the funding for the project under which schools, dispensaries and vocational training institutes were set up in the villages.

U.S. plans to sell $146 million in radar to India
(Yahoo News, 26 February 2002)

Underscoring improving U.S.-India relations since the September 11th attacks, the Bush administration told lawmakers it plans to sell India eight AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder weapon-locating radar systems worth up to $146 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency, an arm of the Defense Department that oversees foreign weapons sales, said it had approved the sale of eight AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder radar sets, 26 radios, generators, trailers, communications equipment, Global Positioning Systems and training. Congress has 30 days to block the sale, although that would require both the House of Representatives and the Senate to raise two-thirds majorities, which is seen as unlikely.

India was one of the first nations to back the United States in its fight against terrorism following the September 11th attacks that killed over 3,000 people on New York and Washington. The Bush Administration has already rewarded India for its help by earmarking $75 million in military aid in its 2003 budget, up from $7 million in 2002. Defense Minister George Fernandes visited the Pentagon recently and met with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and said he was confident that the United States would soon begin helping fill India's military needs. Lead contractors for the deal are Raytheon Co.'s Hughes Aircraft unit and ITT Industries Inc.

"The proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a country which has been and continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in South Asia," DSCA said in a statement. It said India needed the radar sets to fulfill its strategic commitments for make its communications equipment compatible with that of U.S. forces and to be able to communicate with its various vehicles. The proposed sale comes against the backdrop of improved ties but still fragile relations between the United States and India, which were on opposing sides of the Cold War.

Last month, for instance, India's Foreign Ministry took issue with U.S. President George W. Bush's characterization of Iran as part of a global axis of evil. India's foe Pakistan also received a greater share of military aid from the United States in the proposed 2003 budget. However, the United States is expected to proceed carefully with arms sales while the two South Asian nuclear powers remain at odds over Kashmir and guerrilla attacks in India. Indian defence experts are predicting the New Delhi government will boost defence spending by least 15% when it unveils its budget for the year to March 2003 this week. The government aims to buy powerful new weapons such as airborne surveillance systems, fighter planes, submarines and a second aircraft carrier.

Army fine-tuning frontline forces
(The Hindu, 26 February 2002)

The Army appears to be fine-tuning the profile of its frontline forces, highly-placed Government sources said. Permission has been given to certain commands to withdraw their administrative headquarters, which have been shifted close to the frontline, to their original locations. The sources, however, pointed out that withdrawal of the non-combat administrative staff may also be necessary to streamline interaction with the Government for preparation of the defence budget which is due later this month, as well as to address pending administrative tasks. Moves are on to restart some of the courses for officers at the military training institutions by summer. These courses were suspended as officers were needed at the borders.

Besides, the earlier activism of some formations that were ensuring material supply to the border from the rear has now been restricted. For instance, these forces had been earmarked to supervise construction of roads close to the battle area, so that timely supplies reached the frontline troops regularly. The sources, however, said elements of the strike corps, the nucleus of the Army that has been deployed at the border, are unlikely to be moved back before June. Any major de-escalation exercise, they said, would depend on Pakistan taking irreversible steps to curb cross-border terrorism. A joint mechanism to monitor and check infiltration may also be required to facilitate major troop reductions.

In case of a visible decline in cross border movement of terrorists, part of the strike corps may begin moving out in summer. But all the three strike corps that have been deployed are unlikely to be moved out simultaneously. Forces that have been moved along the border in Kashmir are likely to be withdrawn last. Troops that have been pushed from the Sino-Indian border are, as of now, unlikely to be withdrawn till the beginning of autumn. The reversion to pre-December 13th locations may be possible only around February next, the sources said. The Army's deployment plans will be significantly affected by political initiatives between India and Pakistan that may follow, in case infiltration reduces. Conversely, any escalation of tension in the next few months is likely to encourage extension of the status quo.

