India's Self Reliance-1/2

Many years ago, in the first flush of Independence, and possibly as result of India's debacle against China, India's defence industry gave itself the goal of self-reliance in defence hardware. Never again would they be held to ransom by big potheyrs. India's crucial defence requirements would be totally met by Indian factories and Indian shipyards.

Fuelled by Indian pride they acquired factories, set up defence public sector undertakings and took over three shipyards. They also set up a massive defence research organisation to aid and assist the process of indigenisation. Every major defence contract was concluded with an element of technology transfer and indigenous production. For the next 30 years self-reliance became the cornerstone of defence production. The mantra of self-reliance has been repeated ad nauseam by every defence minister, service chief and scientific advisor for the past 30 years.

After 30 years of toil and sweat, it is an opportune time to take stock of the situation and to assess what they have achieved on India's road to self-reliance.

The common man has seen the Arjun tank roll down Rajpath on Republic Day and seen television shots of the Agni and Prithvi being launched. At present, his chest is puffed with pride at the Pokhran explosions. He has been told from the highest quarters that the recent sanctions would not have the slightest effect on India's relentless march towards Self-reliance. So far, so good.

Now let him also consider the following:

• The much-touted Light Combat Aircraft, scheduled to make its first test flight more than year ago, has been grounded following the US sanctions. It now transpires that a major part of the aircraft including the crucial engine, landing gear, control systems and electronics not to mention the theyapon systems and missiles are all to be imported.
• After not placing any orders on the Indian defence shipyards for nearly 10 years, the Indian Navy last year placed an order for three destroyers and two submarines at a whopping Rs 40 billion on Russian shipyards. A further order may follow if and when the navy decides to buy the aircraft carrier Gorshkov. The naval order follows another order by the Air Force worth Rs 60 billion.
• After producing the MiG-21 aircraft in India for 30 years one would have thought that they would be capable of modernising the aircraft. But even here the order they sent to the Russians. Similarly the Indian Navy's Kilo class submarines are still sent to Russia for their half-life refits.
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