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labelthumbs({"version":"1.0","encoding":"UTF-8","feed":{"xmlns":"http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom","xmlns$openSearch":"http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/","xmlns$blogger":"http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008","xmlns$georss":"http://www.georss.org/georss","xmlns$gd":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005","xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-11-11T11:34:56.897-08:00"},"category":[{"term":"defence planning"},{"term":"Defence Production"},{"term":"Indian Air Force"},{"term":"Indian Navy"},{"term":"Indian Army"},{"term":"strategy"},{"term":"region"},{"term":"Private Sector"},{"term":"DRDO"},{"term":"US military"},{"term":"Ordnance factories"},{"term":"russia"},{"term":"HAL"},{"term":"China"},{"term":"shipbuilding"},{"term":"Missiles"},{"term":"West Asia"},{"term":"LCA"},{"term":"Morale"},{"term":"Internal security"},{"term":"offsets"},{"term":"MMRCA"},{"term":"Inside Tales"},{"term":"Land systems"},{"term":"france"},{"term":"Broadsword"},{"term":"Infotech"},{"term":"nuclear"},{"term":"Software"},{"term":"Civil aviation"},{"term":"CAG"},{"term":"vehicle"},{"term":"UAV"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Broadsword by Ajai Shukla - Strategy. Economics. Defence."},"subtitle":{"type":"html","$t":"strategy. economics. defence."},"link":[{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.ajaishukla.com\/feeds\/posts\/default"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8726844009873922462\/posts\/default?alt=json-in-script\u0026start-index=4\u0026max-results=5\u0026orderby=published"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.ajaishukla.com\/"},{"rel":"hub","href":"http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/"},{"rel":"previous","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8726844009873922462\/posts\/default?alt=json-in-script\u0026start-index=1\u0026max-results=5\u0026orderby=published"},{"rel":"next","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8726844009873922462\/posts\/default?alt=json-in-script\u0026start-index=9\u0026max-results=5\u0026orderby=published"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Broadsword"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/13076780076240598482"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"generator":{"version":"7.00","uri":"http://www.blogger.com","$t":"Blogger"},"openSearch$totalResults":{"$t":"2626"},"openSearch$startIndex":{"$t":"4"},"openSearch$itemsPerPage":{"$t":"5"},"entry":[{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-704259700414868440"},"published":{"$t":"2022-11-03T17:19:00.001-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-11-03T17:19:16.059-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"China"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"defence planning"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Indian Air Force"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Indian Army"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Indian Navy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"strategy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"US military"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The challenge:  Handling a high-tech Chinese military"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp align=\"center\" class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgDC7ZPQFfEldB8_BD3v7NyXaeZVWwpFY1ys2u91b3_NwiNmC_IEr7Sm6jAh2A6fgJdlq0Aoq5_j0pJ5UI55SExAQP-7F9gxoFNqn_992zLhrOlzcb5QF2wJHLXAyjBvrZg-uze8zqhhLTzwwj94XFfDWSeMA3rDIRDi9Z37r1JYpQxWb0vvaZtBg0y\/s640\/1667502669-1507.jpg.webp\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"158\" data-original-width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgDC7ZPQFfEldB8_BD3v7NyXaeZVWwpFY1ys2u91b3_NwiNmC_IEr7Sm6jAh2A6fgJdlq0Aoq5_j0pJ5UI55SExAQP-7F9gxoFNqn_992zLhrOlzcb5QF2wJHLXAyjBvrZg-uze8zqhhLTzwwj94XFfDWSeMA3rDIRDi9Z37r1JYpQxWb0vvaZtBg0y\/s16000\/1667502669-1507.jpg.webp\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #999999; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EUnanswered questions remain over India's readiness for such a contingency\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #999999; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAjai Shukla\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #999999; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBusiness Standard, 4th Nov 22\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Co:p\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003EInaugurating a new production line last Sunday in Vadodara, Gujarat, where Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) will build C-295 transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF) in technology partnership with Airbus Defence and Space, Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked up his vision of “\u003Ci\u003Eatmanirbharta\u003C\/i\u003E.” India, he declared, would soon be a huge manufacturer of transport aircraft, having shed the “makeshift approach” of the previous government where the manufacturing sector barely survived through subsidies.\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Co:p\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003EYet there remain serious questions over the Indian military’s capabilities, and whether it could prevail in the two-front war that analysts anticipate,\u0026nbsp;with China fighting its version of an “informatised war”, in which killer robots, driven and enhanced by artificial intelligence, machine learning and quantum computing quickly put paid to an Indian Army that is driven in a more conventional manner. Many believe that such a war is unlikely, as China would not want to be seen as needing Pakistani help in slapping down a smaller and weaker India. Even so, an opportunistic Pakistani military might not spurn the opportunity to jump into the fray.