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The Wire
5 days ago
- Business
- The Wire
Post Op Sindoor, Experts Say India Should Look Beyond Traditional Suppliers For Defence Procurement
Menu हिंदी తెలుగు اردو Home Politics Economy World Security Law Science Society Culture Editor's Pick Opinion Support independent journalism. Donate Now Security Post Op Sindoor, Experts Say India Should Look Beyond Traditional Suppliers For Defence Procurement Rahul Bedi 36 minutes ago Countries like Sweden, Spain, Italy, Germany, South Korea, and Japan, though historically modest defence collaborators with India, offer immense promise. An Army personnel stands near a weapon system during a demonstration near the India-Pakistan border, Punjab on Monday, May 19, Army showcased a demonstration of how Indian Air Defence systems, including AKASH missile system, L-70 Air Defence Guns, thwarted attempts by Pakistan to target civilian and religious sites . Photo: PTI Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Contribute now Chandigarh: In the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, Indian defence planners and service veterans are increasingly advocating a shift from traditional suppliers like the US, Russia, and Israel toward smaller European and technologically advanced Asian nations. This strategic pivot, backed by analysts and commentators aims to diversify India's defence procurement while reinforcing the Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliance) agenda. Brigadier Rahul Bhonsle (Retd) of Security Risks consultancy in New Delhi notes that these smaller nations – unlike the larger powers – tend to separate defence commerce from geopolitical agendas, focusing instead on industrial logic. Their political neutrality and limited entanglement in wars and global rivalries also rendered them lower-risk partners for co-development and technology transfer. Strategic necessity of diversifying India's defence procurement matrix India's changing threat environment and supply-chain shocks from traditional defence partners like Russia, the US, and Israel have highlighted the strategic necessity of diversifying its defence procurement matrix. Overdependence on a few suppliers – many of whom are either geopolitically distracted, technologically restrictive, or facing internal turmoil – has highlighted shortcomings after Operation Sindoor. In contrast, countries like Sweden, Spain, Italy, Germany, South Korea, and Japan, though historically modest defence collaborators with India, offer immense promise. Their advanced capabilities in precision munitions, missile systems, naval and AI-enabled network-centric platforms, cyber defence, and small arms – combined with flexible terms and political neutrality – make them ideal partners in India's push for strategic autonomy. These nations are more open to co-development, technology transfer, and localised production, aligning well with India's Atmanirbharta agenda. They also bring agility, innovation, and lower political baggage, helping India build a resilient, future-ready force structure. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Russia, the US, Israel, and France collectively accounted for 84% of India's total arms imports between 2019 and 2023. Russia remained, by far India's largest supplier with 36%, despite a decline from previous decades. But over 60% of platforms and sundry equipment currently in service across the Indian armed forces still originate from Russia. France followed with 29%, while the US and Israel contributed 11% and 8% respectively. Collectively these countries have equipped India with a broad array of platforms – combat and transport aircraft, heavy lift and attack helicopters, surveillance platforms, diesel-electric submarines, howitzers, small arms, armed and surveillance drones, missile systems, sensors, and precision-guided munitions amongst other sundry gear. The remaining 16% came from a diverse group including South Korea, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Ukraine, though all military ties with Kyiv ceased in 2022 following the ongoing war with Russia. Defence analysts like Major General A.P. Singh (Retd) argue that expanded collaboration with these smaller or less politically encumbered nations offers India 'transactional and balanced partnerships' – unlike traditional suppliers who often link defence ties to larger strategic considerations. Diplomatic friction, sanctions, and shifting alliances have repeatedly disrupted India's acquisitions, injecting operational uncertainty on many previous occasions, he added. For instance, Russia's invasion of Ukraine and subsequent Western sanctions had delayed deliveries of critical systems to India like two S-400 Triumf SAM systems, four Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates, and the lease of a second Akula-class nuclear submarine. Spares for existing Russian-origin fighters, helicopters, submarines and other platforms and equipment had also faced persistent delays, affecting India's operational tempo during crises like Operation Sindoor. China's deepening military-strategic partnership with Russia a cause of worry for India Moreover, China's deepening military-strategic partnership with Russia – fueled by their joint exercises, defence technology exchanges, and arms sales – has raised concerns in New Delhi about Moscow's future reliability as an arms supplier. Beijing's growing sway over Moscow adds an