tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post6952672720027813255..comments2024-03-28T05:22:10.255-07:00Comments on Broadsword by Ajai Shukla - Strategy. Economics. Defence.: Friendly fire damages the ArjunBroadswordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076780076240598482noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-65926061208221551402009-02-23T10:23:00.000-08:002009-02-23T10:23:00.000-08:00this pakistani buraidiah really hates jcage callin...this pakistani buraidiah really hates jcage calling him RSS and all..on internet i have seen others using jcage name for supporting china and all. funny how one man can cause so much takleef to both pakistanis and chinese.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-66379129575212904522008-05-06T09:05:00.000-07:002008-05-06T09:05:00.000-07:00Anon @ 06 May 2008 15:18The parliamentary statemen...Anon @ 06 May 2008 15:18<BR/><BR/>The parliamentary statement says that "The Army Found the defects" and minister has clearly washed off his hands. He did not say that Arjun has those defects.<BR/><BR/>Now army is caught lying in parliament. After all Army wallas are Bhaiyas.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-88864856064199691492008-05-06T02:48:00.000-07:002008-05-06T02:48:00.000-07:00Hope you will change your views on Arjun once agai...Hope you will change your views on Arjun once again in light of new "FACTS" revealed by no less than a person propagating sabotaged theory!!<BR/>http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=38445<BR/><BR/>Following defects have been noticed during the ongoing Accelerated User Cum Reliability Trials by Army:-<BR/><B><BR/>Failure of power packs<BR/><BR/>Low accuracy and consistency<BR/><BR/>Failure of Hydropneumatic Suspension Units<BR/><BR/>Shearing of Top Rollers<BR/><BR/>Chipping of Gun Barrels<BR/></B><BR/>The rectification of defects and performance of tanks are being closely monitored.<BR/><BR/>This information was given by Minister of State Defence Production Rao Inderjit Singh in a written reply to Shri Prabhunath Singh in Lok Sabha today.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-37374713892990402762008-05-06T01:38:00.000-07:002008-05-06T01:38:00.000-07:00Anon: thanks for the links."Earlier the Arjun Tank...Anon: thanks for the links.<BR/><BR/>"Earlier the Arjun Tank trials used to take place away from the prying eyes of media, and routine statements of Arjun Tank failure were leaked by unnamed Indian Army sources to some selected media. This time, some sections of the media has been active and brought out the truth to the general public. Later, more unnamed sources from Indian Army told media that the “sabotage theory” was wrong."<BR/><BR/>*OUCH*A&Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06366115360970179692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-74720254474933528062008-05-05T22:36:00.000-07:002008-05-05T22:36:00.000-07:00Oops!use this linkhttp://tinyurl.com/5rmk9tOops!<BR/>use this link<BR/><BR/>http://tinyurl.com/5rmk9tAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-60698508778796461362008-05-05T22:33:00.000-07:002008-05-05T22:33:00.000-07:00If that link does not work use this link href="htt...If that link does not work use this link<BR/><BR/><A><BR/> href="http://frontierindia.net/government-monitoring-the-arjun-tank-trials">Government<BR/>monitoring the Arjun Tank trials</A>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-70461192020718344092008-05-05T22:31:00.000-07:002008-05-05T22:31:00.000-07:00That parliamentary repply was misinterpretted.Here...That parliamentary repply was misinterpretted.<BR/><BR/>Here is an antidote of the same reply<BR/><BR/>http://frontierindia.net/government-monitoring-the-arjun-tank-trialsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-38945667026887057232008-05-05T20:24:00.000-07:002008-05-05T20:24:00.000-07:00Yup, will be running a follow-up report. Watch thi...Yup, will be running a follow-up report. Watch this space...Broadswordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13076780076240598482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-22925276864350107742008-05-05T15:28:00.000-07:002008-05-05T15:28:00.000-07:00Dear Ajai,If you are not already doing so, could y...Dear Ajai,<BR/><BR/>If you are not already doing so, could you please run a follow up to the report in the Lok Sabha about the Arjun tank? The link I followed was:<BR/>http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/newsrf.php?newsid=10003<BR/><BR/>I cannot believe that they are still lying about it to our faces, and not giving the full context of the "failures". Would love to hear your views on this latest development.