\u0026nbsp;Unanswered questions remain, therefore, over whether India has equipped and readied itself for such a contingency, or whether our military would go into battle in 2022-23 using tactics and equipment very similar to those it used in the 1999 Kargil conflict.\u0026nbsp;What exactly has changed; and what badly needs to?\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003EFirst, a key development that has transformed the modern battlefield — as observed in glimpses in\u0026nbsp;Azerbaijan-Armenia and also in Ukraine — is the new threat to ground forces posed by remotely piloted vehicles (RPVs), or weaponised drones, that are driven by ultra-modern technologies.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\"\u003EThese constitute a potent threat to Indian forces, including those in depth.\u0026nbsp;Armed drones, freed to operate by the early destruction of the enemy’s air defence weapon systems, can vault over the enemy’s forward defences to\u0026nbsp;strike its\u0026nbsp;reserve echelons, tactical infrastructure such as headquarters and communication nodes, logistics units such as ammunition dumps and geographical bottlenecks that force troops to concentrate, presenting lucrative targets.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003EWhile Pakistan enjoys\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;rough parity with India in legacy weapon systems, it is beginning to enjoy superiority in drone warfare, thanks to the RPVs supplied by China, including the Wing Loong and RPVs obtained from Iran and Turkey.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\"\u003EIndia does not yet have a doctrine to counter these new threats, or a strategy to underpin a response framework. Even as China perfects its strategy and implements for fifth-generation warfare, our acquisition of drones and counter-drone systems continues to founder on slipshod procurement policies. A key reason for not having a tactical, and operational doctrine for drones is the lamentable absence of a National Security Strategy (NSS), which is essential for formulating strategic, operational and tactical concepts that, in turn, would shape\u0026nbsp;the development of the force. Without a technically proficient national security advisor (NSA), who can direct the making of apex-level policy, the military will not even know what war to prepare for.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\"\u003EIt is evident that the current NSA does not accord a high priority to formulating a NSS, having pushed the responsibility on to the chief of defence staff (CDS), the department of military affairs (DMA) and various scientific establishments such as the Defence R\u0026amp;D Organisation. This is undesirable, since the CDS, from the time this post was conceived in 1999, was pointed towards tri-service force structuring, procurement, integration, and re-organisation of the existing single-service theatres into integrated tri-service commands.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\"\u003EAnother critical Indian weakness lies in what has been dubbed “Grey Zone warfare”:\u0026nbsp;Which involves information, disinformation, cyber-attacks, gathering electronic, signals and satellite intelligence and altering historical records, as it did in Tawang, Doklam and Ladakh to find a\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EJus ad Bellum\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E(rationale for a war). Chinese special forces could also\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003Esnap undersea internet cables, leaving India isolated and unable to communicate securely with its allies.\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\"\u003EChina’s (and to a growing extent, Pakistan’s) domination of India's military in wartime is not just in high-tech fields such as Artificial Intelligence. It is also evident in conventional fields, such as long-range fires to support ground operations. In this, Indian forces that need fire to support ground operations have few choices besides Pinaka rockets and BrahMos cruise missiles. Meanwhile, Pakistan has acquired, or developed the Hatf series of missiles, and a cruise missile that can deliver a nuclear payload.\u0026nbsp;India’s ballistic missiles would constitute a form of deterrence,\u0026nbsp;if only China were\u0026nbsp;to leave the command and control systems functional.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\"\u003EThe government, instead of making up these deficiencies, dismisses the military’s concerns. In the combined commanders’\u0026nbsp;conference, held in 2015 on INS Vikramaditya, Mr Modi collectively asked the commanders present what they considered India’s premier military threat. When the generals, air marshals and admirals said they considered China to be India’s most likely threat, Mr Modi would have done well to introduce the generals, admirals and air marshals to some of the tenets of informatised warfare. Instead, he sagely stated: “You may believe that but, from my perspective, I believe that China is not a military threat at all to India.”\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\"\u003ELess than two years later, Indian troops were in eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation with Chinese troops in Doklam, Sikkim. Five years later, the PM found himself dealing with large-scale Chinese troop incursions in Eastern Ladakh, the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and the loss of significant Indian territory in the Depsang sector at the northern tip of Ladakh.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\"\u003EAlongside these disadvantages, one significant, and oft-overlooked military advantage that India has against China is the resilience and fighting quality of our combat forces.\u0026nbsp;The difficulties that soldiers face in high mountain terrain severely test\u0026nbsp;even the most rugged of them.