Jawans to shed heavy-weight gear
(Indian Express, 26 February 2002)

The Indian jawan is weighed under the weight of his own equipment. From his bullet-proof jacket (BPJ) - which is two times heavier than standard international equipment - to the communication equipment which is 14.25 kg heavier than the latest available in the international market. The Indian BPJ has steel plates and for level three protection (against a 7.62mm bullet), two steel plates are used. The weight reaches almost 10 kg. When the weight is reduced to 5.5 kg in some cases, the protected area is reduced and does not cover the groin and shoulders, say sources in Army headquarters. The recently concluded land and naval systems exhibition provided an opportunity for the forces to see the latest development in the field of light-weight equipment for close quarter combat (like anti-terrorism operations) and for operations in high altitudes. The bullet-proof patka (headgear) weighs 2.25 kg even though it does not cover the skull.

It only covers the forehead against level three and the back of the head against level two, sources said. The composite material helmets in the international market are lighter and sturdier. With higher probability of future combat in high altitude areas, where every ounce can slacken the pace of operational mission, the Army is desperate for better and lighter equipment for the infantry jawan. "Why is there so little emphasis on equipping the jawan who is engaged in combat every day?" asked an official. 60% of the army's casualties in J&K are due to shrapnel injuries. A lighter shrapnel-proof jacket is an urgent requirement. Senior Army officials scouting for lighter equipment say the change to new equipment will take place soon. So while the Indian jawan may still wield the slightly heavier 5.56mm INSAS rifle, which when loaded weighs 4.25 kg as against the composite material international rifles weighing 3.45 kg, the jawan overall will be equipped with much lighter and state-of-the-art equipment.

A reason why our equipment is heavier is that the ordnance factories continue to use metal while the international shift is towards aramid fibre, dyneema and composite material. "The 84 mm light rocket launcher used to weigh 24 kg. We too began using composite material and now it weighs 14 kg," said a senior DRDO official. The focus of the Army is the immediate equipping of the infantry jawan. For communication, the soldier will soon abandon the unwieldy AMPRC-25 sets. A soldier had to walk with the platoon just to carry this communication equipment. Now the effort will be to integrate the set with in-built secrecy device with the uniform and helmet of the soldier. "The new communication system will not only be light but also unobtrusive. There will not be a three-feet antenna, which could give away the location of the soldier," sources say.

Policemen living a dog’s life in kennel
(Hindustan Times, 26 February 2002)

Name it official apathy or indifference, personnel of the Jharkhand Armed Police (JAP-4) are sharing accommodation with police dogs. Having strived dog-years to ensure safety of citizens, these policemen have been forced to stay with canines of the Jharkhand Dog Squad. The reason for the abject situation - dearth of official quarters. Though the cause may seem a trifle implausible, these men are thanking their stars that they had not been dumped in the nearby Shiv temple like some of their comrades. Along with the two bitches of the Dog Squad - Shilpi and Roma - they enjoy certain luxuries. The kennel is equipped with fans and has bathing as well as basking space. They can also savour non-vegetarian fare. Those occupying the temple are forthcoming in their views and mocked the hollow promises of proposed police modernisation in the state.

Ramayan Mishra, a priest at the temple says: "This sacred place has been converted into a police camp. It is always occupied by the forces on deputation. Though Shivratri is closing in, we can't celebrate because of space constraints. We have brought the matter to the notice of the authorities, but to no avail." Arun Kumar, another constable staying in the temple, says: "We have been employed to provide security to the state, but our own security is at stake. The sophisticated weapons in our possession are not safe at night." He had officials to blame for their plight. "We could have been accommodated in some lodge." Constable Dilip Kumar Singh has no qualms in saying that he is not a proud man today. "In spite of facing every possible inhuman treatment, we never share our agony with our family members. How can we tell our kids that we share rooms with dogs?"

Indo-U.S. defence ties here to stay
(The Hindu, 24 February 2002)

Indo-U.S. defence ties are here to stay in the long term and a change in political leadership may not affect the cooperation between the two countries in military and counter-terrorism aspects, says Peter R. Lavoy, Director, Center for Contemporary Conflict, and an academician attached to the Naval Postgraduate school in Monterey, United States. A counter-proliferation expert, Dr. Lavoy, at a personal level feels there is growing consensus among bureaucrats, planners and the military in India in accepting and supporting the US stand on two major foreign policy issues - countering terrorism and national missile defence.