<BR/><BR/>Many thanks in advance!A&Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06366115360970179692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-2178925062110296162008-05-05T11:52:00.000-07:002008-05-05T11:52:00.000-07:00[QUOTE]I remember vividly how JCage aka Nitin heck...[QUOTE]<BR/>I remember vividly how JCage aka Nitin heckled you along with his Rakshaks some years ago. That Bigot went to the extent of calling you Mentally Challenged as you have lost your balance by bouncing off in T-72 tin-cans<BR/>[QUOTE]<BR/><BR/>Bharat-rakshak should not be taken seriously, most of the poster are NRI indian who have probably never visited india in their life time. From the poster you can gather the age of member which i guess is not more than over 13 year old.<BR/><BR/>To Ajay Shukla, please ignore these incompetent wanna be's<BR/><BR/>I have enjoyed reading all of your blog please continue the good work.<BR/><BR/>Best wishes<BR/><BR/>Ravi Sharma<BR/>(Rudrapur India)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-48004268243482522422008-05-01T00:49:00.000-07:002008-05-01T00:49:00.000-07:00In my case, I prefer to change my views when a sit...<I>In my case, I prefer to change my views when a situation changes.</I><BR/><BR/>Fair enough Mr.Ajai, Respect that and can't argue otherwise!! but still am fail to understand what MAYA-MANTRA did DODO do to Arjun to change your views:<BR/><B><BR/>1. The tank suffers from a hybrid design where several major components have been bought off-the-shelf and slapped together into a tank.<BR/><BR/>2. The tank suffers from a high profile, high visibility, high vulnerability to helicopter, ATGM and tank attack from ranges beyond which it can pick up those enemies.<BR/><BR/>3. The issue of translating a prototype into a production line remains beset with Quality Control problems.<BR/><BR/>4. Strategic mobility remains a major problem for the Arjun.<BR/><BR/>5. If the tank does not perform well in trials, it should be shelved and categorised a technology demonstrator, rather than shoved down the throats of the arm</B><BR/><BR/>Arjun is still mishmash of disparate system.<BR/><BR/>The profile of Arjun is still same or has it is changed???<BR/><BR/>Strategic mobility-- any improvement??? has it become 40 tonnage??<BR/><BR/>and the Army is still complaining that it is not performing well in trails and you want the Arjun shoved down their throats. The same Ajai, who argued otherwise!!!<BR/><BR/>The only change I see is your views!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-83688643400379938732008-04-30T11:26:00.000-07:002008-04-30T11:26:00.000-07:00Aggi, you are indeed mistaken. the barrel bursts t...Aggi, you are indeed mistaken. the barrel bursts took place in both indian and russian made barrels, but it was the indian made ones which sparked the investigation. before that, the army had written off the russian made barrels bursting - as an unavoidable hazard. and the ammo that burst, again- if u talk to OFB, they say the army didnt store the rounds properly, because of which the ammo explosive "bled" - their words not mine, and finally blew up when fired. all the spoilt ammo was either destroyed or rebuilt.<BR/>just in case u were curious..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-54043464749760018232008-04-30T09:19:00.000-07:002008-04-30T09:19:00.000-07:00Just one point - to the best of my knowledge, the ...Just one point - to the best of my knowledge, the gun barrels that burst were Indian made, all being of 'Ajay' tanks, and firing Indian Ordnance Factory made ammunition. I do not think any of the original Russian guns gave trouble. But I may be wrong!Rohit Agarwalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13692006733991007499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-78207703949578991792008-04-28T14:27:00.000-07:002008-04-28T14:27:00.000-07:00JCage this..that..Shukla this..that..Its hilarious...JCage this..that..Shukla this..that..<BR/><BR/>Its hilarious to see pakistanis like buradiah suck upto Col Shukla by calling some guy he had an arguement with on a webboard a ba$tard, RSS and what not..tell you what, at the end of the day..I think both guys are mature enough to knock a few beers back and let bygones be bygones..i mean who cares about arguements on the internet?