A report of the parliamentary standing committee on defence has expressed alarm about critical deficiencies of equipment in the Army’s aviation wing, tank ammunition and artillery systems, thereby confirming Army Chief Gen. V.K. Singh’s recently articulated stand about the critical deficiencies.

The committee has also stated that critical shortage in trainer aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) has led to inadequate training of fighter pilots leading to loss of life of trained pilots.

It has also expressed concern over the fall in number of fighter aircraft squadrons in the IAF and its ageing aircraft and helicopter fleet. The committee, in its report, has lashed out at the MoD. It may be recalled that the Army Chief had recently written to the Prime Minister on the issue of critical deficiencies in equipment in the Army.

Gen. Singh said he agreed with the concern expressed by the parliamentary committee in Mumbai on Monday.

In its report tabled in Parliament on Monday, the panel said, “The committee is alarmed over the way he deficiencies have been allowed to persist leading to criticality in the Army aviation and ammunition in the country ... The issue of critical gaps should be addressed without any further delay”.

The report said acquisitions should be put on the fast-track mode. “There are huge gaps between the sanctioned and the existing machines with Army aviation. If the sanctioned and the existing strength is compared, there is shortage of 18 Cheetah... 76 advanced light helicopter (ALH) and 60 ALH with weapons system integrated (WSI). ... The tank ammunition is another critical area having shortages,” the report says.

“Another area affecting the Army preparedness is requirement of guns for our Army. ... The upgradation
of the Bofors guns is taking a long time. The committee disapproves of the way the deficiency of gun systems has been allowed to reach to the criticality,” the report noted.

It also stated how blacklisting of certain companies like the Rhinemetals Air defence and Israel Military
Industries had hit the acquisition of air defence guns and tank ammunition.

The report says, “The committee deplores the way the ministry has dealt with the issue of weight of
Bullet-proof jackets (BPJs) whereby it as been stated that the soldier is not required to wear the BPJs
at its maximum weight under low threat levels.”

On critical deficiencies in the IAF, the report says, “The aforesaid critical deficiency of trainer aircraft
and simulators is resulting into inadequate training to fighter pilots leading to loss of life of the trained pilots which is a great loss to the families and the country as a whole. ... The IAF does not have a basic trainer aircraft.”

‘Urgent need to build defence capabilities'

The standing committee on defence has said India is surrounded by 'difficult neighbours' and that there is an urgent need to build defence capabilities to face “challenges, including the worst scenario of a twofront war”.

The scenario of a two-front war is taken to mean the spectre of a simultaneous attack on India by both Pakistan and China.

The committee, in its report, noted, “The committee may like to emphasise that India is surrounded
by difficult neighbours and as such there is an urgent need to allocate adequate outlay to the services,
particularly for the capital schemes.”

The report further said, “The committee feels that there is an urgent need to build the defence capabilities to face any of the challenges, including the worst scenario of a two-front war.”

Meanwhile, the government informed the committee that Chinese PLA troops had damaged windbreakers made of loose stones 150 metres into the Indian side from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on August 25, 2011, and had arranged the stones 'to form a Chinese word'.