Indian Defense
Report On Risk Allowance Gathers Dust, Heartburn Among Army Ranks
The committee, which was formed to study the disparity of compensation amount between the Central Armed Paramilitary Force and the Indian Army despite having similar risk and hardship, gave its report in February this year, but the file is dangling between the ministries of defence and finance.
Bureaucratic wrangle has hampered the decision-making process of the government on a report submitted by the Defence ministry-appointed committee on the risk and hardship allowances.
The committee, which was formed to study the disparity of compensation amount between the Central Armed Paramilitary Force and the Indian Army despite having similar risk and hardship, gave its report in February this year, but the file is dangling between the ministries of defence and finance.
It was set up in the wake of the Pulwama attack of 2019, wherein 40 Central Reserve Police Force were killed in a terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir.
The report was submitted six months ago, but the government is yet to take any decision on it, which is causing heartburn among the ranks and officers of the Indian Army. As per the sources, the committee recommended bringing uniformity in allowances for both forces.
Post Pulwama, the Union Home Ministry upgraded the areas in the risk and hardship matrix for the CAPF, including the Border Security Force, which led to Indian Army troops getting lesser allowances despite facing the same situation.
There are different categories of risk and hardship allowances.
The troops of CAPF and the Indian Army posted in Kashmir Valley, Rajouri, Ramban, Kishtwar, Shopian, among others, are facing similar risks and hardship, but their allowances are different. The officers and Jawans of CAPF deployed in these areas get monthly allowances of Rs 25,000 and Rs 17,300, respectively, while the Indian Army’s officers and jawans receive Rs 16,900 and Rs 9,700.
Prior to the Pulwama incident, the troops of the Indian Army and the CAPF were getting allowances on equal footing. The Indian Army gave representation to the defence ministry, which in turn appointed a tri-service committee. After the creation of the Department of Military Affairs, which is being headed by CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, the committee came under it as the defence pay services are being looked at by the DMA.
The upgraded allowance is applicable to all paramilitary personnel deployed in Jammu and Kashmir, and Naxal-hit areas.
A senior Indian Army official said, “The development has adversely affected the morale of the soldiers.”
“Irony is that the command and control in these areas are with the Indian Army. We are at the frontline when an operation is to be conducted, but there is a disparity in the allowances,” another officer said.
CAPF For Equal Work, Equal Pay
The CAPF has always been raising the issues of equal work and equal pay. A senior retired BSF official said, “The salary of CAPF official and Jawans are lesser in comparison to its Indian Army’s counterparts. If we look at the salary of Commandant in BSF, which is equal to Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Army, the difference is of around 20 per cent.”
He further added that the ration allowances in the CAPF are taxable while there is no tax on ration for the Indian Army personnel.
On the pension front, the retired BSF official said, “After 2004, there is no provision of pension in the CAPF while the Army troops get.”
Indian Defense
INS Arihant’s Nuke-Capable K-4 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile ‘Ready To Roll’
The solid-fuelled K-4 missile is being developed by DRDO to arm the country’s nuclear-powered submarines in the shape of INS Arihant and its under-development sister vessels. INS Arihant, which became fully operational in November 2018 to complete India’s nuclear triad, is currently armed with the much shorter K-15 missiles with a 750 km range.
“The K-4 is now virtually ready for its serial production to kick-off. The two tests have demonstrated its capability to emerge straight from underwater and undertake its parabolic trajectory,” said a source.
India has the land-based Agni missiles, with the over 5,000-km Agni-V inter-continental ballistic missile now in the process of being inducted, and fighter jets jury-rigged to deliver nuclear weapons. But INS Arihant gives the country’s deterrence posture much more credibility because nuclear-powered submarines armed with nuclear-tipped missiles are considered the most secure, survivable and potent platforms for retaliatory strikes.
Once the K-4 missiles are inducted, they will help India narrow the gap with countries like the US, Russia and China, which have over 5,000-km range SLBMs. The K-4 missiles are to be followed by the K-5 and K-6 missiles in the 5,000-6,000 km range class.
The 6,000-ton INS Arihant, which is propelled by an 83 MW pressurised light-water reactor at its core, in turn, is to be followed by INS Arighat, which was launched in 2017. The next generation of nuclear submarines, currently called S-4 and S-4*, will be much larger in size.
Indian Defense
After Upgradation, Sukhoi Su-30MKI Indigenisation To Reach 78%
India has received clearance to upgrade 84 Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets, which will result in 78% indigenization after the upgrade
In a significant step towards bolstering its military might with indigenously developed technology, India is poised to witness its Russian-origin Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets evolve into a domestic platform. Speaking at a recent lecture.
The upgrade program is being led by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in partnership with the Indian Air Force and other partners. The upgrade is expected to cost US$7.5 billion.
This initiative is a part of a larger effort by the Indian Air Force to modernize its ageing fleet. Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari asserted the critical role of an offensive air force as demonstrated in current global conflicts and emphasized India’s move towards an indigenized arsenal. To this end, the IAF has been proactive, from upgrading its Mirage 2000 to enhancing its MiG-29 fleet.
In summary, the IAF’s commitment to updating their combat forces with the latest technology, including shifting to fifth-generation fighter jets, ensures operational preparedness and a strong deterrence capability. The gradual indigenization of its air fleet marks a pivotal shift in India’s defence landscape, reducing dependency on foreign imports and fostering technological sovereignty.
Indian Defense
Akash Weapon System Exports For The Armenian Armed Forces Gathers Pace
According to unconfirmed reports, Armenia is a top contender for an export order for Akash SAM system manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).
The Akash export version will also be slightly different from the one inducted by the armed forces. The 100-km range air-to-air Astra missiles, now entering production after successful trials from Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, also have “good export potential”, said sources.
Akash is a “tried, tested and successfully inducted systems”. Indian armed forces have ordered Akash systems worth Rs 24,000 crore over the years, and MoD inked a contract in Mar 2023 of over Rs 9,100 crores for improved Akash Weapon System
BDL is a government enterprise under the Ministry of Defence that was established in 1970. BDL manufactures surface-to-air missiles and delivers them to the Indian Army. BDL also offers its products for export.
Akash Weapon System
The AWS is a Short Range Surface to Air Missile (SRSAM) Air Defence System, indigenously designed and developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). In order to meet aerial threats, two additional Regiments of AWS with Upgradation are being procured for Indian Army for the Northern borders. Improved AWS has Seeker Technology, Reduced Foot Print, 360° Engagement Capability and improved environmental parameters.
The project will give a boost to the Indian missile manufacturing industry in particular and the indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem as a whole. The project has overall indigenous content of 82% which will be increased to 93% by 2026-27.
The induction of the improved AWS into the Indian Army will increase India’s self-reliance in Short Range Missile capability. This project will play a role in boosting the overall economy by avoiding outgo of precious foreign exchange to other countries, increasing employment avenues in India and encouraging Indian MSMEs through components manufacturing. Around 60% of the project cost will be awarded to the private industry, including MSMEs, in maintaining the supply chain of the weapon system, thereby creating large scale of direct and indirect employment.
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