Facing officer shortage, Indian army mulls conscription
India is facing a shortage of cadets lining up the join the country's prestigious military schools and may have to consider conscription in order to stem the flow, a top general said.
"It's a fact. We are not getting the right material ... the corporate world pays much more than what the government and the armed forces can give," Army Chief Gen. Deepak Kapoor said Monday. "Young men find emoluments much better outside. It has become a big source of worry since we do not wish to lower our quality standards."
The comments, which were reported by the Times of India, were spurred by a drop in the number of applicants to join the National Defense Academy and the Indian Military Academy, the country's two premier military schools. The newspaper said only 190 candidates accepted the offer to join the 300-capacity NDA while 86 said they will go to the IMA, which has a capacity of 250.
The Indian army is the world's No. 2 all-volunteer force, and an Indian army officer quoted by the newspaper pointed out that the problem was with officer-level recruits only.
"We get enough volunteers at the level of soldiers," the officer said. "The problem is the officer cadre.
"With its tough life, coupled with frequent transfers and poor promotional avenues, not many youngsters are willing to come forward due to the existing paltry salaries."
Kapoor noted that if the numbers do not go up soon, the government may have to consider mandatory military service for all Indians.
"If things don't improve, the government may have to take a view on it," he said, according to the newspaper. He added, however: "We have not come to that stage yet."
The Times of India reported that the army is 11,238 officers short of its capacity of 46,615.
India seeks RFP for ultra-light howitzers
India wants proposals from global weapons-makers for 140 ultra-light howitzer guns at a cost of $2.5 billion, the country's army chief said Monday.
"As I am interacting with you right now, the RFP for procurement of the ultra-light howitzer guns has been issued," Army Chief Gen. Deepak Kapoor told reporters.
RFP refers to request for proposals.
The artillery guns would be India's first since 1986 when it bought 410 155mm 39-caliber field howitzers from Sweden's Bofors Defense AE.
The semiofficial Press Trust of India reported that the army also plans to issue fresh global tenders for 155mm 52-calibre guns and for 155 advanced guns in another month.
The road to the RFP began in 2001 when India looked to the international market to buy 400 towed 155mm 52-caliber artillery guns in a $1.5 billion deal that would have included domestic licensed production. That deal was scrapped earlier this year, however, when it found the Bofors gun performed better than the short-listed candidates -- Israeli and South African weapons, according to PTI.
India, Russia in spat over submarine
India refused to take delivery of the Russian-refitted INS Sindhuvijay because it said the vessel's Club-S cruise-missile systems don't work the way they should.
Delivery of the Project 877 EKM diesel submarine, which underwent a two-year refit at the Zvyozdochka shipyard in Severodvinsk, will now be delayed six months, RIA Novosti quoted a shipyard spokesman as saying Wednesday.
"The submarine has passed all its sea trials and was ready in November 2007, but the delivery had to be delayed due to problems with the Club-S system," a Zvyozdochka spokesman said.
The comments were reported by the news agency.
The Indian navy said that in six consecutive test firings last year the missiles failed to hit their targets. The vessel will now remain at the shipyard until the middle of the year when the missile system will undergo further testing.
The 3M-54E1 anti-ship missile and the 3M-14E land-attack missile, with a flight range of 170 miles, are part of the Club-S submarine cruise missile family. The missile can be launched from standard torpedo tubes from a depth of 130 feet, RIA Novosti said.
Under a 2001 contract, India sent 10 Kilo-class submarines to Russia for refitting so they could fire Club-class cruise missiles.