\u0026nbsp;In contrast, the average Chinese soldier is a lone male child, pampered by an adoring family and ill-prepared for the hazards and discomforts of the Line of Actual Control (LAC)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\"\u003EIn the confrontation in Doklam, Sikkim, where Indian and Chinese soldiers were lined up eyeball-to-eyeball, senior Indian commanders recount that they could sense the uncertainty in the Chinese line. While Indian soldiers had to be restrained — verbally as well as physically — from pushing the Chinese troops back, our chief interpreter heard the Chinese officers to the rear of their line threatening to open fire on any of their soldiers who wavered or withdrew from the line.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\"\u003EThis man-to-man advantage that Indian jawans on the LAC enjoy over the relatively comfort-loving Chinese soldiers would be eroded once the ranks of hardened jawans, enrolled on long-service tenures, are diluted by significant numbers of so-called Agniveers — soldiers enrolled on short-service tenures of four years. Of these, only 20 per cent (25,000 soldiers from each year’s batch of 125,000) will be retained in service for long-service tenures. There is apprehension amongst the generals that, as the percentage of Agniveers rises, the hard edge of the army will soften.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003EThe only redeeming factor is that, in any war with China, India would not be alone. With its growing relations with Indo-Pacific democracies such as Japan, Australia, the UK and the US, New Delhi would react to the inevitable reverses by quickly aligning and combining forces with the AUKUS and Quadrilateral groupings. China would find its forces being split in two directions — the land border with India and the South China Sea maritime theatre. Handling the diplomatic and strategic levers in this conundrum would be a major challenge for New Delhi.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.ajaishukla.com\/feeds\/704259700414868440\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.ajaishukla.com\/2022\/11\/the-challenge-handling-high-tech.html#comment-form","title":"3 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8726844009873922462\/posts\/default\/704259700414868440"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8726844009873922462\/posts\/default\/704259700414868440"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.ajaishukla.com\/2022\/11\/the-challenge-handling-high-tech.html","title":"The challenge:  Handling a high-tech Chinese military"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Broadsword"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/13076780076240598482"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgDC7ZPQFfEldB8_BD3v7NyXaeZVWwpFY1ys2u91b3_NwiNmC_IEr7Sm6jAh2A6fgJdlq0Aoq5_j0pJ5UI55SExAQP-7F9gxoFNqn_992zLhrOlzcb5QF2wJHLXAyjBvrZg-uze8zqhhLTzwwj94XFfDWSeMA3rDIRDi9Z37r1JYpQxWb0vvaZtBg0y\/s72-c\/1667502669-1507.jpg.webp","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"3"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-7962544899966709805"},"published":{"$t":"2022-10-31T06:28:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-10-31T06:28:06.718-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Defence Production"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Indian Air Force"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Private Sector"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"PM at inauguration of C-295 line: \"Time for made-in-India passenger aircraft\""},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhbIUGuiCgLCQL1aM4svKXsIMsVLBAiwLJmr-Md0r8VK7LeEAPJrzRUsUwjRU1q-lpKPBXdAOJDKBn0-E9EicdixR62ckDaIuDW5em9HnDGGjinAebCSq3cDqU63Fj9f81032FDXO4xBtjCYn_aViJZM8ZKQ9foj9xhpj_Ze5TWVKOzJNwWvUabzXuA\/s640\/1667152903-1405.jpg.webp\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"font-family: verdana; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"479\" data-original-width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhbIUGuiCgLCQL1aM4svKXsIMsVLBAiwLJmr-Md0r8VK7LeEAPJrzRUsUwjRU1q-lpKPBXdAOJDKBn0-E9EicdixR62ckDaIuDW5em9HnDGGjinAebCSq3cDqU63Fj9f81032FDXO4xBtjCYn_aViJZM8ZKQ9foj9xhpj_Ze5TWVKOzJNwWvUabzXuA\/s16000\/1667152903-1405.jpg.webp\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-size: xx-large; font-style: italic;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #999999;\"\u003EPM Narendra Modi with Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran (left) and Airbus Chief Commercial Officer Christian Scherer (right) during foundation stone laying ceremony of C-295 transport aircraft manufacturing plant in Vadodara\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #999999; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAjai Shukla\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #999999; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBusiness\u0026nbsp;Standard\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #999999;\"\u003ENew Delhi, 30 October\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003EPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said he could foresee that India would soon be manufacturing big passenger aircraft that would proudly bear the words ‘Made in India’. He was speaking at the foundation stone ceremony of the Tata-Airbus C295 aircraft manufacturing facility in Vadodara, Gujarat. The Rs 22,000-crore project is being seen as a win for Gujarat ahead of assembly elections in the state.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003EAddressing the gathering, the PM said, “India is moving forward with the mantra of ‘Make in India, Make for the World’….. The C-295 aircraft would bolster the logistical capability of the Indian Air Force (IAF).’’ While pointing out that India is making fighter jets, tanks, submarines, medicines, vaccines, electronic gadgets, mobile phones and cars that are popular in many countries, the PM said India would now become a huge manufacturer of transport aircraft.\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003EPutting stress on the increased demand for passenger and cargo aircraft, the PM said India would need more than 2,000 aircraft in the next 15 years. ‘’Today is a crucial step in this direction.’’