India’s military is entering a period of major modernisation with the announcement of a $25 billion programme that will improve air defence, drone strike capability and transport fleets. Experts say this action by New Delhi signals that they realise future conflicts will be largely rendered by air and unmanned operations.
Record Surge in Defence Spending
On behalf of the Government of India and the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the MoD has approved a number of procurements from the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), which is headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Among these procurements is the purchase of five more S-400 Triumf air defence systems from the Russian Federation (RF) that will add to the five ordered by India in 2018. Three of the first five S-400 systems are currently deployed on either India’s northern or western borders, while two additional S-400 systems will be delivered later this year.
“The S-400 systems have remarkably demonstrated their capability to intercept air threats during last year’s India-Pakistan conflict and so have given India some confidence in their operational capabilities,” explained Dinakar Peri, a fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, New Delhi. Furthermore, with the purchase of these new S-400 air defence systems, gaps of capability will be bridged, and India will be able to enhance their long-range air defence capability.
Air Power in Modern Warfare
In addition to expanding missile defence systems, India is looking to add 60 more remotely piloted strike aircraft – an indication of how the importance of unmanned operations is increasing. These platforms enable aggressive strike operations without putting pilots at risk, as well as being critical components for conducting ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) missions.
“There’s been a paradigm shift in the way we fight wars,” said Peri. “The recent conflict between Russia and Ukraine has shown how significantly unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are used as tactical assets. Hence, India is definitely using that lesson to make decisions about their future military capabilities.”
Short-Range Air Defence and Transport Aircraft
India recently entered into a $47 million contract with Russia to purchase a Tunguska air defence system that will provide protection to ground troops against low-level air threats like helicopters, drones and cruise missiles.
The $25 billion budget allocated for defence has also set aside funding for the purchase of 60 new multirole transport aircraft meant to replace an ageing transport fleet. The multirole transports are important in the movement of personnel and material throughout India’s geographical diversity: high mountains in the north and far-flung strategic islands. Possible suppliers of the multirole transports include Brazil’s Embraer, U.S.-based Lockheed Martin, and Russia’s Ilyushin aircraft.
Strategic Importance of Russian Equipment
Moscow is still one of India’s primary sources of weaponry despite India’s diversification strategy that includes increased purchases from France, Israel, and the United States. The Russian military systems also tend to be rugged, multi-function capable in severe temperatures, and cost-efficient.
According to defence analyst Rahul Bedi, “Russia produces proven options that are robust and have been used successfully by Indian armed forces.” “They can also be used reliably in various terrains, such as mountains, deserts, and extreme temperatures, making them an attractive operational solution for India.”
Boosting Preparedness Amid Regional Tensions
Moscow is still one of India’s primary sources of weaponry despite India’s diversification strategy that includes increased purchases from France, Israel, and the United States. The Russian military systems also tend to be rugged, multi-function capable in severe temperatures, and cost-efficient.
According to defence analyst Rahul Bedi, “Russia produces proven options that are robust and have been used successfully by Indian armed forces.” “They can also be used reliably in various terrains, such as mountains, deserts, and extreme temperatures, making them an attractive operational solution for India.”
The Shift Towards Air-Centric Warfare
Experts say that globally, conflicts are becoming less about long-term wars on the ground, but rather, nations are focusing more on using air power and unmanned systems to reach their military objectives with less risk to their troops. “Air power has taken centre stage because of the reluctance to put boots on the ground unless there’s absolutely no other option,” says Amit Cowshish, former financial adviser, acquisitions, Ministry of Defence, India.
Using this method follows India’s strategic imperative of keeping a technological advantage and a quick response time in an area which continues to have instabilities, including sporadic fighting.
Challenges Ahead
Though India is the world’s 5th largest military spender and 2nd largest importer of weapons, it still faces difficulties in upgrading its military. The challenges of integrating new systems into existing forces, training soldiers on their use, and maintaining a high level of interoperability between all the different platforms are long-term challenges; however, the recent rush to approve these contracts shows a recognition of the need for urgency due to both the changing nature of warfare and the uncertainty in its region.
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