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The Indian Defence Minister A.K.Anthony, who has started his second term as the Defence Minister, has announced a host of new measures and revisions to enable speedy military modernization. The Indian Defence Minister also held meetings with the three Service Chiefs of the Armed Forces and has given a directive that cost and time overruns as well as corruption must no longer impede defence deals.
The Indian Defence Minister also created a high-level committee under Defence Secretary Vijay Singh, with the three Service vice-chiefs, Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) Chief and others as members, to enable the implementation of the P, Rama Rao committee report which recommended a revamping of the DRDO. The committee has clearly outlined the need to concentrate only on 8 to 10 critical technologies of strategic importance. It has also indicated that setting up more joint ventures with countries like the one between India and Russia for making BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles is needed. Besides that, DRDO needs enthusiastic and experienced scientists to create a more substantial research pool and involve more private sector participation.
In terms of military modernization, the Defence Minister will look into the timely delivery of combat aircraft, weapons and other platforms to the forces. The Defence Minister has also reviewed the performance of the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). India has recently signed a $ 8.5 billion deal with Russia for 230 of Sukhoi- 30 MKIs. The IAF currently operates 60 Su-30 MKIs.
HAL has been directed to finish the production of the 140 Sukhoi-30MKIs it has to manufacture under technology transfer by 2013-2014, instead of the originally scheduled 2017-2018.
The Indian Defence Minister has also called for a time-bound accountability in defence Public Sector Units (PSUs) and an annual revision of the defence procurement policy (DPP). The DPP would now be revised every year to streamline the acquisition of military hardware and software. Since India is projected to spend close to $30-50 billion foimporting weapon systems and platforms during the 11th Plan period (2007-2012), a clear and effective arms purchase policy must be in place.
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