Army says 68% of weapons outdated

China, Pakistan on spree of equipping armed forces: Army

In a strong indictment of the inadequate budgetary allocation for the Army, Vice- Chief of Army Staff ( VCOS) Lt. Gen. Sarath Chand told the parliamentary panel on defence that Budget 2018- 19 has ‘ dashed’ all hopes of modernisation of the force which is saddled with equipment of which more than twothird is ‘ vintage’.

With the ongoing Doklam issue, China has become increasingly assertive and there has been a rise in patrolling and transgressions. To add to this the Army has been facing attempts from Pakistan to launch suicide attacks on camps in Kashmir. Recently the emergency in Maldives is also an area of concern. The Army candidly shared that the possibility of a two- front war is a ‘ reality’, and while both of India’s neighbours are on a spress of modernising their armed forces, India has has not paid attention.

VINTAGE WEAPONS

Assault rifles: The army still uses the Indian Small Arms System rifles, which were inducted in 1988. For the past 30 years the Indian Army has been lugging this rifle around. Artillary: The modernisation program, has been stalled since the 1980s. The three projects, involving 155mm howitzers of 52 inch and 32 inch calibers. Some of these were supposed to be s e l f - p ropelled, some towed and some a mix of both. An Israeli and French firm were sho shortlisted for the towed 155mm guns, but they are still pending clearance. Armored warfare: Presently the vintage Russian T- 72s and BMP- 1 and two combat vehicles are in use. The Army wanted at least 1,000 of the T- 72s and 1,000 of the BMPs upgraded, which meant adding night vision capabilities, a new fire control system and better engines. But budgetary clearances were not given.

Helicopters: Presently the Army uses vintage French helicopters. But what is really needed is a twin- engine machine and they the Russian Kamov was zeroed in on. However, allegations of kickbacks in the deal stalled the process.