How India can hasten its climb as a superpower

[pyromaniac]

Post 26/11 attacks on Mumbai , there was an upsurge of rage amongst all Indians living outside India. We all thought that India cannot be perceived as a weak nation that is dependant on world powers for financial, military and diplomatic support. We all wanted India to go in and carry out surgical strikes and destroy the camps across Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and deep into northern Pakistan.

But, as time flies by, we all realised that rhetoric alone cannot be sufficient and any hastily concluded emotional decision would bring more harm than anything else to the Indian civilian population.

So, India must plan and plan for the long haul. Becoming an economic, military, political and geographical superpower needs a lot of planning. The next 25 years we have to invest to make sure that Indian military, space and other defence research organisations and of course building civilian awareness in crucial situations, are never compromised.

In my previous articles, I have mentioned what the Indian navy, air force and space research organisations need to do to set the tone and lay the foundation. In this article, I will mention specifics:

What the Indian military needs to do at the policy and planning level:

In the next 25 years, we are looking at a maritime force that is truly a large blue water navy and an air force that is in reality an aerospace force. To complete the vision, the following are bare necessities at the planning and implementation level:

* Investing both in public and private military industrial complexes that are supplemented by uninterrupted material supplies
* Developing and retaining a stable and well-trained maritime and aerospace engineering manpower.
* A research arm that focuses on continuous supply and production of fuel, weapons and stealthy delivery systems.
* Developing and camouflaging unsurpassed 2nd and 3rd strike capabilities.
* Building a team of engineers that constantly come up with innovative stealth vessels.
* Strategic partnerships need to be re-established with China, Japan [Images], Sri Lanka [Images], Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam and Cambodia.
* Friendly collaborative relations have to be maintained with Russia [Images], America, Europe, Brazil [Images] and Israel.

Now, specifics�What the Indian Navy needs in its arsenal for the next 25 years:

Aircraft Carriers Battle Groups: The Indian Navy will need at least three mid-sized strike carriers of the 40,000 ton capacity. The current Vikrant class carrier being constructed at Kochi should be the ideal test bed for future innovations in this area. This carrier should be powered by dual fuel or an indigenous nuclear fuel engine. The air complement needs to be a mix and match of several VTOL, STVOL and multi-role aircraft forming two full squadrons. The escort complement will anyway have to consist of warships, frigates, and attack submarines along with supply ships. Overall, the Indian Navy needs six carrier groups to fully justify the concept of Carrier Battle Groups.

SSBN's and Submarine Battle Groups: The ATV (Advanced Technology Vessel) project will be unveiled in the next 2-3 years. A full complement of 12 ATV's supported by 30 attack submarines like the Kilo, Scorpene, Amur and Akulas need to be built over the next 25 years.

Defensive Battle Groups: Most of the coastal engagements over the history of naval warfare have all been about protecting beaches, cities and coastal establishments. Indian marines needs to develop a very strong coastal patrol and interdiction capability with fast attack craft that are capable of operating in shallow waters. A very strong defensive mechanism needs to be developed that is networked to the nearest base that is designated to protect that area. This group should comprise of a large number of anti-ship capable missile boats, coastal aircraft/fighters and numerous coastal missile/radar batteries.

Offensive Battle Groups: This group has to be the stealthiest and most tactical group of all. Stealth bombers (TU Blackjack's or indigenous UCAV/UCB's), stealth frigates and battleships should be the mainstay of this force. LST's and marine commando troops invariably will be the backbone of this group. A minimum of five brigades of naval troops should be trained for this role.

Strategic Battle Groups: These are meant for special, covert and overt operations. The current MARCOS battalions should be fully expanded into 2-3 full brigades for naval special ops. The intelligence arm of this group needs to be fully integrated along with the capability to launch last resort weapons in case all fails.

