India’s latest
defence deal: the Deep Sea Rescue Vessels, its
debatable need and cost
India’s latest
defence deal with Swedish firm for supply of two Deep Sea Rescue Vessels for
Indian navy is projected at 200 Million UK Pound Sterling. If we convert this
sum into Indian rupee than it is corresponding to INR 2000 crore. It is a big sum.
Isn’t it? Though, the deal is linked with India’s defence preparedness in
considerably worldwide appalling circumstances. Therefore, nobody have paid
much attention towards it and observed it as usual defence transaction for
national significance. However it is deplorable that such a huge sum is being utilized
for acquiring recovery vessels for potential peace time tragedies relating
warships and submarines of Indian navy. The DSRVs are not the operational
equipments in nature hence they will play no role in operation activities of
Indian navy and after induction in navy they will solely be used for salvaging
purpose. The acquisition of DSRVs through very highly priced contract will
prove entirely redundant for Indian navy in times to come. Therefore it is
reasonably expected to debate about its need for Indian navy at such a high
cost at this point in time when country needs funds for social causes as well.
Can the cost of DSRVs be justified with their intended utilization? What could
be indigenous alternative possibilities for DSRVs? Can India develop such
equipments indigenously? India is developing aircraft career category warships
at our own shipyards and marching towards self reliance in defence sector than why
can’t nation develop such equipments under ‘’make in India mission’’? These are
few smoldering questions associated with this deal.
According to naval reports, underlying
intention for acquiring DSRVs was to include modern equipment in its flotilla
for recuperation purpose in case of peace time disasters involving warships and
submarines of Indian Navy. The navy’s justification for acquiring high cost
DSRVs is a questionable subject. Presently, navy is operating few traditional
platforms for rescue and salvaging purpose for any peace time adversity. The
Indian navy could have developed modern salvaging vessels indigenously with
much lower cost in India’s own shipyards. The Defence Research and Development
Organization could have been assigned responsibility of designing and
developing a concept for construction of a modern vessel for the similar function.
The operational commitments of Indian Navy are crystal clear and are fulfilled
by its warships, submarines and marine aircrafts. The presence of DSRVs in its
fleet will barely play any constructive role to make any sea-change in Indian
navy’s combat preparedness as these equipments are supporting in nature.
There were very few
peace time disasters in navy’s history since independence which also implies
that such equipments will scarcely be used during their whole life span. The
navy’s efforts and focal point must be based on ‘’prevention is better than
cure’’ theory and ensure high standard
of operational and maintenance practices for its assets to avoid occurrences of
peace time disasters. The Indian Navy must understand that having advanced
equipment for salvaging purpose will not make it accident-free organization.
There is no enemy threat in peace times and still such accidents takes place
from time to time, than as a thumb rule it must be measured to upgrade and develop
more advanced guidelines and operating policies. The naval establishments must
find the ways to prevent the peace time tragedies, rather than buying costly
equipments for recovery of chattels subsequent to each tragedy. The potential
peace time disasters can be prevented by following proper SOPs and apt
maintenance of equipments and naval assets. The human resources division is a
neglected part in armed forces. The navy is also facing severe man-power
shortage since the majority of its workforce is leaving service on completion
of their initial engagements due to topsy-turvy and atrocious work ambiance.
The maintenance and operations of these equipments will also require separate
manpower allocation which will also put extra burden on frontline sea-going
units. The navy need not to overlook root causes for peace time disasters and also
must accept the fact that having incompatible process for crew training, lack
of proper SOPs in place, being imperfect in requisite revision of SOPs,
adherence to SOPs, human psychological behavior of personnel and inability to
provide excellent work environment for recruits are main reasons for occurrence
of such catastrophes. It is mediocre that establishments have felt necessity of
DSRVs but they have turned blind eye to prime causes which are actually
responsible for occurrence of peace time tragedies. By ignoring factual reasons
and straightway jumping to the conclusion of buying equipments like DSRVs is an
imprudent assessment. As a Naval Veteran, I hold a view that when militaries
around the world are growing and increasing their technological standards. Hence,
Indian Armed Forces also must have latest technologies and military equipments
for their inclusive upgrading so that peace and tranquility in region is
maintained in contemporary periods. However, foreign defence deals must be
acceptable for acquiring modern weapons, sensors and equipments which can augment
military capabilities and competence of defence forces. The signing of foreign
deal for supply of non-operational highly expensive equipments designed
exclusively for recuperation purpose for peace time disasters should never be a
judicious preference for any developing country like us. Mitigating such deals should also be seen as
an act of morally erroneous. The acquiring costs for such equipments are too
high for an emerging country like India at this point in time and if
requirement is felt vital for such equipments then substitute of such
equipments must be developed indigenously.
In the midst of
government’s make in India initiatives, occurrence of extremely expensive
foreign deal for supply of equipments for no significance assignment in operational
functions of Indian navy is also imbalanced. The defence services and bureaucrats
assigned with task of national defence need to distinguish between operational prerequisite
and follow-on necessities of defence services. It is rather miserable that
defence establishments are action-packed in getting such contemptible defence
deals approved by the government. The regime must find avant-garde ways to keep
a check on financial expenditure of defence budget since such deals put intense
financial burden on the country and tax payers as well. The governments must
ensure that there must be a matter-of-fact justification for every foreign
defence deal. The government needs to perform proportional analysis of each
defence deal for its advantages and utilization of equipments being acquired for
armed forces.
As an independent and
democratic nation, India must continue to strive for healthy relations with its
neighboring countries to reduce apprehensions amongst nations. If India
succeeds in maintaining affable relations with them than governments can
gradually trim down spending on defence budget to facilitate spending
sufficient money on various social causes for benefit of general public of
India. Not to forget, as a developing nation, India is facing numerous
significant collective issues where funds allocation is necessary to overcome from
such concerns. Conversely, turning blind eyes to relevant social causes and frittering
away colossal funds on extraneous defence deals is serving no purpose and ultimately
will be responsible for disparity in overall development of the nation.
Prakash Chandra
Bishnoi, PO (Retd), IN
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