By Abheet Singh Sethi





The year 2015 witnessed a hike of nearly 10% in India’s defense budget, from $33 billion (Rs. 2.2 lakh crore ) in 2014-15 to $36 billion (Rs. 2.4 lakh crore).





Money for capital expenditure—to buy new equipment—rose 15% over the previous year, but much of this was set aside for expensive imports, as this report will show.

















For the air force, new fighters—French and Indian-made—and helicopters





IndiaSpend reported. The most significant development of 2015 was the scrapping of the $20-billion (Rs 1.45 lakh crore) Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) deal for the purchase of 126 French Dassault Rafale fighter jets. Expense could have been a major reason,





estimated cost of $8-9 billion (Rs 52,800-59,400 crore). To boost squadron strength, the government cleared the off-the-shelf purchase of 36 Rafale aircraft in fly-away condition from Dassault’s factories in France at ancost of $8-9 billion (Rs 52,800-59,400 crore).





India’s defence ministry and Dassault discussed costs over the year. A deal could be signed when French President Francois Hollande visits India next month as chief guest for Republic Day.





purchase of 15 Chinook heavy lift helicopters and 22 Apache attack helicopters from the US’ Boeing company at a cost of $3 billion (Rs 19,800 crore); and $1-billion (Rs6,600 crore) deal for 200 Kamov 226 T utility helicopters, a 2015 has been a good year for India’s helicopter fleet with three major deals: Theof 15 Chinook heavy lift helicopters and 22 Apache attack helicopters from the US’ Boeing company at a cost of $3 billion (Rs 19,800 crore); and $1-billion (Rs6,600 crore) deal for 200 Kamov 226 T utility helicopters, a replacement for the air force’s vintage Chetak and Cheetah helicopters. The Kamovs will be manufactured locally.





purchase as many as 20 basic Mark 1 and 100 improved Mark 1A variants, after delays in development of the more capable Mark 2 version. The biggest development pertaining to India’s beleaguered Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) is a decision to possiblyas many as 20 basic Mark 1 and 100 improved Mark 1A variants, after delays in development of the more capable Mark 2 version.





The Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft being developed jointly by India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Russia’s Sukhoi is currently stuck due to differences between both sides.





The development of India’s own indigenous fifth generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is on.





The army gets American- and Indian-made artillery, Indian-made missiles and rifles





cleared a $430 million (Rs-2,900 crore) deal to buy 145 BAE M777 ultra-light howitzers from the US-arm of the UK headquartered BAE Systems in May 2015; the first artillery modernization deal since the Bofors scandal. Indiaa $430 million (Rs-2,900 crore) deal to buy 145 BAE M777 ultra-light howitzers from the US-arm of the UK headquartered BAE Systems in May 2015; the first artillery modernization deal since thescandal.





eventually commissioning 114 Dhanush howitzers, each costing Rs 14 crore. These have a range of 38 km, 11 km more than the Swedish Bofors guns. The army will also receive the 155-mm Dhanush howitzers developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from the Bofors platform,commissioning 114 Dhanush howitzers, each costing Rs 14 crore. These have a range of 38 km, 11 km more than the Swedish Bofors guns.





inducted the Akash surface-to-air missiles, capable of targeting enemy helicopters, aircraft and UAVs from a range of 25 km. The Indian army alsothe Akash surface-to-air missiles, capable of targeting enemy helicopters, aircraft and UAVs from a range of 25 km.





canceled a global tender floated in 2011 for the purchase of 66,000 multi-caliber assault rifles for the infantry to replace the failed INSAS rifles. The DRDO-designed ‘Excalibur’ assault rifles, now in advanced testing, will be replacements: 600,000 rifles, each Rs 60,000, The Indian armya global tender floated in 2011 for the purchase of 66,000 multi-caliber assault rifles for the infantry to replace the failed INSAS rifles. The DRDO-designed ‘Excalibur’ assault rifles, now in advanced testing, will be replacements: 600,000 rifles, each Rs 60,000, according to IHS Jane’s, a defence consultancy.





The navy’s race for nuclear submarines and a new aircraft carrier





according to The Hindu. The sea trials of INS Arihant, India’s first nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), took place in 2015. The submarine is likely to be commissioned in February next year,to





report. Another indigenous SSBN, INS Aridhaman, is under construction, and work on a third will start soon, according to this





INS Kalvari, the first of six Scorpene-class conventional diesel-electric attack submarines began sea trials in October this year. It is scheduled for commissioning in September next year.





IndiaSpend reported. It plans to buy six conventional submarines for $12 billion (Rs 80,000 crore) and six nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN) at a cost of over $13 billion (Rs. 90,000 crore.) India’s submarine fleet lags China’s,It plans to buy six conventional submarines for $12 billion (Rs 80,000 crore) and six(SSN) at a cost of$13 billion (Rs. 90,000 crore.)





commissioned the 7,500 tonne INS Kochi, the second Kolkata-class stealth-guided missile destroyer. The last of the Kolkata-class destroyers, INS Chennai, will be commissioned late . The navythe 7,500 tonne INS Kochi, the second Kolkata-class stealth-guided missile destroyer. The last of the Kolkata-class destroyers, INS Chennai, will be commissioned late next year





undocked and floated in June at the Cochin Shipyard. India’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, reached an important milestone this year when it wasand floated in June at the Cochin Shipyard.





commissioned INS Astradharini, a new torpedo-launch and recovery vessel, developed by the DRDO to test undersea weapons. The Navy alsoINS Astradharini, a new torpedo-launch and recovery vessel, developed by the DRDO to test undersea weapons.





A good year for testing missile systems





The New Indian Express. The year 2015 was a good year for testing India’s missile systems. Of the 16 missile tests in at least 11 categories, trials were successful 14 times, according to this report by





Test firings of Agni I, Agni III, Agni IV and Dhanush ballistic missiles, Brahmos cruise missiles, and Astra air-to-air missiles were successful.





notable failure. The subsonic Nirbhay cruise missile with a range of 750-1000 km was afailure.





mid-2016. The test launch of the supersonic 300-km range Brahmos missile from a Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter, scheduled for this year, was pushed to





One Rank One Pension: India riles veterans





The Narendra Modi government finally announced the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme for defence personnel.





equal pension payments for personnel having served in the same rank for the same length of service. The scheme will require an additional expenditure of Rs. 8,000 crore ($1.2 billion) every year and is expected to providepension payments for personnel having served in the same rank for the same length of service.





protest against the government, saying they have been cheated. However, a significant section of veterans continued toagainst the government, saying they have been cheated.





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This article was originally published at IndiaSpend.com under the title - "2015: A Good Year for Defence - Or Was It?" and republished at IndraStra with due permission. To submit feedback - Email at respond@indiaspend.org



