Pmaitra, there is a huge difference in the types of comments chiefs make depending on the situation.
VKS's comment on the T-90 was an operational one.
His comment on indigenization is nationalistic hubris. It is only a wish. Definitely not attainable in his lifetime no matter what anybody says.
T-90 as a MBT is FACT, written in stone. Indigenization is a wish. He is merely hoping it. And all kids get excited when a role model makes comments that are nationalistic or patriotic. Any kid will know indigenization is good, but it shouldn't come at the cost of operational preparedness. This is also a fact.
I had already stated it, Arjun is far from indigenous. Only the armor, gun, turret and hull is indigenous, not the whole tank. What counts is what you can "really" make in the country regardless of whether it is indigenous or not because that is what counts in the operational sense.
Swordfish radar is not one bit indigenous, but we make the entire system in India. That makes it an operationally viable system. Arjun's electronics and engines are made outside the country and are merely installed in the tank. You tell me which of these is sanction prone, Swordfish or Arjun's electronics.
The Chinese have completely indigenized the process of making Flankers. Completely sanction proof to the point where it has evolved into two distinct Flankers in the form of J-15 and J-16. They don't give two hoots that it came from Russia as long as they can manufacture the entire aircraft in house. That's the real meaning of sanction-proof.
Building the hull in the country and importing the engine is as good as an import, no matter what anybody says. Arjun's engine is not sanction-proof. As a matter of fact, the 1998 nuke tests sanctioned the engine. Heck, CVRDE did not have engines for military tests. They had to delay the development of a trawl to Mk2 just because engines seized during live tests in 1999. If they did not have engines, how is that thing even a tank. It took them years just to access German engines again. Heck, they did not even have a backup plan against sanctions.
Do you realize that had the Americans not withdrawn the sanctions in 2003, both LCA and Arjun would have been canceled years ago?
Nobody, not the army, navy or air force, cares for where the product is "developed" as long as it can be "manufactured" inside the country. Please understand the difference between the two and why the forces always insist on ToT. That's why we have so many JVs today as compared to "indigenous" development projects. Russia tops the list with over 200 such projects, and this is just 4 year old news. The number may have doubled or tripled with the agreement on FGFA. I suppose Israel is next followed by France. Majority of these projects are under DRDO by name only, with most of the work being done in other countries. DRDO will simply label their name on it and contract it to Indian manufacturers in the future. DRDO is running these projects under the name of "integrator." That's another word for screw driver technology.
If you see my comment, it is asking a simple question, and the question is, what is "obvious" to
@Austin. He has not answered that, and neither have you in your extremely large response.
Now, I have a few questions for you:
- Did I question T-90 being the MBT of India from the operational point of view?
- Did I say that indigenization should come at the cost of operational preparedness?
- Did I say every component of Arjun is indigenous?
If you have not been able to say yes to any of these, then you are totally off the mark, and are not responding to what I actually said, but you are responding to what
you are imagining that I have said or implied, something like Prince Hamlet seeing an apparition. If I have to say something, I will say it bluntly. If I haven't said it, I haven't said it. So, please do not strain yourself by begin too imaginative.
Now, coming back to indigenization, we have to make a start someday. I am not suggesting scrap those T-90s. I am saying continue to induct Arjuns, because Avadi is the only facility we have that can do it. We have seen how eager our private sector is when it comes to such big ticket hardware (check the aircraft thread). We cannot stall their progress just because Arjun was "late," when similar accusation of being "late" can be leveled on foreign products as well. Moreover, we often do not get full ToT when we get foreign products, or are saddled with conditions of "peaceful purposes," like denying the usage of hardpoints on the Pilatus, while at the same time pretending to be a defence hardware manufacturer. (I know you will disagree on the hardpoints, but we will not settle that here.) With such kinds of deals, when we have pre-conditions, we will never be able to obtain full operational preparedness, the thing that you hold so important; well, so do I.
PRC has done a great job in ensuring they have complete capability to make the entire plane in house, with no need for imported components. We are not at the position yet, and we will never be, unless we keep the indigenous ball rolling.
You said we will not be able to see complete indigenization in VKS's lifetime. I agree. Do you know why? Because we never allow our homegrown products the kind of patronization that they deserve.
Even the Antonov-32 that were refurbished by Ukraine were done under the condition that they will not be used for offensive purposes. Can you please tell me how that helps in our operational preparedness? These are the same planes we have used as bombers.
Do you realize that had the Americans not withdrawn the sanctions in 2003, both LCA and Arjun would have been canceled years ago?
No, I do not realize that.
On the contrary, I think India, being denied any kind of military import opportunities from US and its lackeys, would have gotten some domestic source or the Russians to help out with Arjun or LCA. It might have been a different machine than it is today, but would they have been cancelled? I don't think so.
Nobody, not the army, navy or air force, cares for where the product is "developed" as long as it can be "manufactured" inside the country.
So what you are saying, boils down to one thing - the army is not interested in assisting India in becoming self reliant, and they would rather continue to import, even under dubious pre-conditions. Do you realize why people accuse sections of the army of taking bribes?
P2P, most of the data you have provided are correct, but your conclusions are what I do not agree with.
I don't think the current choices of the Army will help in India's operational preparedness. I will reserve my comments on the Air Force and Navy. I have already given one example of how the MiG-29 was inducted pre-maturely. I think there is a major difference between how other countries function and how India functions.
In other countries, the government and the military, act as stakeholders for domestic defense production, while in India, the military plays the role of finger pointing and blame game.
