Russian
Aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov pushing up the Defence
budget
Indian
Defence Budget May Shoot Up by 30 Per Cent to Rs1000 Billion
By
Arun Rajnath
NEW
DELHI: The Indian Defence Budget is expected to cross the psychological
barrier of Rs1000 billion (US$22.8 billion) when the Congress
Government presents its new year’s budget on February 28
in the Lok Sabha, South Asia Tribune has learnt.
It
would be an increase of about 30 per cent to the current budget
of Rs770 billion and may provide momentum to increased defence
spending in the sub-continent.
The
Finance Ministry is pressing to buy helicopters that could fly
on high altitudes and in sub-zero temperatures, besides equipping
the Indian Navy.
In the last budget the increase
on defence was 27.69 per cent compared to the revised estimates
of Rs603 billion. It was the biggest military budget in two decades
as in 2000-01 it was Rs496.22 billion, in 2001-02 Rs542.66 billion
and in 2002-03 Rs556.62 billion.
Renowned
economist Kamal Nayan Kabara told the South Asia Tribune:
“The UPA government has a long list of armaments it wants
to buy from various countries including EU, USA and Russia. Keeping
this in mind, India’s Defense Budget is likely to swell.
During the current financial year the Government of India has
not been able to buy arms as the budgetary allocations did not
permit, but in 2005-06, there could be a jump to cross the Rs1000
billion mark.”
Mr. Kabara says that the erstwhile
National Democratic Alliance government had struck a deal with
Israel for Falcon radar, with Britain for Advanced Jet Trainer
aircrafts and with Russia for Admiral Gorshkov warship. Rs300
billion have already been paid by the previous government to these
countries as token money, and Rs260 billion r had to be paid in
2004-05.
He says: “Though last year
the defense budget had been increased by Rs173 billion, it was
spent on the deals made by the previous government. And since
military and militant activities have not decreased in a substantial
manner, the budget allocation is bound to go up.”
As India began technical talks
in New Delhi on Monday with a US team on the Patriot missiles,
New Delhi is also seeking US cooperation in raising Special Forces
on the line of American Green Berets, Delta Force and Rangers.
Increased allocations are also needed for all this.
Apart
from this, the defense sector is pressing the Government of India
to allocate funds for buying ultra modern helicopters to cope
with Kargil-like situations. Sources close to Defense Minister,
Pranab Mukherjee, told the South Asia Tribune: “Without
increasing allocations, the program of modernization of the Indian
forces will not be possible. Though peace process has started
between India and Pakistan, the defense sector feels that equipping
of the forces is still necessary.”
“We need at least 60 ultra
modern helicopters that can fly on high altitudes and in sub-zero
temperatures to be deployed in Kargil and Siachen areas. These
are the multi-purpose helicopters, which can be used for reconnaissance
on high altitude, supplies and to attack, as well,” sources
added.
According to the informed sources,
the Indian Army is, nowadays, looking forward to buy any one of
the three helicopters, viz., Bell-70, Kamov and Eurocopter. A
test flight of all these three variants is going on in Bangalore.
Kamov helicopters have already
been included in the Indian Navy, and the Navy wants to equip
these helicopters with AWACKS facilities. Germany’s Eurocopter
is involved in developing a heavy transport helicopter which could
carry 10 to 13 tons of material and transport 70 soldiers. Indian
forces say that such a helicopter would be able to cope with any
future Kargils.
On the other hand, the Hindustan
Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is also developing such helicopters.
The Cheetal helicopter made a world record on November 2, 2004
by flying at the altitude of 25,150 feet over Saasar Kangadi in
Laddakh. The HAL has fitted TM-333 2M2 engine in this helicopter.
Similarly, the HAL is also developing
lightweight Dhruv helicopters. The test flight of this helicopter
has also been successfully done by flying it up to the altitude
of 27,000 feet, but it is still undergoing test flights.
The Indian Army has also chalked
out a plan to buy 155 mm caliber cannons. During the Kargil War,
only the controversial Bofors cannons were successful while others
had failed.
Director
of the Institute of Defense Studies and Analysis, C. Udai Bhaskar
told the South Asia Tribune: “It is believed that
the defense allocation next year will be around three percent
of the Gross Domestic Product. The main issue would be what would
be the mode of allocation, and how the allocated funds would be
utilized.”
“We know that at umpteen
times, funds lapsed due to non-utilization. It means there had
been no plans how to expend the funds. The Defense Budget has
two parts, viz revenue and capital outlay. The capital outlay
is used for modernization, achievements and technical developments.
This is the main part of the Defense Budget which has never been
utilized properly in past,” he said.
Bhaskar said: “Today, military
tensions between India and Pakistan, and India and China have
substantially reduced. When there is no extraneous threat, then
why to increase budget allocations? But it is important as India
has to revolutionize the defense sector with modern techniques
and technologies which we have been ignoring so far.”
“Secondly, we have to strike
the balance between the three forces. At present the ratio of
the personnel of Army, Air Force and Navy stand as 22:2:1. This
is the worst ratio in the world. Therefore the ratio of the budget
allocation also stands as 4:2:1. The Indian Navy gets only 16
per cent of the total allocation, despite its strategic importance.
What a pity,” he added.
Bhasker says: “All the three
forces are facing the challenge of how to maintain a balance between
the strategic arm capability (nuclear weapons, missiles, satellite,
etc), traditional forces (artillery, tanks, ships and fighter
aircrafts) and Special Forces (modern equipment for all types
of warfare) so as to cope with terrorism and challenges of internal
security.”
