Militarily, China far ahead than India: PM

[Yusuf]

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday said China was 'far ahead' in its military strength but India was catching up with its limited resources. "The Chinese are far ahead of us. They are building a blue water navy also. Aircraft carriers - they are acquiring," said Manmohan Singh in an interaction with a group of editors here. He was asked about India's defence preparedness in the light of Chinese capabilities to which he replied the nation was modernising its armed forces. "We have started the process. We are looking at the modernization of our armed forces, including the navy and the air force. For the first time in many many years, we have added two divisions to our army," he said. "So within the limits of our resources, - we are doing - much advanced air fields in the border areas.We are trying to strengthen the border roads. Also to see, that states on our border - our villagers have access to electricity using solar power. The effort is on," said the prime minister. He admitted that the defence expenditure as a percentage of the GDP has been falling from year to year. "That is true. But quite frankly we have not restricted defence spending. No conscious decision has been taken to any fixed percentage. We are as a nation, prepared to live with a defence expenditure equal to three percent of our GDP. If the armed forces have a plan to raise their expenditure to that ceiling, the system will be able to tolerate it.

http://m.ndtv.com/s/16304/2231?pageNum=1&articleid=115830

 

[Tshering22]

This is something worth acknowledging. The Chinese started earlier than us. MMS admits it nicely but what are the steps he's taking, he's not told that.

First step: privatize ALL defense sectors. Get DRDO under someone who knows corporate management and rapid manufacturing.

Second step: encourage students to take more military engineering related courses and open up new courses for aeronautical MANUFACTURING AND DESIGNING, arms manufacturing and military biotechnology in government colleges if not private.

Third step: Start opening up money for research. Rather than shoving all of it in politicians' swissbanks.

Unless these three steps come, we will never reach that level or come out of this evil circle.

 

[The Messiah]

This is something worth acknowledging. The Chinese started earlier than us. MMS admits it nicely but what are the steps he's taking, he's not told that.

First step: privatize ALL defense sectors. Get DRDO under someone who knows corporate management and rapid manufacturing.

Second step: encourage students to take more military engineering related courses and open up new courses for aeronautical MANUFACTURING AND DESIGNING, arms manufacturing and military biotechnology in government colleges if not private.

Third step: Start opening up money for research. Rather than shoving all of it in politicians' swissbanks.

Unless these three steps come, we will never reach that level or come out of this evil circle.

If there's no money to be earned then demand from students will be less. Also they can't build more colleges to raise number of seats so how will they build specialized institutions for military engineering ?

 

[pankaj nema]

As far as defence spending is concerned We cant match china dollar for dollar

So we have to spend money wisely and systematically and build deterrence capabilities

The biggest problem of GOI was that of not knowing whether to treat China as a threat or not

Chinese have been very kind enough to remove ALL our doubts by their recent actions

 

[satish007]

Chinese have been very kind enough to remove ALL our doubts by their recent actions

What's that? may be PM just want an execute to get money to buy something.

 

[mayfair]

Not just Militarily Mr. PM.

 

[Adux]

We are as a nation, prepared to live with a defence expenditure equal to three percent of our GDP

This is an extremely important statement.

 

[Yusuf]

This is an extremely important statement.

Yes it was. What it also means is that our forces are not planning well enough to use that much resource. For years we has the forces return unspent money because they just could not do anything with it.

Hope this will change.

 

[pack leader]

great you have extra cash invest in new JV so we can give you the tech
missile tech , wheeled apc and radar are our main interest at the moment

 

[Tshering22]

If there's no money to be earned then demand from students will be less. Also they can't build more colleges to raise number of seats so how will they build specialized institutions for military engineering ?

That's the whole point of my suggestion, man. If defense institutions are privatized, naturally there will be a drastic increase in pay scale and an incentive for new generation to consider weapons engineering seriously. Take this forum itself. We don't know how old everyone here is. Heck, there might be at least 2-3 dozen aspiring students here as well who'd love to take weapons engineering and join the future-private bigwigs for a good pay and their thirst for research in their field of interest. From a scientist or weapons engineers' perspective, money alone is not the incentive; the other main incentive is to put their concepts, innovations and ideas into practical application. Most students who can afford leave the country for education because there are:

- There is ZERO research in these areas.

- Education is also highly politicized, leaving sincere and hardworking students of their fields, disappointed.

Countries like USA, UK, France, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Germany etc offer these students tremendous opportunities to put their talent to practical applications. Hence you see many of those who didn't shine here, making it big in those countries. As I said, the reason why there are no seats is because education is politicized rather than meritocratic. Most of the things in our country, would be very each if things weren't so politicized.

You're picturing all of this with DRDO dodos in mind; I am talking about what can be in the near future with TATA and other giants taking on big stuff in defense sector by offering (dissatisfied) DRDO scientists as advisors and a new generation interested in defense technology.

 

[Tshering22]

great you have extra cash invest in new JV so we can give you the tech
missile tech , wheeled apc and radar are our main interest at the moment

Gladly. Join us in AMCA project. We're unofficially on the lookout of a partner. Perhaps you could consider AMCAs as the twin-engined complementary jets to F-35s.

 

[pack leader]

AMCA with all due respect is far from active project and is more a concept / wish list for a 5th gen fighter
the things we can help with in a jet are ( ammo , avionics , sensors )
and since neither country can build a world class jet engine such a project is a distant dream
a new wheeled apc is in the works any way and can be completed fast
a joint design Israeli armor modules aps and rows Indian engine and chassis
Indian prime contractor tata motors Israeli prime contractor Rafael defense
end result : high quality descent price world class apc to be used and sold jointly

 

[sayareakd]

@Pack what we need is long rang e (1000-1500km) cheap cruise missile in very large number, some say help is already coming for increasing the range of missile from your country.

 

[pack leader]

you mean like nuclear capable sub lunched "Popeye turbo"
that already exists but it's not cheap
i more then think (opsec) that our people are already in India to help you with this subject

 

[Eagle2000]

We need to work with a country like israel and get Elta etc to open p major research centres in india. The govt should allocate defence parks with a preferred (but not guaranteed) offtake. It will employ people and build closer relationships

 

[Eagle2000]

for example - fabrication of the next gen barak and even a new version of python and derby

 

[sayareakd]

nirbhy

help to extend its range to reach deep inside China.

 

[StarShip Enterprise]

@Pack what we need is long rang e (1000-1500km) cheap cruise missile in very large number, some say help is already coming for increasing the range of missile from your country.

It is not possible bcos of : Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).

Also note that only for MTCR Brahmos's range is less then 300km.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

It is not possible bcos of : Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).

Also note that only for MTCR Brahmos's range is less then 300km.

Indigenously made missiles are not restricted by MCTR.

 

[StarShip Enterprise]

Indigenously made missiles are not restricted by MCTR.

for colloboration with foreign country