Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, In a Lecture at Defence Services College, Wellington on Leadership and Discipline on 11th November, 1998 said “If the girls will excuse my language, ‘if you must be a bloody fool – be one quickly”.
We all are aware that “Chinese cannot be trusted” and “We are in a conflict with them at Doklam”. Two weeks ago, I am quite sure wherever Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw would be, Will be very happy.
A notification issued by the government two week ago empowered Vice Chief of the Army to make hardware procurements up to Rs 40 thousand crore to meet critical deficiencies. Army has identified critical deficiencies in 46 types of ammunition and certain spares for 10 types of weapon platforms.
Timing
Amid tension on borders with Pakistan and China, the Centre has allowed the Army to make ‘emergency procurements,’ without going through the red-tape, to be prepared for a ‘short and intense war’, especially in light of the standoff at “Doklam”. Some reports have said that Chinese have mobilised lot of Artillery in the Tibet region. One of the major mistake Indian government did during 1962 war was remaining unprepared.
Let the surgeon pick the correct scalpel
One of the major issues what Indian defence procurement faces is the time line. Because of history of scams which were done by politicians majorly and armed forces were wrapped in more and more red tape. Thanks to Modi government for showing confidence and letting the armed forces pick and fulfil the critical deficiencies. As per Indian Army there is an acute requirement of 46 types of Ammunition and spares for 10 types of weapon platforms.
Be ready for 40 Days Intense war
Steven Pinker argues in his book The Better Angels of Our Nature that the world is a much more peaceful place now than it was 1000 years ago. The reason is self-defence and modern “Defence” warfare. India has historically remained a peace-loving country which is evident from our attack log “Zero”, But as Darwin’s theory of evolution says “Survival of the fittest”. We should be capable of defending our interest and sovereignty. Thus, it is very important for India to be ready for at least 40 Days of intense conflict at two fronts.
This proposal includes 22 types of armaments and six types of mines in the delegated financial powers to the vice chief of Army.
Deterrence
Powerful countries do not go into war instead they either get into a proxy conflict or muscle flexing. In case of India and china both are nuclear capable countries and a war can be devastating. India and China both have nuclear triad and therefore war will not be happening until unless either of the two countries decide to make a pre-emptive strike on other.
Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during last year’s interactions with top military commanders, had said prospects of full-scale wars would be rare and future battles would be short and intense and need to be fought with clinical precision. Hence, soon after Uri attack, Army made emergency procurements worth `12,000 crore through 19 separate contracts — 11 of which were exclusively on ammunition and spares.
Writer’s take:
As Mentioned earlier wherever “Sam Badhur” will be, He will be delighted with this notification. As Army doesn’t have to go through the Defence Acquisition Council or Cabinet Committee on Security, All purchases under the category of emergency procurement will be done at the office of the Vice Chief of Army,” this enables better prepared army. It is very important to have critical artillery ready as all starts with it.