The on-going Tehelka controversy, fanned by political parties, has crippled an entire gamut of urgent procurements for the armed forces including self-propelled guns, submarines and airborne warning aircraft.
Acquisitions worth several thousand crores were being negotiated for more than three years to replace ageing systems in use with the armed forces. Many of these contracts were at an advanced stage. Officials in New Delhi said a large number of such decisions would now be delayed for more than six months affecting in the process the modernisation of armed forces.
One of the severely affected project will be the upgradation of T-72 main battle tanks for the Indian Army. Inducted in 1979, they have been due for overhaul and upgrading for more than a decade. A battle tank undergoes major refit and upgrade after 10-12 years.
The project which included upgrading its 1000 HP engine and installing thermal imaging systems for effective night fighting capability was expected to cost more than Rs 2000 crores.
Officials said the project, delayed for over a decade, was likely to be abandoned if contracts were not signed within a short time.
Although India had contracted for 310 T-90 tanks from Russia in February this year, the Armoured Corps main stay is the existing fleet of T-72 tanks. With Russians delivering T-90s by only year end, officials fear a disturbing disparity in the armoured forces of India and Pakistan. Pak has deployed 250 missile firing T-80 tanks from Ukraine and has contracted for 50 more.
The operational preparedness of the Indian Army has been affected due to the low rate of production of T-72 main battle tanks and serious delays in their overhauling. These tanks constitute the punch of the country's armoured forces. Besides, Pakistan has also begun producing Al Khalid, its indigenous main battle tank.
Another major deals likely to be temporarily shelved is the acquisition of 200-odd self propelled towed guns, upgradation of 130mm to 155mm guns, one lakh AK-47 rifles, 10000 mine boots, 10000 Global Positioning systems and several other critical purchases for the Army.
The Navy's expansion plan and its ambitious submarine manufacturing plan are also likely to be severely affected as a large chunk of components were expected to be imported in the next three to five years. Other naval projects which might find difficult to reach any conclusion in the recent future are the Air Defence Ship, overhauling of Sea Harrier projects, Project Sea Bird and acquisiton of an aircraft carrier.
The air force too will face delays in acquisition of certain key weapons systems. Negotiations were in progress for S-300 anti-missile system, Airborne Early Warning Aircraft, Refuelling Aircraft and a whole package of weapons and avionics for Sukhoi, Jaguar, MiG-29, Light Combat Aircraft.
