New Delhi: Earlier this year, the head of the IAF announced the abandonment of a joint project with Russia to produce India’ own fifth generation fighter aircraft. India is spending less on research; a paltry 1/12 on R&D what was spent by its arch-rival China this year.
The Indian Defence Ministry has admitted before a parliamentary panel that a shortage of funding has been severely harming country’s crucial military projects, including Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
The ministry added that the DRDO – the state-funded agency responsible for military research and development – needs additional funds to take up new projects in futuristic areas, and high-cost projects.
“The quantum of funds for projects is INR 35,000 million ($491 million approx.) (excluding strategic schemes), which would be consumed to meet the already committed project expenses,” the defence ministry admitted.
The projects that will be impacted due to a shortage of funds include Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), Airborne Warning & Control System, the Ghatak combat drone, and the next-gen main battle tank.
Even the availability of funds for the research on military projects continues to decline, as pay and allowances and other non-salary revenue expenditures essentially keeps growing every year. “The amount left for R&D activities is far less,” the ministry stated, expressing concern.
27/12/19 Rishikesh Kumar/Sputnik
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The Indian Defence Ministry has admitted before a parliamentary panel that a shortage of funding has been severely harming country’s crucial military projects, including Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
The ministry added that the DRDO – the state-funded agency responsible for military research and development – needs additional funds to take up new projects in futuristic areas, and high-cost projects.
“The quantum of funds for projects is INR 35,000 million ($491 million approx.) (excluding strategic schemes), which would be consumed to meet the already committed project expenses,” the defence ministry admitted.
The projects that will be impacted due to a shortage of funds include Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), Airborne Warning & Control System, the Ghatak combat drone, and the next-gen main battle tank.
Even the availability of funds for the research on military projects continues to decline, as pay and allowances and other non-salary revenue expenditures essentially keeps growing every year. “The amount left for R&D activities is far less,” the ministry stated, expressing concern.
27/12/19 Rishikesh Kumar/Sputnik
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