Although in the post September 11th and December 13th phase, Indo-US ties, especially defence ties, had indeed strengthened the closer interaction between the two countries even predates these major incidents. Right from 1998, the U.S. has recognised India's concerns in the region. The latest Indo-US defence cooperation only looked at areas of mutual interest and concern. The lack of trust on both sides in the Cold War days, because of differences in perception of their mutual foreign policy agenda, is giving way to consensus among the military, bureaucratic and planning establishments, especially in India, for meaningful cooperation.

So, even if the political leadership changes, the military and bureaucratic leadership would be assertive, says Dr. Lavoy who was in Chennai to attend a seminar on South Asian Security. On the present state of US ties with Pakistan - seen as a frontline State in the war against terror - Dr. Lavoy, who is a former Director for Counter-Proliferation Policy in the U.S. Department of Defence, says America's ties with the two South Asian countries were quite independent of each other.

The US acknowledges General Musharraf's brave actions against Islamic fundamentalism. Dr. Lavoy agrees with the notion that the militants and Taliban supporters might be lying low and that the Pakistani leader might not be in full control of the militants. "But the US and India, I feel should encourage General Musharraf to continue to put pressure on fundamentalists...because to counter terror the best idea would be to keep up the aggressive pressure on the movements, their funding and support mechanism," he said. Earlier, addressing the seminar, Dr. Lavoy highlighted the need for India and Pakistan to work towards strategic stability, a concept that recognises the need to curb first strike by any one of the two nuclearised countries. The civil establishment, with support from the academia, should work closely with the military on what kind of deterrence should be kept in place and its cost, on how to reduce the cost of preparation for war and in case the deterrence fails, how to limit the damage. Indian military, he feels, is reviewing strategies after the Kargil war, to arrive at better inter-service coordination. This could be crucial in future both to avert war and in case of a conflict, to make quick and decisive military strikes.

Dora is the new CISF Chief
(The Tribune, 24 February 2002)

Indian defence ware catch buyers' fancy
(Indian Express, 24 February 2002)

India is to acquire 600 special parachutes for operations in high-altitude areas from Poland. The parachutes are a part of emergency purchases for specialised missions such as air dropping troops in mountainous terrain inaccessible by foot. While the Army is purchasing Bridge Laying Tanks (BLTs) from Russia for its latest acquisition, the T-90S MBTs, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has expressed satisfaction at the interest Indian equipment generated among other nations at the land and naval systems exhibition Def-Expo that concluded on February 23rd. DRDO is already engaged in a joint venture with Russia on the BrahMos supersonic anti-ship cruise missile. Joint ventures with several other countries including Israel and South Africa are also beginning to take shape.

"There has been a lot of interest for Bhim, the self-propelled 155mm, 52-calibre artillery gun which is a joint Indo-South African product. It has a African 155mm gun integrated on a T-72 chassis," a DRDO official said. "The Sarvatra multi-hop assault bridging system was also the focus of attention. Now we shall wait for further queries," he said. The establishment, moving away from its indigenous mantra to indigenous in critical technology is also looking west for tie-ups in the development of radars and communication equipment. Terming the Expo a success, a MoD official said it had enabled a cross fertilisation of Indian and global technical capabilities in the sector.

MoD delays polls to cantonment boards
(Indian Express, 23 February 2002)

In a significant decision, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has postponed elections in all cantonments across the country. There are 62 Cantonment Boards all over India and polls were to be held in 50 Boards. A MoD order has extended the term of the existing elected members, which was to expire on 03 March 2002, to 03 July 2002. While a MoD order attributed it to administrative reasons, the decision employees of the Indian Defence Estate Services see this as a step towards the handover the entire Boards' administration to the Army. Presently it is the IDES and the elected members who enjoy the Cantts' administrative powers. While both the Army and Defence Estate Services (DES) are tight-lipped on the issue, the decision is said to be taken as a part of an action plan prepared by a high-level committee, which reviewed the administrative scenario of all cantonments across the country.

