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In a report on world arms transfers, the Stockholm
International Peace Research Institute said Mar
17 that South Asia, including both India and Pakistan,
and the Arab Gulf states led by Saudi Arabia and
the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have shown a rising
trend in arms imports.
During the nine-year period, specifically 2004-8
and 2009-13, India’s arms imports grew by
111 per cent, and that of Pakistan by 119 per
cent over their respective pre-2004 figures.
SIPRI pointed out that “its data reflects
the volume of deliveries of arms, not the financial
value of the deals. As the volume of deliveries
can fluctuate significantly year on year, SIPRI
presents data for 5-year periods, giving a more
stable measure of trends.”
It has to be kept in mind that although India
has acquired substantial number of weapons, these
do not indicate any aggressive buildup as most
of what is being bought is to replace its 30 to
40 years old inventory. There are, in fact, several
important deals pending either due to procedural
delays or allegations of corruption necessitating
inquiries.
As for Pakistan, SIPRI observed that China had
become its main supplier, accounting for 54 per
cent of Pakistani imports while the US was now
responsible for 27 per cent of its weapon supplies.
China, which has become a major player in the
international arms market, also supplied Bangladesh
82 per cent of its requirements.
Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) sources told
India Strategic (www.indiastrategic.in) defence
magazine that the SIPRI report is “interesting,
not surprising,” adding that several major
systems had been ordered in the recent years for
all the three Services.
“There are delays, yes, largely due to
correct or unfounded allegations, and also due
to procedural issues both within the armed forces
and the MoD, but there has been progress forward.”
The Indian Air Force (IAF) for instance has
selected several systems from combat aircraft
(Rafale MMRCA) to midair refuelers (Airbus A 330
MRTT), Boeing C 17 Globemaster III heavy lift
transport aircraft, Lockheed Martin’s C 130J
Special Operations aircraft, Russian Mi 17 V5
helicopters, 272 SU 30 MKI combat aircraft and
so on. Agreements have also been reached with
Russia for coproduction of Multirole Transport
Aircraft (MTA) and the Fifth Generation Multirole
Perspective Aircraft (initially called Fifth Generation
Fighter Aircraft) besides acquistion of a large
number of tanks and armour.
US supplies to India are being put at seven
per cent, but it has become India’s second-largest
supplier now, replacing Israel, which has had
a major share due to the three Phalcon AWACS (Airborne
Warning and Control Systems) aircraft, or eyes
in the sky.
Some deals for Boeing’s C 47 Chinook and
AH 64D Apache helicopters, and BAE Systems lightweight
M777 howitzers are still pending however but should
be finalised soon after the elections, sources
said.
It would not be correct for an outgoing government
to conclude deals, particularly as they invariably
draw allegations at least from some vested interests.
Appropriately, the Government has sought time
till July 2014 or so from various suppliers, sources
told
India Strategic.
The Indian Navy’s Scorpene submarine deal
was closed although a decision should be imminent
in the near future for the next generation of
modern submarines with Air Independent Propulsion
(AIP) which enable them stay longer underwater.
Similarly, deals for other assets, particularly
helicopters for the Navy, Army and IAF should
be on the list for closure within this year.
As for the MMRCA, sources said that there was
no delay from the Ministry of Defence.
The state-run HAL has just about concluded its
work share details with Dassault International,
but details of the agreement between them are not
likely to be approved by the Government before
2014-end. IAF is uncomfortable about "too much"
work already with HAL and pending much beyond
timelimes, and may seek review when the proposal
goes to the MoD under the new government. Howsoever,
once the MoD and the Cabinet Committee on Security
(CCS) approve it, the first installment of 15 per
cent would be due. That could happen in early 2015 –
in the current fiscal ending March 2015 or next – and
only then the first required financial allocation of
(only) 15 per cent would have to be made. "The main
payments would be due in the 2015-16 fiscal."
As the main integrator for the MMRCA project, HAL
has managed to obtain about 70 per cent of the work
share, substantially more than the stipulated 50 per cent.
The remaining parts would be made in the private sector
under Transfer of Technology or in joint ventures by the
French consortium that includes Dassault, Safran and Thales.
Dassault will supply the initial lot of 18 aircraft
and the rest would be assembled/ made by HAL progressively
from kits and indigenous manufacture.
As for the Gulf states, SIPRI said that arms
being imported by them mainly from the US and
other western nations, have a much higher level
of sophistication with Washington and London selling
“advanced, long-range strike systems”
and “precision-guided weapons.”
‘The USA, which accounted for 45 per cent
of arms deliveries to Gulf states, has signed
a series of major deals which will maintain its
high levels of arms exports to these countries.
In 2013, for the first time, the USA allowed the
sale of long-range air launched cruise missiles
to Gulf states,’ SIPRI’s Senior Researcher
on Arms Transfers Programme Pieter Wezeman was
quoted as saying.
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