Journal of Defence Studies

Defence Acquisition Process: Issues Pertaining to the Department of Defence Production

The issues of the Department of Defence Production pertain to the development of indigenous production capability in the sphere of defence. This is very important both from strategic requirements point of view, as also how we look at ourselves as a country, how we look at our future and where we want to be seen in the community of nations. It is also important from the point of view of strategic independence. That is why indigenous defence production base is important to us and that is why this accent on indigenous manufacture of defence equipment.

Defence Planning in India

Although India’s defence planning mechanism has evolved over the years, it is still inadequate with respect to prioritisation of precious resources, optimum force suture and creation of a strong domestic defence industrial base. Given India’s complex security environment and massive expenditure on national defence, the planning mechanism needs to be strengthened by articulation of national security objectives and creation of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

Doctrine of Self-Reliance in Defence Technologies

There is a strong case for factoring in the impact of defence acquisitions on national economy, industrial capabilities and employment generation. Indigenous systems cannot be promoted without firm conviction on its rationale and advantages. Major systemic changes will have to be effected in the process of requirements generation, development and manufacturing, test and evaluation in order to make progress towards greater self reliance.

Comprehensive Logistics Management in Defence

The RFP should define the sustained capability required for a defined period of time. It should ask the vendors to give technical and commercial proposals for owning and exploiting the same as per the defined usage at a specified level of operational readiness. The provisions for defence offset should be leveraged for setting up the necessary JVs to provide life time training, maintenance and logistic support in accordance with the principles of PBL. In case any existing infrastructure could be made available to him, its details and lease arrangements should also be specified.

Modernization of Infantry in India

Besides equipping the infantry, a serious look also needs to be given to its training. Use of tactical simulators for training commanders up to unit level, support weapons and advanced infantry weapons simulators, driving and communication simulators have to be procured and utilised to train better educated soldiers who will be required to handle more complex weapon systems and equipment in future.

Key Aspects of Defence Offsets: Negotiating the MOU between Bidder and Offset Partner

The DPP has proved to be a dynamic document, with improvements with every successive version minimising ambiguities. Documents where ambiguities are either absent or minimum; documents that are transparent and are open to anyone connected; and documents that have good guidelines and directives, serve as an anchor when resolving conflicts that may arise in execution of activities in the related field. The DPP is one such document in the process of defence procurement.

Defence Acquisition Process : Oversight Concerns

Aspects of cost-efficient QR formulation, RFI and RFP, technical and commercial evaluation including time frames for evaluation, imparting project management orientation to the entire acquisition process including post contract deficiencies were covered in a seminar organised by IDSA on October 27, 2009 seminar.

Integrated Network Electronic Warfare: China’s New Concept of Information Warfare

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) considers active offence to be the most important requirement for information warfare to destroy or disrupt an adversary's capability to receive and process data. Launched mainly by remote combat and covert methods, the PLA could employ information warfare pre-emptively to gain the initiative in a crisis.

Hughes, Christopher W., Japan’s Remilitarization

Crippled by US drafted pacifist Constitution and growing pressure from the pacifist lobby within the country, Japan adopted a pacifist security policy during the Cold War period and various governments adopted policies such as ban on arms export and related technology, 1% GDP cap on defence spending, three non-nuclear principles and non- use of space for defence purposes.

Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) in India

It has become almost a cliché to say that the LWE situation is the most serious internal threat facing the country. Naxalism has been operating in several parts of the country. It has been there from the late 60s and 70s and different parts of the country have been affected with different levels of naxal violence. It has been tackled in different ways in West Bengal, in Kerala, in Andhra and so on and so forth, Telangana situation was there earlier. A significant change came about with the merger of the Peoples War Group and the MCC to form the CPI (Maoist) in 2004.