The committee consisted two senior IAS officers, two IDES members and two Army officers of the rank Major General. While the findings of its report has not been made public, it is learnt that the committee had advocated separation of civilian areas inside the Cantonment and handing over their administration to the Army. Officials also feel that the decision could be because of the border situation. Civilians inside the Cantts are also concerned over the gradual passing of the administration into Army hands. In Jalandhar Cantt, the flying club has been thrown out and the Army has established its control over several children parks, play grounds and passages.

South Africa to join in Nalanda project
(Times of India, 23 February 2002)

The Swedish Bofors gun has apparently failed to boom in at least Defence Minister George Fernandes' home constituency of Nalanda. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has instead given a nod to South Africa to collaborate in the Nalanda ordnance factory project to manufacture propellant charges for heavy calibre artillery ammunition. Top-level sources said the government had approved South African Denel Group's proposal to collaborate in manufacturing 155mm bi-modular charge system (BMCS) at the Nalanda factory, amid stiff competition from the Swedish Weapon Systems (SWS) Defence AB, which was famous as the Bofors company earlier. "Now, this BMCS contract should be signed within a week," said a source. That may certainly be true but the far more lucrative Indian contract for the artillery guns themselves is still up for grabs. Besides South Africa, Israel, Britain and Sweden are also vying for the much-delayed contract for acquiring towed and self-propelled 155mm artillery guns, along with the upgrading of the existing Bofors howitzers with the Army.

As for the BMCS contract, Somchem, a Denel Group division which specialises in manufacture of 155mm artillery gun propulsion systems, will execute it. India will reportedly procure around 200,000 bi-modular charge systems from Somchem along with transfer of technology in the package deal. "The BMCS has been design-optimised to provide reliable ballistic performance under all environmental conditions, as also reduce barrel erosion and suppress muzzle flash," said a South African official. The Nalanda facility, when it comes up, will be the 40th ordnance factory in the country. But it will be the first one to manufacture such new generation propellant charges, which are imported at present. South African Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota and Public Enterprises Minister Jeff Radebe, who are proposing a joint India-South Africa artillery partnership, say their country is ready to form long-term partnerships with India.

US agrees to radar tests
(Times of India, 23 February 2002)

The US has reportedly agreed for field trials of its AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder weapon-locating radars by the Indian Army. The Army will evaluate the radars, which the Americans tout as the best in the world, during trials to be conducted both in the US and India. This decision was reportedly taken at high-level meetings between the US team led by Major General Bruce Scott, Commanding General of the US Army Security Assistance Command, and top Indian defence officials over the last few days.

The US says the proposed sale of the radars - which detect long-range enemy missiles, rockets and artillery projectiles and provide pinpoint targeting data for the counterattack - will be only the first country-to-country defence procurement, with more to follow later. Major General Scott, who brought to India a draft letter of sale for the weapon-locating radar systems, said, "India's total requirement is still being worked out...this particular sale has eight systems." Sources say India wants around 200 such radars.

Pak defence envoys drop in at arms fest
(Indian Express, 23 February 2002)

Indian and Pakistani troops are still famously eyeball-to-eyeball along the border but in New Delhi, some of their brother officers mingled, amid a sea of wry smiles, in the most unlikely of settings: the DRDO's land and naval systems exhibition. Dropping by at the exhibition were Pakistan's Defence Attaches - Brigadier Javeed (Army) and Captain Ghaznafar (Navy), who had come to see the latest developments in the field of army and naval systems made by India's defence research establishment and by arms manufacturers worldwide. With a plethora of Indian Army and Naval officials from the weapons and equipment directorate, artillery, infantry, perspective planning, ordnance and signals on hand, the presence of two Pakistani armed forces personnel raised some good-humoured eyebrows. Some of the manufacturers - including the French - are supplying weapons systems to both India and Pakistan. Islamabad has acquired Agosta Class submarines from France and New Delhi is close to concluding a deal on the Scorpene Class submarines.

