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Expensive gift

India’s attempt to procure the Admiral Gorshkov may not have been technically bad from the start, but it appears to be so now, without doubt. This Kiev Class aircraft carrier was decommissioned in 1996 after a rather chequered and short history of service. Now, Moscow has told New Delhi that th ....Read more

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Expensive GiftBy: Suresh Rao | Sunday , 8 Mar '09 16:44:14 PM Reply | Forward It is high time that India re-evaluated its dependence on Russia for its defence needs. Just as the Russians are driving a hard bargain India should also drive hard bargains and more importantly for every big defence deal there should be a Plan B in place before we venture out for further contracts. It is time that we scrapped the Gorshkov deal and instead concentrated on the ADS (Air Defence Ship) In an interview, one of the Heads of one of the Warship building yards when quizzed about the delay in handing ships over to the Navy said that efficiency could come if they knew what are the long term requirements of the Navy so that they could plan adequately. A classic example is the 4 ship programme of the Delhi Class Cruiseiers which after completion is stopped - yes - stopped. What happends to this capability ? This happened after the HDW scandal broke out during the 80s. Now we have to relearn submarine technology afresh for the Scorpene project

expensive giftBy: jays | Sunday , 22 Feb '09 7:03:18 AM Reply | Forward The edit is hard hitting but subtle.One hopes that the authorities seize the meaning and will exhibit the pragmatism that the edit highlights.As some of the readers point out,a Carrier for indian Navy is a 'white elephant'. Even China,which has the resources and the military might to match it has shown little interest in a carrier based Navy.Why India.Is it political megalomania?A carrier deal does not end with the purchase of the ship and its initial complement of aircraft and armament .The system has to be maintained,its Aircraft upgraded and modernised/replaced and refits of carrier itself may not synchronise with refit cycle of the Aircraft ,which means loss of opportunity.And finally,what is a Carrier without the standard support force that it demands .The cost spiral for operations far exceeds the more beneficial stand alone aircraft and ship approach in cost benefit and operational flexibility.It is time that MOD and Navy becomes realistic about the matter

It is always a buyers marketBy: Anthony Joseph | Saturday , 21 Feb '09 12:43:26 PM Reply | Forward I still cannot fathom how can something cost three times the original price. Defence deals are murky but I am sure this one is the worst deal ever. I don't believe in the rationale defence deals is a sellers market. There is no such thing as a sellers market, it is always a buyers market whether you are selling cars or tanks.

Carriers Or White ElephantBy: SK Suresh | Saturday , 21 Feb '09 11:29:35 AM Reply | Forward A Carrier in the Indian Context is like White Elephant. The defence policy always goes hand in hand with the foreign policy. If India ia a peace loving country with no policy towards intervention, why is the Carrier required. Its great expense is completely out of proportion to its usefulness. Instead, with the new low intensity conflict at sea, it would be better to invest in smaller platforms. A Carrier is not worth it, notwithstanding what some foolish Admiral might say about it.

Dump RussiansBy: Rohit | Saturday , 21 Feb '09 3:14:30 AM Reply | Forward Very well written indeed. India must learn its lessons from the blackmail tactics adopted by the Russians. The first thing india must do is to disqualify Russian bids to sell Mig 35 to India.India must consider EU fighter Typhoon as France and Israel have proved to be more reliable than Russia. Deals with US should be done anly after securing iron clad guarantees that after sales service should be immune to political changes.