Companies to Battle Station

Context: Prospects of a two-front war induced out of Chinese confrontation had always been factored into Indian military planning.

Contours of India’s Military Planning 

• The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) clamour for 42 fighter squadrons.
• Decision to raise the mountain strike corps.
• Building of advanced landing grounds
• Acquisition of light howitzers and heavy lift helicopters.
• Plan to expedite critical border roads 

Factors Impeding Swift Defence Capability Building 

• Slow-moving defence acquisitions/procurement
• Low Research and Development (R&D) in defence technology
• Paucity of funds and the absence of a mission-mode approach.

Perquisites for Matching Chinese Defence Capabilities 

• Rapid modernisation and acquisition of defence technology, including next generation capabilities.

• Including development of hi-tech materials such as high performance alloys and aero-engines.

• Expedite Current Progress:

• Formation of the theatre commands has to be expedited.

• Proposed space and cyber commands also need to be put in place.

• Border infrastructure development has to move at a furious pace.

• Building up intelligence and surveillance capabilities at Eastern region.
• Navy’s submarine fleet has to be expanded substantially, and the Andaman and Nicobar Command strengthened adequately. 

Way Forward

• Limiting the role of The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO): to funding and facilitation of downstream production of developed products. 
• It should be downsized and made to focus only on areas of high strategic importance.
•  Strengthening the  defence industry ecosystem: through private sector participation and research initiatives.
• Private sector and premier research institutions as partners in defence research.
• The proposal to manufacture ammunition in the private sector is yet to be implemented.
• Professionally managed Procurement system: through an autonomous SPV’s with reporting to Defence Acquisition Council (DAC). 
• Implement recommendations of the 2016 expert committee on restructuring the procurement system.
• Restricting the mandate of DAC: to promotion of domestic manufacturing and product development.
• Launch a ‘Defence Mission’: with a 10-year timeframe to achieve full defence capability development.
• Imports of Identified set of weapons and equipment should be banned beyond a cut-off date.
• The Defence Public Sector Units need to focus on the delivery of prevailing orders: rather than attempting to encroach on the private sector areas.
• The government needs to set a deadline for finalising the Strategic Partnership based projects.
• Time based budgeting : Funding needs to have a 15-year perspective.
• Defence capital budget should be made non-lapsable to ensure continuity. 
• Special ‘Defence of India’ bonds to find additional resources for the mission.