The Indian Army may not have ammunition to fight the next war (with
Pakistan, not to mention China) beyond three to five days. Holdings for all
types of missiles, and anti-tank ammunition are critically low. Stockings for
artillery (70 per cent fuses needed for firing are unavailable) and armour
fighting vehicles ammunition are unlikely to last beyond four to five days of
intense war. War Wastage Reserves (WWR) for most ammunition categories do not
exist.
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How has the prestigious 13 lakh-strong army remained unprepared for
so long? At the heart of this tragedy is the government’s weird idea of
indigenisation with the fulcrum around the 41 units of OFB and the 10 Defence
Public Sector units (DPSUs) being run as personal fiefdoms by defence ministry
bureaucrats.
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Over 50 per cent of the T-72 tank fleet (around 2,500 numbers) gun
barrels require urgent replacements as being sub-standard they cannot be used.
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70 per cent of artillery ammunition is without fuses and hence,
cannot be used. Units have found sealed ammunition with fungus on them and
there have been regular cases of propellant leakages from charges.
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Take the case of Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle, which has been with
the army since Eighties and its ToT was transferred to OFB. Even today, the
weapon and its ammunition are imported from the Swedish OEM.
For full story visit www.forceindia.net
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