\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003ESpeaking at the event, Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran said, ‘’This is a historic moment not only for the Tata Group but for the country, as it embraces the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of being truly ‘Atmanirbhar’”.\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Co:p\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003EAirbus chief executive officer Guillaume Faury said, ‘’Our teams are committed to supporting the modernisation of the Indian Air Force with the C295 programme, which will also contribute to the development of the private defence manufacturing sector in the country.’’\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003ECongratulating the two groups, the PM said more than 100 medium, small and micro enterprises (MSMEs) were associated with the project.\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;Highlighting that India is creating an unprecedented environment for manufacturing in the country, Modi cited the creation of a simplified, globally competitive, corporate tax structure, permitting 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) across sectors, opening up defence and space sectors for \u0026nbsp;private companies, reforming 29 central labour laws into four codes, abolishing 33,000 compliances, and creating the Goods and Service Tax that put an end to a complex web of dozens of taxes.\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003EHe recalled a time when the dominant thought was to focus on the service sector as manufacturing was considered to be beyond reach. “Today, we are improving both services and manufacturing sectors… India is preparing to stay ahead of everyone in manufacturing,” he said.\u0026nbsp;While reiterating the investment-friendly policies, the PM urged India Inc to move aggressively on manufacturing without losing the current opportunity. “Growth momentum of India has been maintained despite COVID-19 pandemic, war and supply-chain disruptions.”\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003EModi said that over $3 billion has been invested in the aerospace sector alone. Post 2014, investment in this sector grew five times larger then what had been invested during 2000 to 2014. “We aim to scale our defence manufacturing beyond $25 billion by 2025. Our defence exports will also exceed $5 billion,” he added.\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E“Today our policies are stable, predictable and futuristic,” he said. “A new saga of economic reforms is being written in India and the manufacturing sector is reaping the most benefits from this, apart from the states.”\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003EThe PM lamented the “makeshift approach” of the previous government where the manufacturing sector was kept barely functional through subsidy.\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003EUnder the C295 project, a consortium of two Tata Group companies – Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) and Tata Consultancy Services, led by TASL – will assemble 40 Airbus transport aircraft with manufacturing technology supplied by Airbus Defence and Space. This is the first time a private firm has been entrusted with manufacturing an entire military aircraft.\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003EThe project will also involve Airbus supplying the first 16 transport aircraft ready-built in Seville, Spain. The aircraft can be used for both military and civilian purposes.\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003EThe first 16 “fly-away-condition” aircraft are scheduled to be received by the IAF between September 2023 and August 2025. The first C-295s assembled in Vadodra are expected to be delivered from September 2026.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.ajaishukla.com\/feeds\/7962544899966709805\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.ajaishukla.com\/2022\/10\/pm-at-inauguration-of-c-295-line-time.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8726844009873922462\/posts\/default\/7962544899966709805"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8726844009873922462\/posts\/default\/7962544899966709805"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.ajaishukla.com\/2022\/10\/pm-at-inauguration-of-c-295-line-time.html","title":"PM at inauguration of C-295 line: \"Time for made-in-India passenger aircraft\""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Broadsword"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/13076780076240598482"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhbIUGuiCgLCQL1aM4svKXsIMsVLBAiwLJmr-Md0r8VK7LeEAPJrzRUsUwjRU1q-lpKPBXdAOJDKBn0-E9EicdixR62ckDaIuDW5em9HnDGGjinAebCSq3cDqU63Fj9f81032FDXO4xBtjCYn_aViJZM8ZKQ9foj9xhpj_Ze5TWVKOzJNwWvUabzXuA\/s72-c\/1667152903-1405.jpg.webp","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-6352089339941819258"},"published":{"$t":"2022-10-28T02:23:00.005-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-10-28T02:23:40.555-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"HAL"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Indian Air Force"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Ordnance factories"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Private Sector"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"strategy"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Gujarat bags ~22,000-cr project to build C-295 light transporter with Tatas, Airbus"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhzgHqyDvIdNnJel49nRgfxitS8m2ecGURQ2qHJpdquywAhhljUwqqRzEbpBXFm6imy3ZT9WFLr_0RyvlU-cTW3KQ2_eDH-_S28MnQEMT7bipE-lYYE5nruZ2y1UcvSFmEHLkvyWdRcxElanEWxEY7jr5BM71UGrU9ZIyWlssctyq3U0zKFba6Mu4uN\/s970\/AA%20C-295.