unpredictable variable in India's long-standing dependence on Russian military hardware and needed a 'serious rethink' service veterans advised. They also said that the shifting axis between Russia and China had introduced 'strategic ambiguity' into India-Russia defence ties, prompting growing unease in Delhi. Moscow's increasing dependence on Beijing also raised concerns over the former's willingness to supply India with advanced weapon systems, sensitive technologies, or uninterrupted logistical support in a future conflict, particularly one involving China. The overlapping weapons ecosystems posed another risk. With both India and China operating similar Russian-origin platforms – like Sukhoi fighters and S-400 air defence systems – India faced the prospect of confronting adversaries well-acquainted with its military hardware. Coupled with supply delays and the weakening Russian defence industry, had led many Indian strategists to question the long-term reliability of Moscow as a defence partner. Also Read: Operation Sindoor Highlights That It's Time for the Indian Air Force to Make Key Procurements Simultaneously, defence ties with Israel have also come under strain. The October 2023 Hamas attacks and Israel's ensuing Gaza campaign have forced major Israeli firms like Rafael, Elbit Systems, and Israel Aerospace Industries to redirect resources toward domestic military needs. This shift had delayed component deliveries, disrupted joint development projects, and impacted India's access to technologies such as loitering munitions, UAVs, and air defence systems. There are reportedly also growing delays in sourcing components for the Israeli SPYDER low-level, quick-reaction (LLQRM) surface-to-air missile air defence system, designed to engage various aerial threats like aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, and cruise missiles. Uncertainty also prevails over future upgrades of Israeli-origin counter-drone and surveillance platforms deployed along India's borders. And, with Israel's strategic focus now fixed on managing multifront conflicts –including with Hezbollah and Iranian proxies – its ability to sustain overseas defence partnerships is under pressure. For India, long reliant on Israel for flexible terms and rapid delivery, this situation highlights the vulnerability of over-dependence on a narrow pool of suppliers. Simultaneously, political and financial turbulence during US's Donald Trump administration raised doubts in Delhi about Washington's long-term reliability as a defence partner. A key casualty was the General Electric-Hindustan Aeronautics Limited agreement to locally manufacture GE-F414IN20 after burning turbofan engines – vital for future Indian combat aircraft – which continues to face delays and unresolved hurdles. Moreover, US defence cooperation comes with rigid conditionalities, particularly on technology transfer and end-user monitoring. Washington is typically reluctant to share source codes or allow full proprietary access to its platforms, limiting India's ability to indigenise, integrate, or adapt them independently. More importantly, the US proscribes 'jugaad'-the Indian military's hallmark of innovative field-level improvisation – thereby constricting its operational flexibility. Besides, the US emphasis on interoperability, often aligned with its Indo-Pacific strategy, does not always sit well with India's emphasis on strategic autonomy. Despite closer ties in recent years-cemented through four foundational defence agreements-Delhi remains continually wary of becoming entangled in the Washington-led global security framework. 'These handicaps are reason enough for India to forge a more agile and diversified procurement and modernisation strategy involving smaller, commercially-driven nations,' said Gen Singh (Retd). Their political neutrality and willingness to support indigenisation make them better suited to India's Atmanirbharta objectives, he added. Sweden has made first 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) in India's defence sector Sweden's SAAB, has established a facility in Haryana to co-produce the Carl-Gustaf M4 weapon system, marking the first 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) in India's defence sector. SAAB has also pitched its Gripen-E multirole fighter to the Indian Air Force (IAF) with robust domestic commitments, offering a cost-effective, high-performance solution to address the Force's alarming declining fighter squadron strength. SAAB has also proposed collaboration on India's fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), alongside support in radar, electronic warfare (EW), cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted military programmes. Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) is close to finalising the Project-75 I (India) partnership with Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) that involves building six advanced diesel-electric submarines (SSK) with Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) and land-attack capabilities. Beyond P-75(I), Germany could provide expertise in next-generation submarine design, cyber defence, and EW systems. Meanwhile, India has been licence-producing Italy's Oto Melara 76mm Super Rapid Gun Mount (SRGM) for the Indian Navy (IN) since 1994. These guns equip the indigenously built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and a variety of indigenous warships. Alongside, Italian firm Fincantieri supported Vikrant's propulsion system design, while Avio contributed to the carrier's platform management. And, more recently, Italy expressed interest in involving India in the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) a sixth-generation fighter initiative with the UK and Japan offered collaboration in jointly producing torpedoes, helicopters, radar, EW systems, UAVs, and miscellaneous naval platforms. Spain, a founding partner in Europe's Airbus Defence and Space, is presently executing a joint venture with Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) to import 16 C-295 medium transport aircraft and manufacture 40 more in Vadodara. Future tie-ups with Spain could include advanced radar and sensor systems for air defence and joint development of simulation and combat training platforms for the IAF And, in April 2025, India signed a $253 million deal with Larsen & Toubro for 100 additional K9 Vajra-T 155mm/52 calibre tracked self-propelled howitzers, under license from South Korea's Hanwha Defense – a follow-on to an analogous 2017 order. Prospects also include expanding K9-based artillery cooperation and co-developing Mine Counter Countermeasure Vessels (MCMVs), which the IN desperately needs. Also Read: India's Fighter Jet Ambitions: From Russian Roulette to Indigenous Dreams India-Japan, defence collaboration too has deepened in recent years, driven by shared strategic concerns over a hegemonic China and a mutual commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Japan has offered India dual-use technologies in robotics, autonomous systems, and space-based surveillance as well as possibilities of co-developing unmanned military ground vehicles and enhancing cyber-security frameworks. Consequently, all such potential collaborations, touched upon cursorily, could well provide India with the latest technological depth and resilience required for modern warfare in the post-Op Sindoor environment – where the basic nature of conflict itself was evolving through drones, EW and stand-off, long-range precision strikes. To engage in such wars, India's military needs to be not just well-equipped but agile and technologically integrated, for which a diversified defence portfolio is no longer optional – it is a strategic imperative. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments. Make a contribution to Independent Journalism Related News Russian Ambassador Says 'Discussion Ongoing' On India Getting More S-400 Air Defence System Units: Report Four Things the CDS said at Pune that Deserve Our Attention The French Are Anxious to Know the Fate of Rafales in Operation Sindoor Combat The Opposition Owes the Indian public Some Answers 'Indo-Pacific Region Never Existed, Made Up to Drag India Into Anti-China Schemes': Russian FM Lavrov CDS Accepts Loss of IAF Fighter Jets Facing Pushback, Derision and Anger, BJP Says News of Sindoor Distribution Plans 'Fake' Three Things the CDS Interviews in Singapore Tell Us Vandalism of Karachi Bakery and the Weaponisation of Food to Portray a Shallow Form of Patriotism View in Desktop Mode About Us Contact Us Support Us © Copyright. All Rights Reserved.
India.com
20-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Did India Deploy AD Guns Inside Golden Temple? Army Says…
New Delhi: It could have turned out catastrophic if India had not been ready. A barrage of Pakistani missiles and drones hurtled through the skies. They had a well-defined destination – military bases, civilian areas and Amritsar's sacred Golden Temple. But fortunately, they all measurably failed to hit their targets, thanks to India's full-scale air defence preparedness. Protecting civilian targets was top priority of the Indian defence forces. But defending a place of religious important, the Golden Temple, needed something more. Some media reports are circulating with respect to the deployment of AD Guns in the Golden Temple. However, the Army clarified that no AD guns or any other AD resources were deployed within the premises of Sri Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar. #WATCH | Amritsar, Punjab: Indian Army shows a demo of how Indian Air Defence systems, including the upgraded L-70 Air Defence Guns, saved the Golden Temple in Amritsar and cities of Punjab from Pakistani missile and drone attacks. — ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2025 The General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 15 Infantry Division, Major General Kartik C Seshadri, revealed how he and his soldiers did a job well done. 'We had already anticipated that they would target religious places as the Pakistan Army did not have any legitimate targets. Given geographical location, the Golden Temple was the most vulnerable target,' he said. Accordingly, the Army pressed into action 'holistic air defence umbrella' around the holy site that included modern air defence systems such as L-70 guns and AKASH missile batteries. Meant for shaking India, the drone and missile assault came to retaliate India's Operation Sindoor, which was a precision strike launched on the intervening night of May 6-7. Indian controlled and well-coordinated attacks targeted terrorist infrastructures at nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. #WATCH | Amritsar, Punjab: Indian Army shows a demo of how Indian Air Defence systems, including AKASH missile system, saved the Golden Temple in Amritsar and cities of Punjab from Pakistani missile and drone attacks. — ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2025 These attacks were India's loud and clear response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians who were both Indian and foreign tourists. Talking about India's military offensive, Major General Seshadri said, 'Consequent to Pakistan Army-sponsored dastardly terrorist attack on innocent tourists, the nation's anger under able leadership took the form of Operation Sindoor, under which befitting punitive strikes were carried out on exclusive terror targets.' He said nine major terror hubs were hit – seven of which were destroyed by the Army. 