Modernisation of Indian Army well on course: Army Chief Gen MM Naravane

The modernisation of the Indian Army is well on course, Army Chief Gen MM Naravane has stated, dismissing apprehensions that the necessity for devoting extra assets to protect the Line of Actual Control within the face of the extended standoff with China in jap Ladakh might starve the pressure of funds for getting new weapons and platforms.

Emphasising his level, Gen Naravane stated that 59 contracts price ₹ 21,000 crore have been concluded since final fiscal whereas a quantity of different capital acquisition proposals are within the pipeline.

In an unique interview to PTI, he stated the modernisation drive within the Army has been going on with out dealing with any problem and that required assets are being offered by the federal government.

“The modernisation drive of Indian Army is well on course. Recently 15 contracts worth more than ₹ 16,000 crore have been concluded under normal schemes of procurement and 44 contracts worth ₹ 5,000 crore have been concluded in 2020-21 under emergency procurements,” Gen Naravane stated.

“A number of capital acquisition proposals too are underway concurrently,” the Chief of Army Staff stated.

He was replying to a query on whether or not the much-needed modernisation of the Army has been impacted because of the want for allocation of better assets to maintain a big quantity of troops for guarding the LAC in jap Ladakh and elsewhere within the wake of the standoff since final one 12 months.

“We are not facing any difficulty,” he stated, referring to the modernisation drive.

In February, the federal government allotted ₹ 4.78 lakh crore for the defence finances for 2021-22. Out of the full allocation, ₹ 1,35,060 crore was put aside for capital expenditure that features buying new weapons, plane, warships and different navy {hardware}.

The capital outlay for 2021-22 is a rise of 18.75 % in comparison with final 12 months’s allocation of ₹ 1,13,734 crore.

In the previous few years, navy specialists have been pitching for speedy modernisation of the Indian armed forces to successfully cope with China’s rising assertiveness.

It has been greater than a 12 months for the reason that navy standoff between the 2 sides erupted in jap Ladakh on May 5 throughout which there have been fatalities on either side for the primary time in 45 years.

They have made restricted progress in reaching disengagement on the Pangong lake space whereas negotiations for comparable steps at different factors remained deadlocked.

Gen Naravane stated that the Indian Army is presently holding onto all vital areas within the high-altitude area and it has satisfactory personnel within the kind of “reserves” to react to any contingencies.

Each aspect presently has round 50,000 to 60,000 troops alongside the LAC within the delicate sector.

The ties between the 2 nations got here underneath extreme pressure after the lethal clashes on the Galwan valley following which either side rushed in 1000’s of further troops as well as battle tanks and different massive weapons to the area.

Nine months after the navy standoff at a number of friction factors, either side accomplished the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the North and South banks of the Pangong lake in February as half of an settlement reached following a collection of navy and diplomatic talks.

The two sides have held 11 rounds of navy talks to make sure disengagement and de-escalation on the friction factors. Both the militaries at the moment are engaged in talks to increase the disengagement course of to the remaining friction factors.