A mixed bag for India on security front

2016 IN RETROSPECT

India became the world's fourth-largest defence spender in 2016 with a military budget of $50.7 billion. Some developments during the year made it more and less secure

Happy tidings

• A $8.9 billion deal to purchase 36 French Rafale fighter planes signed
• Two Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) inducted. IAF to have 120 aircraft by 2022.
• Production of 114 Dhanush howitzers in India okayed
• US to provide 145 ultra-light M777 howitzers for $737 million
• 5,000-km range Agni V successfully test-fired
• Russia to help extend range of BrahMos missile beyond 300 km.
• INS Kalvari, the first of the six French Scorpene-class submarines, might be commissioned soon
• INS Chennai, the third and last of the Kolkata class destroyers, commissioned
• Russia signs deal to provide four guided-missile stealth frigates

Sour points

• 71 security forces personnel killed as compared to 39 in 2015
• IAF is down to 32 fighter squadrons, the lowest in a decade
• A test of 1,000-km subsonic nuclear-capable Nirbhay cruise missile fails for 3rd time
• 22,000 classified pages explaining the submarines' combat and performance capabilities were leaked

A worsening of the security situation in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), the signing of a $8.9-billion (Rs 60,520 crore) deal for French Rafale fighter jets and new deals for artillery were among the top five determinants of India’s uncertain security situation in 2016. India made many high-profile defence purchases in 2016 and carried out much-publicised surgical strikes against Pakistan-based terrorists, but an IndiaSpend examination of defence data revealed gaping security holes.

India became the world's fourth-largest defence spender in 2016 with a military budget of $50.7 billion (Rs 3.4 lakh crore) – nine times the health budget for the same year – an increase of 8 per cent over 2015 ($46.6 billion or Rs 3.2 lakh crore), according to the 2016 Jane's Defence Budgets Report, released by the UK-based research firm IHS Markit.

India's 2016 military budget was around a quarter of China's $191 billion or Rs. 13 lakh crore. Here are the five top reasons that made India feel more (and less) secure in 2016: J&K security situation deteriorates after surgical strikes The Indian Army conducted surgical strikes as the government called them against terrorists within Pakistan-administered Kashmir on September 30, 2016. Since then, at least 33 Indian security-personnel have been killed in J&K, according to data collated by IndiaSpend from various news sources.

As many as 71 Indian security forces personnel were killed this year by terrorists in J&K, as of November 27, 2016, up 82 per cent since 2015, when 39 soldiers were killed, according to data tabled by the Home Ministry in the Lok Sabha. Injuries among security personnel doubled since last year to 208. Incidents of terrorist violence in J&K increased 47 per cent to 305 in 2016, from 208 in 2015. The data indicates that terrorist activities increased over 2016 in J&K compared to 2015, IndiaSpend reported on November 25, 2016.

Indian Air Force currently short of 200 aircraftIndia signed a $8.9 billion (Rs 60,520 crore) deal with France to purchase 36 Rafale fighter planes, forming two squadrons of the Indian Air Force (IAF). The IAF is down to 32 fighter squadrons, the lowest in a decade, NDTV reported on February 26, 2016. It should have 42 squadrons or around 670 to 750 aircraft.

The IAF also inducted two indigenously developed Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and hopes to add on six squadrons (120 aircraft) of the Tejas by 2022. The government is reportedly looking to buy up to an additional 200 single-engined fighter aircraft (10 to 11 squadrons) of foreign origin to be produced in India.

India buys 250+ artillery guns, needs at least 3,000 The Defence Ministry approved the production of 114 Dhanush howitzers in June 2016, the first artillery system purchased by India since the Swedish Bofors gun in the mid-1980s, a deal that was embroiled in much controversy and cost then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi the1989 General Elections. The Dhanush is based on the Bofors gun.

India also signed a deal to purchase 145 ultra-light M777 howitzers from the US for $737 million (Rs 5,000 crore). The M777 is, in fact the successor to the Bofors gun. The Indian Army requires 3,000-3,200 howitzers of various calibres, as envisaged under a 17-year-old plan.

Missiles: A major hit and a major miss India successfully tested the 5,000-km range Agni V (Fire) on December 26, 2016, bringing it one step closer towards being formally deployed by the Strategic Forces Command. The nuclear-capable Agni V is an intercontinental ballistic missile, capable of reaching all parts of Pakistan and China, IndiaSpend reported in May, 2015.

However, on December 21, 2016, a test of the 1,000-km ranged subsonic nuclear-capable Nirbhay (fearless) land-attack cruise missile failed. Out of four Nirbhay tests, three failed. India's entry into the Missile Technology Control Regime an international agreement which will allow New Delhi to trade in high technology in June helped pave way for India and Russia to extend the range of the jointly developed supersonic BrahMos missile beyond 300 km.

Submarine modernisation inches forward The much delayed INS Kalvari, the first of the six French Scorpene-class submarines being manufactured in India, is undergoing sea trials and might be commissioned early in 2017. India now has 14 operational submarines, according to Indian Navy data, and requires 20 more, as IndiaSpend reported in July 20, 2015.

The Scorpene project suffered a setback after nearly 22,000 classified pages explaining the submarines' combat and performance capabilities were leaked by an Australian newspaper in August. The Navy said the leak was not critical. India reportedly attained a nuclear triad the capability to launch nuclear weapons from land, air and sea by quietly commissioning the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine INS Arihant in October.

The Indian Navy commissioned INS Chennai, the third and last of the Kolkata class destroyers. India also signed a deal with Russia to purchase four guided-missile stealth frigates. (In arrangement with IndiaSpend.org, a data-driven, non-profit, public interest journalism platform)

By Abheet Singh Sethi