'Of these, the Lashkar-e-Taiba headquarters at Muridke, near Lahore, and the Jaish-e-Mohammed headquarters at Bahawalpur were struck with absolute precision,' he said. He clarified India's position. 'We issued a statement – clarifying that we intentionally did not target any Pakistani military or civilian infrastructure,' he added. #WATCH | Amritsar, Punjab: Indian Army shows a demo of how Indian Air Defence systems, including the upgraded L-70 Air Defence Guns, saved the Golden Temple in Amritsar and cities of Punjab from Pakistani missile and drone attacks. — ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2025 Pakistan responded as expected, but not with soldiers. It responded with drones and missiles, aiming to terrorise Indian civilians and hit religious places. 'We were fully prepared and thwarted their plan. Our alert air defence gunners shot down all drones and missiles aimed at the Golden Temple. We did not allow even a scratch,' said Major General Seshadri. This was one of the first instances when the religious site came under direct threat from coordinated aerial attacks. Defence officials did not mince words. One of them said that the Pakistan Army lacks the courage or capability to face Indian forces directly. 'Hence, it uses terrorism as a national policy and resorts to unmanned aerial weapons launched from its own soil,' the officer said. #WATCH | Amritsar, Punjab: Major General Kartik C Seshadri, GOC, 15 Infantry Division says "Indian Army is a professional, righteous and responsible force which in spite of grave provocations, has always responded in a calibrated and measured manner. We target only terrorists in… — ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2025 He continued, 'Drones and long-range missiles were launched. Indian military installations, civilian population centers, including innocent women and children, were also not spared. They even targeted our faith. Pakistan touched a new low.' He emphasized that Golden Temple witnessed a 'surfeit of drone and missile attacks, all thwarted by our Army air defence gunners'. #WATCH | Amrisar, Punjab: Soldiers of the Panther Division of Indian Army say "...We are representatives of the will enter and kill the enemy from within, now we don't fear anyone. There is revenge in the mind, there is passion in the heart and pride in the eyes. To… — ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2025 As the skies lit up with defence operations, locals near the border stood with the Army. A farmer from a Punjab border village, Jasbir Singh said, 'Our Army is the pride of our nation. They protected us and the Golden Temple. We stood with them in the fields. They kept their promise.' Meanwhile, soldiers from the Panther Division expressed fierce determination. 'We are representatives of the panther. We will enter and kill the enemy from within. We do not fear anyone. There is revenge in the mind, there is passion in the heart and pride in the eyes. To uproot terrorism, India has launched Operation Sindoor,' said an officer. The message is crystal clear: India's faith will not fall to missiles.
Hans India
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
India's Army Can Strike Deep Into Pakistan, Says Top Officer
A top officer in the Indian Army said that India's military is strong enough to strike not just at the border, but deep into Pakistan if needed. Lieutenant General Sumer Ivan D'Cunha, head of the Army's Air Defence, said that India's weapons can reach any part of Pakistan. He added that even if Pakistan moves its army headquarters to a different place, it would still be within India's range. Army Shows Defence Power in Amritsar The Army recently held an event in Amritsar, Punjab, where it showed broken parts of drones and missiles that came from Pakistan. Some of these drones were aimed at important places, including the Golden Temple. India used strong defence systems like L-70 air defence guns and AKASH missiles to stop these flying threats. The Army said it now has better tools to see and destroy enemy drones in real-time, especially in areas near the border. Golden Temple Helped During Drone Alert When there was a drone threat near the Golden Temple, the temple team helped the Army by switching off lights. This made it easier for the Army to spot the drones in the sky and take action quickly. Operation Sindoor: Army Answers Criticism The officer also talked about Operation Sindoor, which happened on May 7 and 8. During this mission, the Army destroyed several terror camps across the border and killed more than 100 militants. Some political leaders questioned this mission and asked if there were any leaks. But the Army said the operation was successful and done with full planning. The Ministry of External Affairs also said the claims made by critics were not true.
