Arjun MBT on the Rajpath on Republic Day, Januar 26, 2010. Photo Credit: PIBFebruary 07, 2010, (Splash News) - The Indian Army plans to pit a few of its Arjun MBTs against T-90S Bhisma tanks in a mock battle in the Rajasthan desert in March - April to help it determine if its should place additional orders for Arjuns.
The Indian Army, which has reservations about the DRDO developed Arjuns and prefers to equip its armor regiments with the T-90 Bhisma, is coming under intense pressure to place additional orders for Arjuns, over and above the 124 tanks that it has so far ordered.
The DRDO, as a civilian organization, has easy access to the press and has lined up journalists to crusade on its behalf in the name of indigenization and self sufficiency. DRDO bosses also have easy access to the Defense Minister.
Army generals don't have easy access to the Defense Minister and risk a court martial by going to the press directly.
Ironically, the Defense Minister controls both the army and DRDO. When it comes to arms procurement from the DRDO, he represents the vendor as well as the client. It is hard to be objective under the circumstances.
Very often our armed forces get lumped with weapon systems that they don't want.
You may or may not have noticed a concerted press campaign to show the Army in poor light for its reluctance to place additional Arjun orders.
Ten T-90S Bhisma tanks on Rajpath. Photo Credit: PIB
During past trials the Arjun proved to be a very unreliable weapon system. Besides other things it was plagued by frequent engine failures.
The DRDO contends that the engine failures took place because the army deliberately sabotaged the engines! To the best of my knowledge, no investigation was ever carried out into the allegation, let alone the DRDO's charge proved.
Journalists campaigning in favor of the Arjun are high lighting DRDO's sabotage charge without mentioning that the accusation had no basis. This is shoddy journalism.
The journos are also high lighting tank characteristics such as weight, gun-caliber and power to weight ratio in insinuating that "corrupt generals" are opting for the inferior Bhisma over the more potent Arjun.
I have very little knowledge about tanks but I have a lot of respect for the Indian Army. The occasional aberrations in the conduct of Army Generals are just that, occasional aberrations. They have not shaken my faith in the Indian Army as an institution and should not shake the faith of any other Indian.
The Indian Army, is one of the finest institutions of the country, and thank god for it.
Having been a war fighter, albeit a fighter pilot, I know we all crave for the best fighting systems because our lives depend on it. I do not believe a general can ever be so corrupt as to put the life of his officers and men at risk.
There are far too many checks and balances within the Army for lobby to lump it with second grade weapon systems when a better option is available.
If the Army prefers the Bhisma over Arjun I think the matter should end there. Since it hasn't, I took it upon myself to highlight the real issues in choosing between two tanks, as I understand them.
It's not the weight of the tank, its engine horsepower, power to weight ratio, gun caliber, etc. that are as important as:
1. The reliability of a tank's mobility system.
2. Reliability of a tank's aiming and firing system.
3. Mobility of the tank. Its ability to clear obstacles, go through water and over sand.
4. Stand off range from which a tank can first engage the enemy.
5. Rapidity with which it can engage the enemy while on the move. How many times can it fire within a given time frame and with what accuracy?
6. Effectiveness of its armor protection. Manufacturers claims aren't helpful. Armor effectiveness is best established with actual trials.
7. Active protection against anti-tank missiles.
I have my take on where the two tanks stand based on my past interaction with armor corp officers. However, it is time to look at the issue afresh and the trials are being held precisely for that purpose. I understand both Arjun and Bhisma have undergone changes in the recent past.
What I would like to see is the better tank inducted into the Indian Army. The last DRDO chief made a public statement that Indian Armed Forces should accept 10% substandard armament to encourage DRDO. I consider the statement outrageous.
The reason why the better tanks needs to equip the Indian Army is because Pakistan's T-80UD tanks are at par with the Bhisma. Indeed, Pakistan's acquisition of the tanks from Ukraine triggered a knee jerk purchase of Bhismas by the Indian Army from Russia. So if Arjun is picked despite being 10% substandard, the nation should remember to turn to god, not the Indian Army the next time Pakistan acts belligerent.
Epilogue
I wrote this blog post after trying to get my point across on the blog of a journo who has lately been bashing the army and blatantly championing the cause of inducting more Arjuns.
Guess what? My comment pointing out the lack of balance in the journos post wasn't published. It was then that I noticed that all the comments on the journos blog are appreciative of his stand. Some moderation and so much for journalistic ethics.
News Copyright © Sawf News. May not be reproduced without explicit written permission