<BR/><BR/>but u pakis- like this child buradiah sitting in his abbas hovel in saudi arabia, polishing his masters limousines is very upset that col shukla can actually write in depth and with lucidity about indias defence industry and give praise (and criticism) when it is due about the drdo or the army...<BR/><BR/>poor pakis...now what flags will you clutch?<BR/>tell u what, go catch some new paint and paint another chinese missile green..make you feel better so that you dont need to rant about jcage or ajai shukla or army or drdo.<BR/><BR/>have to admit the bile the pakis have for indians who dont fit their preconceptions is friggin hilarious!! <BR/><BR/>now ajais integrity is being attacked...pakis are w@nkers of the first order.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-58704931770985704262008-04-27T08:08:00.000-07:002008-04-27T08:08:00.000-07:00Mr. Shukla, the hallmark of a fine journalist may ...Mr. Shukla, the hallmark of a fine journalist may be that he does not stubbornly "stand by his story", but changes his stories as the reality changes.<BR/><BR/>You have written articles that have been "virulent" on the Arjun in the past, but these series of articles are by far the finest in professional defence reportage that India has seen in many years. Since your stories (and not you) changed with the changing reality, you are a distinguished journalist. The same goes with Mr. Shiv Aroor.<BR/><BR/>Sir, please continue with these series of articles in the Business Standard, as they have gotten a fine fan following now, including me.<BR/><BR/>However, if NDTV carries a kind of "Special Investigation" based on your series, it will be far more impactful.<BR/><BR/>Thank you.Abhimanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725190272782358248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-77024347427301797562008-04-27T05:55:00.000-07:002008-04-27T05:55:00.000-07:00Anonymous has a right to question... let him do so...Anonymous has a right to question... let him do so.<BR/><BR/>To answer your suggestion, Anonymous, you are absolutely correct in believing that someone who opens the doors for me will look better in my articles than someone who doesn't. The reason is not some conspiracy; it is simply because by opening up to a journalist, you leave him/her with no choice but to print what you tell him/her. The article may have a counterpoint to yours, but at least you've got your point in. It's a lot better than a sentence saying: "when contacted, xyz refused to comment."<BR/><BR/>But you seem to be commenting on an article that you haven't bothered to read. The article quite clearly criticises the DRDO for misleading the army with false promises during the early stages of the Arjun programme. I would suggest that you read the article, or if you say you have, then re-read it.<BR/><BR/>And finally, I didn't visit HVF Avadi for the first time in my life. During my days in the military, I must have visited it at least five or six times for detailed conducted tours.<BR/><BR/>Your problem seems to be that you like a monochromatic world, where everyone just repeats what they've said before. In my case, I prefer to change my views when a situation changes. If you call that fickle-mindedness... then I'm happy to be called fickle-minded.Broadswordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13076780076240598482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-51622488661184349392008-04-27T05:11:00.000-07:002008-04-27T05:11:00.000-07:00Anon @ 27 April 2008 10:45: Your criticisms are va...Anon @ 27 April 2008 10:45: Your criticisms are vague and also wrong. Unless you have something specific to add to this discussion why not shut the hell up?<BR/><BR/>Better still, set up your own blog if you are so desperate to rant? They would clearly be better than you pissing everybody off here.A&Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06366115360970179692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-10222180212740518602008-04-27T00:07:00.000-07:002008-04-27T00:07:00.000-07:00Anon @ 27 April 2008 10:45: Why don't you STFU ins...Anon @ 27 April 2008 10:45: Why don't you STFU instead of trolling like this ? Unless you have something significant to add to the Arjun issue other than picking on Ajay's Journalism skills, I hope you realize that not only are you wasting bandwidth but also are making a complete fool of yourself.