An Indian Express reporter caught up with the Pakistani Attaches at the American stalls. India is likely to acquire from the US the AN-TPQ-37 Firefinder radars (weapon-locating radars), which Pakistan had bought in the mid-1980s. Though both officers refused to comment on what caught their fancy, Captain Ghaznafar was seen displaying keen interest in the triple-tube launched torpedoes which, he was told, was being installed on the INS Godavari, INS Ganga and INS Gomati. The DRDO officials also explained the development and trials of moored mines (which can be buried in sand and left in shallow waters) and the wire-guided torpedo developed by NSTL at Vishakhapatnam. The two also inspected Tank Ex, the latest from the DRDO stable that integrates the Arjun turret and T-72 chassis. Then, with polite smiles and thank-yous, they moved on.

The indigenous weapons systems developed by DRDO have caught the attention of people at the ongoing arms fair Defexpo 2002. A line up of combat vehicle Tank Ex, the Dhanush missile, 3-D medium-range surveillance radar and the gyro-stabilized helicopter sighting system for the ALH are the products the DRDO is proud to boast about. The MoD pavilion symbolizes the new thinking in the Indian defence industry where the stress is on changing from the buyer-seller relationship of the past to the make approach. The vision of DRDO, an official said, was to empower India with cutting-edge defence technology. It's mission, he said, was to bring about self-reliance in critical defence technologies and systems by indigenisation and innovation while equipping the armed forces with state-of-the-art weapons systems and equipment. Tank Ex, Dhanush, CAR and the GSHSS have been technically qualified by DRDO but mass production is yet to start, said a defence ministry official.

The Tank Ex, official said, is a battle tank featuring the strengths of the T-72 and the Arjun. "It outwits the earlier ones with its three features. It is more lethal, more accurate and is lighter in weight, making its transport very easy," he said. Some of the important features of this new tank include an improved, lightweight Kanchan armour, a 120mm rifled gun firing FSAPDS and HESH ammunition, semi-combustible cartridge case ammunition, an integrated fire control system based on a stabilized sighting system to engage moving targets from a moving tank, a thermal imager integrated with the gunner's main sight for night-firing capability, and a fully stabilized, independent, commander's panoramic sight for surveillance, target acquisition and engagement. It also has a stand-by articulated sight for the gunner's main sight, fully integrated NBC protection, GPS for accurate navigation and auxiliary power unit for operation of weapons systems during silent watch mode.

Officials described the Gyro-Stabilized Helicopter Sighting System as a lightweight, gyro-stabilized system incorporating FLIR sight and CCD cameras for use in ALH surveillance and navigation. It salient features include an all electro-optical sensor, CCIR-B video output, second- generation high-performance FLIR and closed cycle cooling. Dhanush is a variant of the Prithvi missile deployed on ships to provide strategic strike capability to the Indian Navy. The ship-borne missile can be launched against land-based targets up to a range of 250 km. The 3-D Medium-Range Surveillance Radar, officials said, is capable of detecting and tracking aerial targets simultaneously.

Polish firm offers battle-friendly laptop to India's combat nerds
(Defense Aerospace, 22 February 2002)

It looks like a brick, boasts a modest brain and costs a fortune, but its Polish makers say their battlefield laptop can target and direct an artillery barrage as well as any other military computer in the global arms bazaar. Poland's WB Electronics, which is offering the battlefield computer (BFC) as the pick of its electronic defence hardware to the technology-starved Indian military, said the laptop was only recently overhauled to match latest Western standards. "We went for modernisation to adjust to NATO standards after Poland became a part of the alliance," Company Chairman Piotr Wojciechowski said at Defexpo 2002 in New Delhi.

Several Polish defence manufacturers such as WB Electronics were privatised after Warsaw became a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in 1999. "It is always easier and cheaper to upgrade than make a new product from scratch," Wojciechowski said of the olive-green BFC laptop which will start up without a glitch even if it has been submerged in hot water. Wojciechowski said his firm will offer the laptop, which weighs nine kilograms (19.8 pounds) and also runs on battle-tank batteries, to India which currently has just two projects for on-board military command-and-control computers. "India has started using on-board computers but the operating standards of the BFC is much higher," Wojciechowski said.