What the Indian air and space command needs for the next 25 years:

Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles: India should put financial resources into joint initiatives with Russia, America and Israel plus jump start its indigenous public and private development initiatives. ADE is already working overtime to develop three new UAV variants. These UAV's have multi-mission, multi-strike capabilities with separate fighter and bomber versions. To keep up with the research on UCAV's around the world, the hypersonic plane concept needs to be revisited. India needs at least 20 squadrons (100 aircraft).

Fifth and Sixth Generation Fighter Bombers: The fifth generation Indo-Russian fighter aircraft will be ready for induction by 2017. A inter-governmental agreement between India and Russia has been signed for the co-development of the fifth generation fighter aircraft and the induction into the IAF is expected to start from 2017 onwards. At least 10 squadrons of these next generation fighters will be required to replace MiG 29's and Mirages which would have completed 40 years of service by that time.

Sukhoi-30MKI Fighter Bomber: Atleast 20 squadrons (400 aircraft) of Su-30 MKI will propel IAF into the best air forces in the world. An effort needs to be made to base these aircraft on overseas bases and on Indian controlled islands.

Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)/Medium Combat Aircraft (MCA): IAF is all set to order from HAL 40+20 LCA versions. At least five squadrons (100 aircraft) have to be integrated by 2010 without delays. Conceptualisation and complete testing of MCA test bed should be finalised in the interim.

MRCA (MIG 21/27) Replacement: The IAF was set to acquire 180 fighters from 2010 onwards to replace MiG-21s and the competition is between Rafale, Grippen, F-16, F/A-18E/F and MiG-35. These aircraft are solid 4-4.5 generation aircraft that will only last another 15 years in the manufacturer's inventory. The US, by its own admittance, is going for the JSF and F-22 for all of its forces. The Russians and the French are offering the latest from their stable but again the Indian government needs to seriously rethink this issue. History shows us that the Indians use a technology platform for over 30-40 years and unless the IAF gets the go ahead to purchase the JSF or the F-22, there is no point in getting older technology like the F-14/15/16/18.

Jaguars and Mirages: To extend the operational life of Jaguars, further improvement of avionics suite is now in progress under DARIN II. After DARIN II, the IAF will need to look out for a long range strike aircraft in foreign inventories. The upgraded Jaguars and Mirages (about 250 of them) will remain in service well past 2020. The French will halt the service lines for Mirages and though the Mirage has been the best performing aircraft in the IAF inventory, it does not make any sense in obtaining second hand ones with outdated avionics.

Helicopters: The major upgrade including Helicopter Multi-mission Optronic Stabilised Payload providing precise navigation and all-weather operations will take away the need for a mid-level attack helicopter for the time being. However, as the Mi-35's start getting older in 10 years, the IAF will sense the need for a replacement. The best option seems to transition the close support chopper role to the Army Aviation Corps and retain heavy lift and transport capabilities with the IAF.

Illyushin-78MKI In-flight Refueling Tanker: Six Illyushin-78MKI in-flight refueling tankers have joined the Indian Air Force fleet. These latest tankers have enabled the IAF to undertake long range missions over mixed geographical areas. An additional squadron each for the IAF and the navy will keep this area covered for a long time.

ICBM's and Cruise Missiles: Agni V, Brahmos, Akash and Trishul may be sufficient for now but a new range of undetectable stealth missiles have to be developed for the IAF by DRDO. These new generations of missiles have to be designed and enabled in order for a variety of Indian military users to be utilising them in tactical, surgical and strategic strike capacities.




http://www.rediff.com/news/2009/feb/27guest-how-india-can-hasten-its-climb-as-superpower.htm



Very patriotic..