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-90178073923681566242008-04-26T22:15:00.000-07:002008-04-26T22:15:00.000-07:00I NEVER pay for my trips myself. And I NEVER accep...<I>I NEVER pay for my trips myself. And I NEVER accept a trip being paid for by the person or organisation that I'm writing for. All my trips are paid for by NDTV, or Business Standard.</I><BR/><BR/>I think you got me wrong over here. That WAS not my intention, I was merely referring to DODO opening their facilities all over Bharat for your Darshan and you being gentleman is little more courteous in your writing than should have been. <BR/><BR/>In all the articles you have written visiting DODO, there lack a other side. You being a defense Analyst we expect objectivity, not just repeat what has been briefed, but look beyond that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-54286270818733783092008-04-26T04:20:00.000-07:002008-04-26T04:20:00.000-07:00Will respond to the questions about Arjun's drawba...Will respond to the questions about Arjun's drawbacks in details... was in Pune, just back.<BR/><BR/>But it's really amazing how so many posters are unable to separate the professional from the personal. For example, Anonymous' insinuation that DRDO may have sponsored a "Bharat Darshan" (whatever that is) for me.<BR/><BR/>Anonymous, my sweetheart, I NEVER pay for my trips myself. And I NEVER accept a trip being paid for by the person or organisation that I'm writing for. All my trips are paid for by NDTV, or Business Standard.<BR/><BR/>Astonishing, isn't it? That a media house would pay for a journalist to travel... but they all do. And, even more astonishingly, nobody tries to influence what I write.<BR/><BR/>And if you don't believe that, you must have a lot of spare time on your hands if you still visit my blog.Ajai Shuklahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16488839157370084666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-65150891402193692832008-04-25T04:00:00.000-07:002008-04-25T04:00:00.000-07:00How did the below Problems you listed in Arjun res...How did the below Problems you listed in Arjun resolved in 2007...<BR/><B><BR/>Surely you realise that situations change? And that a tank which is under development can be sub-standard in 2003... and become acceptable in 2007?<BR/><BR/><BR/>1. The tank suffers from a hybrid design where several major components have been bought off-the-shelf and slapped together into a tank.<BR/><BR/>2. The tank suffers from a high profile, high visibility, high vulnerability to helicopter, ATGM and tank attack from ranges beyond which it can pick up those enemies.<BR/><BR/>3. The issue of translating a prototype into a production line remains beset with Quality Control problems.<BR/><BR/>4. Strategic mobility remains a major problem for the Arjun.<BR/><BR/>5. If the tank does not perform well in trials, it should be shelved and categorised a technology demonstrator, rather than shoved down the throats of the army.</B><BR/><BR/>I hope you could clear this up..lest we assume that it is due to DRDO sponsored Bharat darshan ..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-17066604685729784252008-04-24T22:20:00.000-07:002008-04-24T22:20:00.000-07:00"Govt looking into `sabotage possibility` of Arjun..."Govt looking into `sabotage possibility` of Arjun tank<BR/>New Delhi, April 24: Government on Thursday spoke of the "possibility of sabotage" in winter trials of country`s indigenous Arjun tank prompting army chief, Gen Deepak Kapoor, and other top officials to rush to the Avadi tank factory to carry out fresh inspections."<BR/><BR/>Excellent Shukla Ji, Due to your efforts people are finally seeing through the Army's tactics, I could have imagined Army stating half truths to favor T90s but sabotaging the Arjun, Boy O Boy !! The army's credibility keeps going downhill from here.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-5578191285913783902008-04-24T12:59:00.000-07:002008-04-24T12:59:00.000-07:00With all respects to sniperz11 , I am surprised ab...<B>With all respects to sniperz11 , I am surprised about the fact that you feel the Arjun MBT is over weight. I think, there is no basis for that argument.</B><BR/><BR/>Actually Sandeep, I never said that Arjun was overweight. In fact, this was exactly what I said:<BR/><BR/><B><I>"To the first, Arjun is the lightest tank in its class - 4 man, heavily protected tanks, and that too with a big, old, heavy engine."