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"638\" data-original-width=\"970\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhzgHqyDvIdNnJel49nRgfxitS8m2ecGURQ2qHJpdquywAhhljUwqqRzEbpBXFm6imy3ZT9WFLr_0RyvlU-cTW3KQ2_eDH-_S28MnQEMT7bipE-lYYE5nruZ2y1UcvSFmEHLkvyWdRcxElanEWxEY7jr5BM71UGrU9ZIyWlssctyq3U0zKFba6Mu4uN\/s16000\/AA%20C-295.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #999999; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EBuilding the C-295 transport aircraft for the IAF by a Tata-Airbus consortium is being billed as a major boost for the domestic aerospace sector\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #999999; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBy Ajai Shukla\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003ENew Delhi, 27 October\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003EPrime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone on Sunday for a plant in Vadodara that will manufacture the C-295 transport aircraft. This\u003Cb\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003Econtract is expected to support the development of India’s aerospace ecosystem, bringing investment and 15,000 skilled direct jobs and 10,000 indirect positions over the coming decade, according to Airbus officials.\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003EThe Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Thursday announced it had, for the first time, entrusted a private firm — Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) — to manufacture an entire aircraft for the military.\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003EOn September 24, 2021, MoD had signed a ~21,935 crore contract with Airbus for 56 C-295 aircraft. Since they were to replace the Indian Air Force’s (IAF’s) legacy fleet of Avro HS-748 aircraft, this deal earned the sobriquet of ‘Avro replacement programme’.\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003EThe ‘Avro replacement programme’ will require TASL to develop an entire industrial ecosystem: from manufacture, assembly, testing and qualification, to delivery and maintenance over the aircraft’s lifecycle.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003EThe IAF will be the 35th\u0026nbsp;operator of the C-295 worldwide. Airbus already has orders for 278 of these aircraft, of which more than 200 are already in operation.\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003EAddressing a press conference in New Delhi on Thursday, Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar said, under the terms of the contract, Airbus would build the first 16 aircraft on its final assembly line in Seville (Spain) and deliver them to the IAF in ‘fly-away condition’.\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003EThe subsequent 40 aircraft are to be manufactured in India by the Indian Aircraft Contractor — a Tata consortium consisting of TASL and Tata Consultancy Services, led by TASL.\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003EThe first 16 fly-away aircraft are scheduled to be received by the IAF between September 2023 and August 2025. The first Made-in-India aircraft is expected from September 2026.\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003EIn March, MoD signed an offset contract with Airbus Defence and Space through which Airbus will discharge its offset obligations through direct purchase of eligible products and services from Indian Offset Partners, stated the MoD in a press release.\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003EThe MoD announced on Thursday that 96 per cent of the total man hour work per aircraft that Airbus employs at its manufacturing facility at Spain would be undertaken in India by the Tata consortium. This will involve manufacturing in India of over 13,400 detailed parts, 4,600 sub-assemblies and all seven major component assemblies, along with tools, jigs, and testers.\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003ESystems such as engines, landing gear, and avionics will be provided by Airbus Defence and Space and integrated on the aircraft by the Tata consortium. The aircraft will be tested as an integrated system by the consortium.\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003EThe defence secretary stated on Thursday that he was very confident in the ability of the Tata Airbus consortium to build even larger transport aircraft in the future.\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003EAfter completion of delivery of 56 aircraft to IAF, Airbus Defence and Space will be allowed to sell the aircraft manufactured in India to civil operators and export to countries which are cleared by the Government of India.\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003EThe IAF Vice Chief, Air Marshal Sandeep Singh stated that the C-295 surpasses the performance of the two medium transport aircraft that the IAF currently operates: the Avro and the Antonov-32. A decision on replacing the ageing AN-32 would be taken after five years, he said.\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003EThe C-295 is powered by two Pratt \u0026amp; Whitney PW-127 turboprop engines and can carry up to 71 troops, or 50 paratroopers with battle loads. It can ferry supplies to locations that are not accessible to the IAF’s heavier transport aircraft, such as the C-17 Globemaster III, C-130J Super Hercules or Ilyushin 76.\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003EThe C-295 can also be used for medical evacuation (medevac), using either basic litters or mobile intensive care units with life support equipment. It can also perform special missions, disaster response and maritime patrol duties.\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003EThe MoD has earlier said that the C-295 would boost the tactical airlift capability of the IAF, especially in the North and Northeastern borders and the Andaman \u0026amp; Nicobar Islands.\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003EThe C-295 is the first major win in India for Airbus Defence. There could be more ahead, including the naval utility helicopter tender, in which it is offering the H135M and AS565 Panther.