The laptop has a maximum memory of 128 megabytes, but WB Electronics project director Dariusz Sobczak said the modest storage space was sufficient for combat applications. "It is not just the memory bank but a combination of software and hardware that makes it into a deadly battlefield computer which can simultaneously aim and fire several main guns of tanks or activate many artillery pieces with the least human intervention," he said. The BFC, which is used by 10 armies across the world, operates in -40º Celsius (-22º Fahrenheit) conditions, claims to be unhackable and can survive a two-metre (6.6-foot) fall onto a concrete floor. It has zero electro-magnetic emission to evade spy satellites and can be used as a mobile command and control system by foot soldiers.

Around 70 BFCs are currently in use with the Polish Army. "This product is definitely interesting and such equipment if modified to suit our requirements must be inducted," a senior Indian Army commander said at the international fair where more than 100 armament firms from 26 countries are participating. The Polish Firm's Chief said the BFC's configurations could be changed to suit clients. "There are different software packages but then these issues including the BFC's cost is a commercial secret," Wojciechowski said, while adding that the price tag would be lower than similar laptops manufactured by US firms.

Budget set to boost defence spending
(Rediff, 21 February 2002)

The government is expected to sharply raise defence spending in its Union Budget next week and pile pressure on nuclear capable foe Pakistan, locked with it in a military standoff. Defence analysts expect the government to release funds to the military to buy powerful new weapons such as airborne surveillance systems, fighter planes, submarines and a second aircraft carrier. "The military will be fully funded, given the situation," said Bharat Karnad, a security affairs analyst at the Centre for Policy Research, an independent New Delhi-based think-tank. The frenetic modernisation of the world's fourth largest military after years of neglect in the 1990s follows a worsening of relations with Pakistan, which has triggered fears around the world of a fourth war between the nuclear-armed countries.

Most experts expect Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha to boost defence spending by at least 15% in the budget for the year to March 2003, building on last year's 13.8% rise. But the Economic Times newspaper said this week the increase in defence expenditure for the coming year could be anywhere between a staggering 25 and 30% above last year's allocation of Rs.620 billion, or $12.75 billion. About a million troops have been massed on both sides of the India-Pakistan border for nearly two months, in a crisis sparked by an assault on the Indian Parliament blamed on Pakistan-based militants active in the disputed region of Kashmir. New Delhi, which has scaled back diplomatic ties with Pakistan, has rejected its calls for talks to end the dangerous border standoff, saying troops will pull back only if Islamabad halts what it calls cross-border terrorism in Kashmir.

"Quite clearly, we must raise the costs for Pakistan for the proxy war in Jammu & Kashmir. It must be across the full range of diplomatic, military and economic options open to us," a former Indian envoy to Pakistan said. Pakistan, which denies direct involvement in the 12-year-revolt in Kashmir, has said the cost of the huge deployment on the border was manageable, and has vowed to ensure full funding for the defence of the nation. The neighbours are, however, home to one of the world's largest concentrations of people living in harsh poverty and can ill-afford an arms race.

Nuclear Arsenal, Bigger Role

India's defence expenditure has hovered at around 2.3% of the gross domestic product in the 1990s but analysts said the government aimed to take the defence allocation to 3%, a significant jump. New Delhi, which conducted nuclear tests in the summer of 1998, is working on an ambitious nuclear arsenal based on missiles, ships and aircraft. While figures are not stated separately for the nuclear weapons program, experts say building from scratch a nuclear deterrent comprising warheads, missiles, command and control systems, could take upwards of $500 million a year. K. Subrahmanyam, one of India's foremost security experts, said defence allocation was rising also because the country was equipping itself for a bigger role in international security after the attacks of September 11th.