 

[thakur_ritesh]

i just cant quite understand the desire of people who so adamantly want to bomb the terror network of pakistan. do people want to see a united pakistan or a divided pakistan, if it is the former then lets get ready for a war which for the moment does not seem on the horizon but if it is the latter which ought to be the case then just sit back and enjoy the takeover of pakistan by the jihadis, and swat is just the beginning, and why forget the baluch who are waging a war against oppression of the state. as a strategy maker the govt of the day has made the smarter choice and my take on the diplomacy that followed was that it indeed was played very smartly, and any day diplomacy takes time, i am sure the pakistani acceptance has not come out of the blue which has greatly dented the psyche of the pakistani who all are a depressed lot as they see them selves in a state that has failed on all fronts and is now being seen a state that has been battered by india in their home turf in the diplomatic backyards. our war is being waged by the jihadis, and baluch alike though without any support but when they are doing our job then why get our hands dirty, and push back our economic growth and prosperity.


what is important for this to be “super power” is to secure it self internally as what has happened since the time Mr chidambram has taken over as the new HM post 26/11, has someone wondered why all of a sudden there have been no bomb blast episodes since and the ones that happened in assam saw instant results of the kingpins being shot dead, and all this won laurels for the congress from the unexpected corners of vhp. does it make a little difference to an nri sitting in his cozy room when india and pakistan get to war, other than feel the pride and give a boost to his false ego, i doubt it really does for the people who are effected are the families of slain major unnikrishnan, or the slain gajender singh whose family has all but lost any hope that they had for their future as the sole bread earner is no more with them, and families and people like these get effected, and the nation is quick to forget them once all the media glare is gone, just to remind people last year there was hardly any politician present to honour the brave hearts of the parliament attack, and least one mentions that once the politicians forget the public too easily shrugs away as they do not see it as their “responsibility”. senseless, pointless rethoric is good for jingoism but not that practical, and more so when your neighbours have lunatics sitting in the power corridors who would not for a moment hesitate in “testing” a few nukes on india, and a place where the senior chaps of army believe that if india would counter use their nukes on them then that will rid them of extreme poverty.


i am not sure we will be a super power but if we intend to be a power center of the world then one has to make sure that the basis of that be laid on strong foundation of well educated population where 90(%) have 12 years of formal education and the quality of education is top notch, comparable to the best in the world. once we have this then the economic wonders are just waiting to happen from this land and what the world has seen so far on the economic strides we have taken is just a glimpse of times to come, but if we just concentrate on military build up and not concentrate on large scale social upliftment till then the fear of being like another ussr will always be around, and once we can do that all the military buildup will definitely follow, but first the basics need to be right.

 

[nitesh]

rst, I like this line and I am doing this only:

just sit back and enjoy the takeover of pakistan by the jihadis

 

[screwterrorists]

rst, I like this line and I am doing this only:

While I am no fan of Pakistan/Pakistanis, what you are "supporting" is terrible.
Atleast the government in place has control over the army and its military assets.
No need for me to repeat what has been said too many times about a jihadi takeover of pakistans nuke.

The only thing one can do about the relationship between pak and india is hope. And I for one would like to think everyone would prefer a friendly Pak rather than hope an unstable one.

 

[nitesh]

While I am no fan of Pakistan/Pakistanis, what you are "supporting" is terrible.
Atleast the government in place has control over the army and its military assets.
No need for me to repeat what has been said too many times about a jihadi takeover of pakistans nuke.

The only thing one can do about the relationship between pak and india is hope. And I for one would like to think everyone would prefer a friendly Pak rather than hope an unstable one.

Buddy tell me one thing when our government has not tried to calm down the things. Do you really think there government has any control over military.

 

[screwterrorists]

Buddy tell me one thing when our government has not tried to calm down the things. Do you really think there government has any control over military.

Yes, I do feel their government has control over the military to an extent.
Sure, Pakistan's army is probably one of the more independent ones but they still have the government over them. There still exists a difference between the army ruling the land and the government.

 

[ahmedsid]

Just saw on NDTV, that our Govt has just told that There is no ONE entity in control of Pakistan at the moment! Its chaos! A Coup has not happened, but it cannot be ruled out. The Pakistani Army is in control of itself, no one can control it, atleast thats what I feel. The PA has a mind of its own, no one knows what is gonna be its next step!

 

[LETHALFORCE]

how did conditions in pakistan detirorate to much a dangerous level? if things were different their economic position would be a lot different, their whole focus is always concerning India, need to start thinking out of the box.