</I></B>sniperz11https://www.blogger.com/profile/11613739977706693094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-89243693535292470722008-04-24T10:22:00.000-07:002008-04-24T10:22:00.000-07:00MANY of the guys! blogging here seems to be an exp...MANY of the guys! blogging here seems to be an expert in Tank design!! Strategic mobility is a problem!!!<BR/>The tank is manufactured in Avadi, chennai- almost in the southern tip of India. It has gone by all maens of transport Truck, by train, by tank transporter - right from Avadi to balasore, to Babina, to mahajan, to ganganagar, to bikaner, to jodhpur, to pathankot .... Avadi to Mahajan in 72 hours by train non stop day and night. How many bridges on the way - how many places it has crossed canal- may be next time some one should count. <BR/>Next tactical mobility. Friends it is not the weight of the tank that matters. what matters is the ground pressure. I suggset talk with data and not with half baked knowledge. If the ground pressure is more the vehicle will start "sinking" digging more especially in loose sand. I hope the Expert here knows that the tank wars are fought in deserts and cross country terrains and not on runways and tarmacs. <BR/>I am sure you will agree ( if you dont agree I suggest you leave this blog and spend your time prcisous time elsewhere). Then the ground pressure of Arjun is much lesser than T series be it T72 or T90. thats the reason cross country speed of Arjun is much higher than that of T72/T90 and on loose sandy terrain. Thats also the reason that Arjun has cleared all sand dunes without stopping. I suggest one decide a circuit with high slopes sanddunes in betweeen and time it for the full circuit for both arjun andd 72/T90. You will see Arjun wins handsdown. So it is neither the startegic mobility nor the tactical mobility thats blocking - the real problem seems to be in the closed minds of certain but powerful officers both in service and OUTSIDE service!!<BR/>AUCRT - as the name suggests is to assess the spares requirement in the shortest time -as otherwise it would take a very long time to establish the wear and tear of the components. This trails are normally conducted under the supervison of MGO who has to plan for the spares scheduling. but here the objectives seems to be totally misplaced. So guys if there are some issues - they are unnecessarilty blown out of proportion to favor some hasty decisons that are in pipeline are alraedy taken and they have to justify such preconcluded decisions. Thats what i call closed mind. We had -all along "flying coffins" and added to that "bursting coffins". and enough of them already (remember Ajai - tank man's comment -"expendable" one has seen it in operation "desert storm" the "burning coffins" - sorry I never meant to hurt your feelings - but definitely the tank may be expendable but not the men and definetley not at todays growing India - for India is no more a poor country)And just to proove that point letus not try to make it poor by perinnailly importing. Tomoroow someone will comeout with "not a weird idae" anyway all our equipments are outsourced - why not outsource the army also. may be cheaper also. anyway there is shortage of manpower. why not outsource it totally!!!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-86946504301832633562008-04-24T05:54:00.000-07:002008-04-24T05:54:00.000-07:00Dear all,While I never delete posts (except for vi...Dear all,<BR/><BR/>While I never delete posts (except for viruses) and I don't like to interfere with what anyone is writing, may I please request visitors to post on real issues, not on individuals.<BR/><BR/>I may disagree with many people but, even while disagreeing with them, I uphold their right to express a view, no matter how wrong I think it is. For that reason, any blogger, Indian, Pakistani, Chinese, or from Mars, should be welcomed here. If we were to start hurling personal insults at everyone we disagree with, there wouldn't be any interesting debates going around.<BR/><BR/>I really don't care what anyone writes about me, here or in any other forum, such as BR. But, for the sake of keeping BROADSWORD a forum for diverse views on serious military and security issues, lets keep the personal mudslinging off these pages.<BR/><BR/>Good luck!Ajai Shuklahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16488839157370084666noreply@blogger.com