\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003EAirbus is also participating in the IAF’s acquisition of airborne refuelling tankers, for which it has fielded the A330 MRTT.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.ajaishukla.com\/feeds\/6352089339941819258\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.ajaishukla.com\/2022\/10\/gujarat-bags-22000-cr-project-to-build.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8726844009873922462\/posts\/default\/6352089339941819258"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8726844009873922462\/posts\/default\/6352089339941819258"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.ajaishukla.com\/2022\/10\/gujarat-bags-22000-cr-project-to-build.html","title":"Gujarat bags ~22,000-cr project to build C-295 light transporter with Tatas, Airbus"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Broadsword"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/13076780076240598482"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhzgHqyDvIdNnJel49nRgfxitS8m2ecGURQ2qHJpdquywAhhljUwqqRzEbpBXFm6imy3ZT9WFLr_0RyvlU-cTW3KQ2_eDH-_S28MnQEMT7bipE-lYYE5nruZ2y1UcvSFmEHLkvyWdRcxElanEWxEY7jr5BM71UGrU9ZIyWlssctyq3U0zKFba6Mu4uN\/s72-c\/AA%20C-295.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-6933535875642588713"},"published":{"$t":"2022-10-27T01:19:00.003-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-10-27T01:27:38.535-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Broadsword"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"CAG"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"defence planning"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Defence Production"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Morale"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"region"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"strategy"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The cost of Antony's halo"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cblockquote style=\"border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/_zUe7sq7m3h0\/S4Mt-CoI5uI\/AAAAAAAAA7U\/8dOAxRwI7P8\/s1600-h\/defence_minister_india.jpg\" onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441243318674056930\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/_zUe7sq7m3h0\/S4Mt-CoI5uI\/AAAAAAAAA7U\/8dOAxRwI7P8\/s16000\/defence_minister_india.jpg\" style=\"cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 136px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 200px;\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"color: #999999;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"color: #999999; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"color: #999999; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"color: #999999; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"color: #999999; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"color: #999999; font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u003Ci style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EDefence Minister AK Antony rides one of the T-72s that remains night-blind because of MoD procurement failures. Is the Congress Party beginning to realise that Antony needs to go?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"color: #999999; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"color: #999999; font-size: large;\"\u003Eby Ajai Shukla \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"color: #999999; font-size: large;\"\u003EBusiness Standard, 23rd Feb 2010\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"color: #999999; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003ESarojini Naidu famously observed that it cost India millions to keep Gandhi in poverty. It is harder to determine what this country pays to perpetuate Defence Minister AK Antony’s reputation for honesty, but the monetary penalty alone is thousands of crores per year. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EHere’s how it adds up. Antony’s obsessive quest for unblemished weapons procurement has delayed the acquisition of artillery and anti-aircraft guns, fighters, submarines, night fighting gear and a host of equipment upgrades. With arms inflation at 15 per cent per annum, a five-year delay means that India pays twice what it should have. And when that equipment is obtained through government-to-government purchases and other single-vendor contracts, the cost is about 25 per cent more than it would have been in competitive bidding. Conservatively estimating that delays afflict just half of the defence ministry’s Rs 50,000 crore procurement budget, India buys Rs 25,000 crore worth of weaponry for 125 per cent more than what it should have paid. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EOver and above that figure is the cost to national prestige and the devaluation of India’s military deterrent when — as in the wake of the 26\/11 terror strikes in Mumbai — India’s armed forces are unprepared for immediate strikes. That happened on Antony’s watch. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003ETo inconvenient questions about procurement delays, Antony declares that “India is a democracy” and “we have to ensure full transparency”. Point out to him that many democracies manage timely procurement in a transparent manner, and you will get a patronising, “Don’t worry, we are doing all that is necessary to safeguard the security of the country.” \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EAfter five years of insensibility to Antony’s disastrous custodianship of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the Congress party seems to be realising that in India’s deteriorating security environment, Antony’s functioning might leave the party with having to account for a military embarrassment. Last week, Congress party spokesperson Manish Tewari wrote an opinion piece in a national daily, arguing for all the changes that Antony has assiduously blocked during his five disastrous years in office. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003ETewari called for “reforms that are visionary”; treating Indian private industry on a par with the public sector; and “drastically retooling” the Department of Defence Production. Though qualified as his personal views, the article represented growing opinion within the Congress party. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EIs it fair, Antony’s defenders will ask, to pin the blame entirely on him? After all, George Fernandes had publicly declared that fear of the three C’s — the CAG, the CVC and the CBI — held back MoD bureaucrats from making decisions. But Antony, like no other defence minister before him, endangers national security by his otherwise laudable fetish for probity. The message that flows out of Antony’s office and seeps through the procurement department is: cancel an ongoing procurement at the first hint of irregularity. It does not matter whether the suspicion has been planted by a rival arms dealer; a paid-for Parliamentary question; or a letter from an MP which has clearly been dictated by someone who possesses every detail of the tender in question. Just put the process on indefinite hold. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EOne MoD official asked me: Point out one official who has been punished for delaying the procurement of even the most vitally needed equipment. But if I am seen to move a file quickly, the defence minister’s office will ask, “What is the hurry. It seems almost as if you have a stake in that deal.” \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EThen there is Antony’s obvious bewilderment about the technical issues of the military, a crashing ignorance that cannot be condoned in India’s top military decision-maker. Antony’s apologists cite his preoccupation with party matters; but that is hardly convincing. His predecessor, Pranab Mukherjee, who had an immeasurably larger role in the party and national affairs, handled the MoD with skill and knowledge. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EAt a lunch, three years ago, I asked the Australian defence minister why his air force was buying F\/A-18F Super Hornet fighters when Australia was already in line for the futuristic F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which was nearing completion. His answer: Australia’s ageing F-111 fighters would be retiring in 2010; since the F-35 project was running a couple of years late, 24 new Super Hornets would be inducted to retain Australian capability. (The Super Hornets are reaching Australia next month.) \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EContrast that urgency with Antony’s “we-will-consider” approach, even though India faces a greater chance of military confrontation with Pakistan or China than Australia does with New Zealand or Papua and New Guinea. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EAntony’s personal image and goals are damaging national security and the image of his party. If electoral seat adjustment and managing state-level dissidence is his particular skill, let him move out of that crucial corner office in South Block and give him a place in the Congress party office.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EMr Antony? \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.ajaishukla.com\/feeds\/6933535875642588713\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.ajaishukla.com\/2010\/02\/cost-of-antonys-halo.html#comment-form","title":"53 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8726844009873922462\/posts\/default\/6933535875642588713"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8726844009873922462\/posts\/default\/6933535875642588713"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.ajaishukla.com\/2010\/02\/cost-of-antonys-halo.html","title":"The cost of Antony's halo"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Broadsword"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/13076780076240598482"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/_zUe7sq7m3h0\/S4Mt-CoI5uI\/AAAAAAAAA7U\/8dOAxRwI7P8\/s72-c\/defence_minister_india.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"53"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-2530646082900540465"},"published":{"$t":"2022-10-24T06:58:00.005-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-10-24T07:01:21.278-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"defence planning"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Defence Production"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"DRDO"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"HAL"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Indian Air Force"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Indian Army"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Indian Navy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Ordnance factories"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Private Sector"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Unsigned editorial in Business Standard: The Rs 40,000 crore challenge"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi9CGcJDUbCvotEhT7s1RR5DluMPMvOf_3YLm_JT-onCJV6XtlowQHMHsMJWr4Gj833stpZ3SKAqG5Mibl77FC5CCd3SRf6Dlaq0baqMk-mYXAASSKcyRW6hGEZFxhDtMoHpdqprO1m2MmrQkEIXpHT3oDyXr8n25mgFrPWw1PTloLUb--0rjPhm67-\/s2020\/AA%20Modi.jpg\" style=\"font-family: verdana; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2020\" data-original-width=\"1705\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi9CGcJDUbCvotEhT7s1RR5DluMPMvOf_3YLm_JT-onCJV6XtlowQHMHsMJWr4Gj833stpZ3SKAqG5Mibl77FC5CCd3SRf6Dlaq0baqMk-mYXAASSKcyRW6hGEZFxhDtMoHpdqprO1m2MmrQkEIXpHT3oDyXr8n25mgFrPWw1PTloLUb--0rjPhm67-\/s16000\/AA%20Modi.