"This year's rise, and it will probably be sharp, should not be seen according to the old calculations vis-à-vis our two neighbours," he said referring to Pakistan, and China to the north with which it fought a brief war in 1962. He said there were clear signs that the Navy was being bolstered to play a bigger role in the Indian Ocean, and this will likely show up in higher central funding. India and Russia said this month they had reached an agreement on a refurbished aircraft carrier which will be the Indian Navy's second. A third, smaller Air Defence Ship is being designed at home to join the fleet in eight years. India will also lease two Russian Tu-22M supersonic bombers and is in talks for purchase of submarines, officials said. For the first time in decades, New Delhi was also set to open talks with the United States to buy radars after Washington lifted sanctions imposed over the Indian nuclear tests.

Slow Deals, Scandals

But experts also pointed out that while the military was flush with money, it had been slow to wrap up many of the deals on its shopping list. Arms acquisitions in the civilian-controlled defence ministry is a long and complicated procedure shrouded in secrecy, and several past deals have been tainted by charges of kickbacks. Defence Minister George Fernandes said this week there had been no progress in long-running negotiations with Britain's BAe Systems Plc to buy 66 advanced jet trainers the IAF urgently needs to trim its high rate of accidents.

"There are people who are not prepared to take decisions...there are far too many people who are getting involved in it," Defence Minister Fernandes said without elaborating. Defence Minister Fernandes himself had to resign briefly last year after two reporters posing as arms dealers secretly filmed politicians, army officers and bureaucrats accepting money in return for pushing through an imaginary arms deal. He denied any wrongdoing.

Meet Tank Ex, DRDO's faster, lighter tank
(Indian Express, 21 February 2002)

After six months of secret trials, India has developed a new tank for the Army, integrating features of the Russian T-72 and the indigenous Arjun MBT. Code-named Tank Ex, it is believed to have the advantages of low weight, small size and high speed. Tank Ex, the DRDO's latest entry in the land and naval systems exhibition currently on in New Delhi, may be the answer to the army's long-standing demand for a low-silhouette tank with better fire-power. The Arjun MBT, say experts, had problems with its silhouette (the degree to which it can be spotted through sand dunes). The tank has already undergone six months of preliminary trials in the Rajasthan sector and will be put through a series of trials this coming summer. However, since the tank is the result of the DRDO's independent initiative and not based on qualitative requirements specified by the army, it will have to prove itself to meet the army's operational requirement.

A senior DRDO officer said the tank's low weight (47 tons as compared to Arjun's 58.5 tons) and high speed (60 km/h on the road) has given it the edge the army's looking for. "We wanted the army to have the best of two systems, T-72's low chassis and the Arjun's firepower. Both are proven systems and together they form a lethal combination. We have tried to maximise the capabilities of the two tanks into a single weapon system," DRDO officials added. The Arjun MBT went through a series of teething problems and at one stage a disheartened Army wanted to abandon the project. With the warhorse T-72 ageing and Pakistan acquiring T-80UDs from Ukraine, there was a sense of unease in the mechanised forces. This led to the Army procuring the latest T-90S MBT from Russia. The first lot of 40 T-90S MBTs have already arrived and are undergoing pre-induction trials at Heavy Vehicles Factory, Avadi at Tamil Nadu. The Army is to induct a total of 310 T-90 tanks.

With the T-90S assuming the role of MBT and Tank-Ex trying to make it to the forefront, there is apprehension that the indigenous Arjun MBT project could be relegated to the back burner. However, DRDO officials do not agree. "The Arjuns have their own role and the T-90s have a different role. Tank Ex will basically be an upgrade of the T-72s. This will complement the existing numbers," an official said. With a crew of four, Tank Ex has a 120mm rifled main gun and a 7.62mm co-axial machine gun. It has a director-type fire control system and also a 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun. It comes with an electro-hydraulic gun control system and a digital ballistic computer. According to DRDO officials, the tank compares well with international standards. Explaining the secrecy surrounding Tank Ex and the lack of pre-launch hype, DRDO officials claim they wanted the tests to be successful before launching the product in the market and also wanted the product to speak for itself.

