On an average there are at least a few dozen admirals in the pockets of different arms lobbies in India. This is also applicable for the army and the IAF. They don't just get billions through tendering straight. Most of the decisions are made long before the weapons even reach the testing stage. Why do you think that there are no attempts being made to expand shipbuilding capacity at GRSE, MDL, CSL, etc. when they know that there is a huge demand for ships in the coming year?
Every dockyard does a business forecast based on the DPP and the LTIPP documents that includes a lot, and I mean a lot of future anticipated requirements with a margin of 20% give or take.
These PSUs are intentionally held back using bureaucracy but middle ministers, IAS, admirals and other officers way below the PMO to keep Yantar Shipyard, Kalinin Shipyard, Fincantieri, Naval Group, Navantia, etc. shipyards busy.
There is another side to it as well. That being politics; using arms deals to buy countries' favours.
Turkey turning a supplier for navies of India, Pakistan?
Some Babu got the brainwave that it would be easier to buy Turkey's allegiance from Pakistan if we order ships from them. These idiots have no concept of strategic thoughts of interests of India becoming a superpower. They only care about their name, money, and "phacilitiz".
That's why India preferred a fleet replenishment ship from Turks rather than getting something very advanced. It is a logistics ship that supplies food, ammunition, spares and other inventories necessary to keep ships afloat. Any Indian shipyard can make it, but contracting this reminds Turkey diplomatically that allying with us in the long-term would benefit Turkey more.
Coming back to INS Vikramaditya, it is most likely the last Russian-made carrier grade ship that we have bought from them.
If PM Modi plays his cards right, he can actually use the INS Vikrant's case as a precedent to make carriers in the future only from Indian shipyards.
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