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana;\"\u003E\u003Ci style=\"caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #999999; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003EIndia must multiply defence exports for Modi's aim of taking India into the league of the world’s top five defence producers, with an annual turnover of US $26 billion\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp align=\"center\" class=\"MsoNoSpacing\" style=\"margin: 0cm; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #999999;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-US\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003EBy\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003EAjai Shukla\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #999999; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EUnsigned editorial,\u0026nbsp;Business Standard\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #999999; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EOctober 20th, 2022\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003EPrime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on Wednesday threw a challenge before the Indian aerospace and defence industry with his call to achieve an annual exports target of Rs 40,000 crore. Neither is this resolve is new, nor the figure. The\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;aim of increasing defence exports ten-fold, from the existing level of 2,000-3,000 crore annually to over $5 billion (then Rs 35,000 crore), was first enunciated in the Defence Production Policy of 2018 (DPrP-2018). Mr Modi again made that call while addressing Defexpo 2020 in Lucknow. Helped by adding civil aerospace products export to that of defence kit, exports reached a high of Rs 13,000 crore this year. Even so, a three-fold increase is required for meeting the DPrP-2018 export target, which is a substantial challenge.\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003EYet, it is not inconceivable. As the PM pointed out, defence exports have grown eight-fold in the last five years, with defence materials and equipment flowing to more than 75 countries. And the government has put its shoulder to the wheel, having apparently understood that\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003Emultiplying defence exports is essential for meeting the DPrP-2018 target of taking India into the league of the world’s top five defence producers, with an annual turnover of US $26 billion (Rs 180,000 crore) – a two-fold increase over the current annual defence production of Rs 90,000 crore\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003EApparently aware of the magnitude of the challenge, the government has created a policy framework for boosting aerospace and defence exports. Defence attaches posted to Indian embassies abroad have been charged with seeking out opportunities to supply their host countries with Indian military equipment. New Delhi has created a liberalised trade environment for Indian defence exports by eliminating structural obstacles to trade in arms. India has already obtained entry into three of the four global export control regimes: the Missile Technology Control Regime, the Wassenaar Arrangement and the Australia Group. New Delhi has mustered all its diplomatic heft into obtaining entry into the fourth – the Nuclear Suppliers Group. New Delhi\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003Ehas offered friendly foreign countries such as Myanmar, Maldives and Sri Lanka credit lines to purchase Indian defence equipment. Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) are now required to have 25 per cent of their turnover in exports. A\u0026nbsp;nodal agency, the Indigenous Defence Equipment Exporters Association, was set up in October for processing defence export inquiries from prospective customers across the globe.\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: verdana; font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003EEven with these reinforcements to the structural framework, boosting defence exports exponentially requires a major change in emphasis. Instead of focusing on the export of low-value consumables such as ammunition, spare parts and aerospace components, India needs to concentrate on\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003Ehigh-value, complex combat platforms. As the Indian military abandons its reluctance to take into its inventory indigenous platforms such as the Tejas Mark 1 and Mark 1A fighters, the light combat helicopters (LCH), Dhruv and Rudra helicopters, the Arjun tank, Akash air defence systems, Pinaka rocket launchers and a range of indigenous warships including corvettes, frigates and destroyers, potential customers legitimately ask why India’s military shrinks from buying these platforms. India’s military must lead the way by ensuring that the army, navy and air force induct indigenous weaponry into operational service and co-opt industry to incrementally develop and improve the products. The export of this weaponry creates economy of scale, brings down equipment prices for India as well as for buyer countries, and also generates strategic heft for India.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.ajaishukla.com\/feeds\/2530646082900540465\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.ajaishukla.com\/2022\/10\/unsigned-editorial-in-business-standard.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8726844009873922462\/posts\/default\/2530646082900540465"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8726844009873922462\/posts\/default\/2530646082900540465"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.ajaishukla.com\/2022\/10\/unsigned-editorial-in-business-standard.html","title":"Unsigned editorial in Business Standard: The Rs 40,000 crore challenge"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Broadsword"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/13076780076240598482"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi9CGcJDUbCvotEhT7s1RR5DluMPMvOf_3YLm_JT-onCJV6XtlowQHMHsMJWr4Gj833stpZ3SKAqG5Mibl77FC5CCd3SRf6Dlaq0baqMk-mYXAASSKcyRW6hGEZFxhDtMoHpdqprO1m2MmrQkEIXpHT3oDyXr8n25mgFrPWw1PTloLUb--0rjPhm67-\/s72-c\/AA%20Modi.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}}]}});