Hans India
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Pakistan army targetted the Golden Temple
New Delhi: Pakistan targeted the Golden Temple in Amritsar in response to Operation Sindoor destroying terror outfits deep inside its territory, said Major General Kartik C Seshadri, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 15th Infantry Division. Speaking to ANI, he said, 'Knowing that the Pak Army does not have any legitimate targets, we anticipated that they would target Indian military installations, civilian targets including religious places. Of these, Golden Temple appeared to be the most prominent.' Pakistan unleashed a barrage of drones and long-range missiles in the wee hours of May 8. However, the Indian Army, alert and prepared, intercepted and destroyed each one of those. 'We mobilised additional modern air defence assets to give a holistic air defence umbrella cover to Golden Temple,' Major General Seshadri added. On Monday, the Indian Army displayed a demonstration of how the air defence systems comprising AKASH missile system and L-70 Air Defence Guns, successfully neutralised incoming Pakistani threats, safeguarding the Golden Temple and other regions of Punjab. The defence ministry earlier confirmed that multiple Indian cities and military bases, including Amritsar, Jammu, Srinagar, Pathankot, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Chandigarh, and Bhuj, were targeted in the overnight assault. Explosions were also reported across Kashmir. On the intervening night of May 6–7, India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting nine terror outfits in Pakistan's Muridke and Bahawalpur. The strike was in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.
Indian Express
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
India has adequate weapons to take on entire Pakistan: Top Army officer
A top Army officer has asserted that India holds adequate weaponry making it capable enough to take on the entire Pakistan 'from our borders or even in depth'. In an interview to news agency ANI, Lieutenant General Sumer Ivan D'Cunha, Director General of Army Air Defence, pointed out that shifting the general headquarters (GHQ) of Pakistan Army, in face of any attack by India, will not much benefit the neighbouring country as all of it is within the range of India's military might. 'India has an adequate arsenal of weapons to take on Pakistan right across its depth. We are absolutely capable from our borders or even in depth where we can take on the entire Pakistan. The GHQ can move from Rawalpindi to KPK (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) or wherever they want to move, but they are all within range. So, they'll have to really find a deep hole,' D'Cunha said. D'Cunha said that the Golden Temple authorities cooperated with the Army when they were explained about the looming threat. 'The Golden Temple hierarchy realised there was possibly a threat when it was explained to them. They allowed us to deploy guns, to protect… the Golden Temple's lights were switched off so that we could clearly visualise the drones as they were coming in. And that gave a us greater clarity in the sky because as and when you saw the light, you know what to engage.' During a media briefing and live demonstration held in Amritsar, the Indian Army displayed debris of drones and missiles launched from Pakistan and intercepted by Indian air defence systems in the city. The Army also showed how advanced systems, including the upgraded L-70 Air Defence Guns and AKASH missile systems, were used to neutralise aerial threats aimed at critical sites, including the Golden Temple and cities across Punjab. D'Cunha said the success of the operation is an answer to any speculation around Pakistan's prior knowledge about the operation. 'For any conflict to be successful, a surprise is the greatest element. And the very fact that… we got a hundred terrorists (in the precision strikes on May 7 Operation Sindoor), if not more, in their respective places where the camps were, that itself gives you an answer.' Rahul Gandhi on Monday reiterated his remarks on Operation Sindoor, and said: 'EAM Jaishankar's silence isn't just telling – it's damning. So I'll ask again: How many Indian aircraft did we lose because Pakistan knew? This wasn't a lapse. It was a crime. And the nation deserves the truth.' This was his second post on the operation in the last three days. After his first post, the Ministry of External Affairs had called Gandhi's statement 'a misrepresentation of facts'.