Bofors booms for Nalanda toehold
(Hindustan Times, 21 February 2002)

The big fight in the arms bazaar is for the opportunity to set up an ordnance factory in Defence Minister George Fernandes' constituency, Nalanda. South Africa's Denel declared that it was busy finalising a turnkey contract for setting up a state-of-the-art factory at Nalanda to manufacture bi-modular propellant charges for heavy calibre artillery ammunition. "The Nalanda contract is well under way," South African Public Enterprises Minister Jeff Radebe said. SWS Defence AB, formerly Bofors - served notice to Denel that Nalanda would not be a walkover. "We're looking to set up on a turnkey basis a state-of-the-art facility at Nalanda," said Hakan Kangert, Chairman SWS.

Defence Minister Fernandes has a different take on Nalanda. "It'll be our own (Ordnance Factory Board) enterprise. We'll get technology from outside," he has said. For both the contenders, the road to capturing the sizeable Indian artillery market runs through Nalanda. India's requirement is for several hundred 155mm artillery guns of the towed and self-propelled variety, and the upgrading of the Bofors howitzers acquired in the late 1980s. South Africa has raised the sales pitch, proposing an omnibus India-South Africa artillery partnership. "Under the terms of this partnership, our respective industries would jointly manufacture and market such systems globally. The facilities could be set up in India," Radebe suggested.

South Africa has already taken the first step. It has tied up to marry Denel's T-6 155 mm turret to the track system of India's Arjun MBT for developing a tracked self-propelled artillery system codenamed Bhim T-6. South Africa is also encouraged by the success of its transfer of technology (TOT) deal for the manufacture of shells for the Bofors gun. Bofors, emerging from the shadow of the 1986 bribery scam, too has moved in quickly by offering to set up its main manufacturing facility in India for sales across the globe.

"The Ministry of Defence will select one gun and not two. A family of artillery systems is better than having a complicated mix. India already has 410 of our type," says a confident Kangert. He claims that the Bofors infrastructure already exists in India. "Under the 1986 agreement, we delivered a data pack to India, which produces spares based on it. 90% components of the upgraded gun are the same," he reasons. With such hard sell, Nalanda is spoilt for choice

US hard sells radars, but Ukraine is still the frontrunner
(Hindustan Times, 21 February 2002)

The United States attempted to hard sell its AN/TPQ-37 weapon locating radar to India, describing the expected sale as the first step towards closer bilateral relationship. "Defence sales is a crucial element for transformation of our relationship," US Ambassador Robert Blackwill said. The head of the United States Army Security Assistance Command, Major General Bruce Scott arrived in New Delhi on February 20th to reach a consensus on the deal. If the deal does come through, it will be the US' first defence sale of consequence to India, and thus carries a certain symbolism. "This is just the beginning. Common equipment will ensure interoperability of the US and Indian forces," said Major General Scott.

But is India really buying the Raytheon AN/TPQ-37? Highly-placed sources say that India has already short listed the Ukrainian 1L-220 WLR, which meets its quality requirements. The Indian Army has also seen the system in operation in the mountains in Crimea. Talks with Ukraine have been going on since 1999. The WLR was projected as an urgent requirement of the Indian Army by the Kargil Review Committee headed by Dr. K. Subrahmanyam. In the process of short listing the 1L-220, India also reportedly considered the Russian Zoopark 1L-119 and the Swedish Arthur WLRs. But the Ukranian system best met the quality requirements, sources inform.

India had conveyed its requirement for the WLR to the USA as far back as in 1989. But it's only now that the Indian application for a sale licence has made headway. In the meanwhile, the AN/TPQ-37 radar was sold by the US to Pakistan in the mid-1990s. Ambassador Blackwill claimed that the US radar is of superior quality, but the Ukranians contest this view, and insist that 1L-220 is still in the reckoning. "Our quality is good. It meets Indian requirements. Indians have seen its performance. Our price is competitive, and we are ready to offer an attractive Transfer of Technology (TOT) package," says Igor Presnyak, director of ICKPA, the manufacturer of 1L-220 WLR. Both the AN/TPQ-37 and the 1L-220 have the same effective range of about 30 km for locating artillery systems. India is also learnt to have sent requests for proposal (RPF) to Russia and Sweden again.