Disclaimer

Thursday, January 20, 2011

DPP- OLD BOTTLE- NECKS REMAIN?

Khana-Khilana-Khazana
.
Recently announced Defence Production Policy (DPP) is no more than another New Year resolution which is sure to be forgotten soon. We have been endeavoring to achieve self-reliance in defence items for many decades nowâ€"but have not been able to get over the lure of the foreign. Defence stores being under thick veil of impervious secrecy â€"the imports can deliver multiple yields for all seasons without any chance of being caught on the wrong foot as in the 2G or CWG scams. How can they let go this khana-khilana-khazana by encouraging indigenous development & production? For an agile missile or a specialized weapon â€"say for concrete piercing -any price can be quoted & the cuts can be quite disproportionate. Any promise to phase out defence imports would be an eye wash unless we can wean away the vested interests in politics, arms wheeler dealers & the middle men in the larger national interest.
.
Indian Industry
.

While even middle level military powers posses strong defence production & sizable export capabilities â€"Indian defence industry both in public sector & now in private domain have been severally handicapped apparently to perpetuate imports. It is quite paradoxical that inspite of being amongst the frontline nations with its robust industrial base, talented knowledge pool & having proven capability even to take successful shot at the Moon to discover water first time everâ€"we have to depend on imports for simple smoking guns from countries with much less facilities than ours. Indian entrepreneurs have done us proud the world over by taking up mega projects â€"be it steel, cement automobiles, Software’s or complex hardware. By this time we should not only have been self- reliant but also captured the defence market at least in the third world instead of importing third class duds.
.

Fighting with Imports & Import Lobby
.

No country can really win wars with imported weaponry-much less a nation nurturing super power ambition. We can recall how ship carrying imported spares & armaments was halted midway in the Suez Canal during the thick of 1965 war when we needed it most. Slightly lower ended but indigenously available weapon should always be preferred over the imported ones. It is another thing that while ineffective weaponry can get inducted based on its inflated published parameters & cursory tests-local efforts are tested for years in scorching deserts till they groan to failure or reach obsolescence during the 10-15 years long testing phase.
.

Unashamed Bashing
.

But we take immense pride in denouncing our indigenous developments publically. Unprecedented sustained Arjun bashing is indicative of the no holds barred approach of the vested interest who can go to any extent? Carrying out comparative trials of the heavy duty MBT Arjun designed as per the GSQR against T-90 in trials shows our approach. In no country other than ours â€"would the defence experts be driving so much pleasure in blowing out of proportion even in minor failures of most complex systems. Yes there is need for improvement & change in our defence research, production & inspection set ups -along with change in our mind set towards indigenous stores.
.

Restructuring DRDO
.

Eventually the Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO) would be nodal to any initiative for our self reliance goal for defence systemsâ€"whether in public or private domains. There is urgent need to usher in much needed changes by in-house deliberations-may with the assistance of old time directors & other experts who understand the strength & boundary conditions of defence research. Restructuring of DRDO based on the inputs of P Rama Rao Committee which apparently had not understood the underlying causes may even topple the slow but at least moving apple cart? Following appears to be the best options-
.

(a) Pulling out from under the Banyan Tree. As a first step DRDO has to be put onto on to a righteous course from its guided path by separating its burgeoning missiles programme which like banyan tree has over shadowed everything else-not allowing anything underneath. The missile & PGM’s development work can be clubbed with ISRO or Brahmos-for greater synergy and allowing breathing space for the development of conventional defence items like-rifles, guns, mines, bombs, fuzes, tanks, rockets, air & naval armaments etc.
.

(b) Clubbing Labs. Number of DRDO labs need to be reduced by hiving off research in areas which are not so crucial. Primary focus must be on weapon systems â€" while one lab each can be designated for the three wings of the Armed forces common items can be shared amongst these three. Combining development of the three services have resulted in great setback to the
.

(c) Navy & Air Force Labs. Naval & Air Armaments have not been given the right priority in the DRDO because these systems require specialized inputs. Best would be to designate Lt Gen equivalent officers in Service HQ to monitor the progress of R&D and production of Army, Naval & Air Weapon systems
.

(d) MBT/Rocket & Arty System. May be the tank & other major systems development & production can be done in the joint sector with DRDO, defence PSU’s & Private sectors pooling their resources.
.

(e) Service Element. For their own benefit â€"services would do well to send their bright, qualified & experienced officers on deputation to DRDO for a period of 5-6 years to progress important projects.
.

Ordnance Factories
.

The Ordnance Factories should concentrate on explosives & filling operations while all manufacturing of hardware should be in the private sector of high repute. Old & worn out factories need to be closed down. The Defence PSU’s also need regrouping.
.

Quality Assurance
.

The defence inspection organization also needs align with the new challenges & restructure so that better quality is assured in the battle field.
.

Private Path
.

It is also time reputed industrial houses come forward with missionary zeal & accept challenge to develop & productionize new generation of tanks, 155 & higher caliber guns, long range rocket systems, naval & air armaments, fuzes â€"if required through collaborations. Path is not that easy due to lack of support from Government & also from the present Defence research & production set up for obvious reasons. But ultimately private defence industries would only be able to overcome our import dependence.
.

Hand-holding
.

Successful design, development, testing & production of defence systems requires very mature inputs which go much beyond any text book knowledge- from the defence technologists who come of age after long innings of leaning from failures. As such there is much need to have national level talent pool of the retired â€"but not tired defence personnel & DRDO/Ordnance Scientists with adequate academic back ground as well as project experience to help the DRDO/Ordnance Factories & industry.DRDO Scientist have already formed talent pool under Institute of Defence Scientists & Technologists (IDST) which after some revamping can be of much use â€"in case they are able to contribute meaningfully (instead of being just another employment avenue for its retiring scientists)-in this great national effort if it comes through?
.

Bottle-Necks
.

As far as possible imports should be the last resort. Usual bottle neck of urgent requirement must be scrutinized by high power committee. GSQR's should also be examined for its viability. All bottle-necks need to be cleaned for any obstructions.
.

Reverse Engineering
.

Reverse engineering is quite rewarding in development of defence systems -but it needs to be done only by experts with long experience.
.

Expert Group
.
Finally, an expert group of non-government specialists including retired defence personnel should be constituted to give advice on offloading defence items and projects to the private sector and also to recommend closing down old factories and laboratories in the defence sector.They can also examine GSQR's.
.

Air Cmde Raghubir Singh (Retd),
PUNE

2 comments:

  1. Bottle necks are ALWAYS at the TOP of EVERY bottle !

    On Top of every thing Indian is a babu !

    Parvez Jamasji
    parvez1942@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Respected Veteran Air Cmde Raghubir Singh,

    Jai Hind & Sat Sri Akaal.

    I salute you for your incisive & thought provoking article.

    I agree with you that it is high time, the DRDO is restructured to meet the urgent needs of the Defence Services. It is the unholy nexus of the Bureaucrats & Politicians that are throttling the DRDO and gives preference to imports of Defence armaments & equipment, with plenty of kick-backs.

    I wish some one with clout, like that of Dr Subramaniam Swamy has the guts to file a PIL in the Supreme Court, to expose the unholy nexus and the systematic denudation of our Defence capabilities coupled with the looting of our monetary resources.

    Regards,

    Col Rajan

    ReplyDelete