Indian army procurement problems

Times:

At first sight the deal looked honourable: Indian army chiefs claimed they had spent 10 million rupees (£127,000) on silent reconnaissance vehicles for missions beyond enemy lines.

This week, however, it was revealed that they had bought 22 golf buggies, several of which were deployed to patrol the army’s Shivalik Golf Course in Chandigarh.

The scandal emerged in a scathing audit of the military’s recent spending by India’s civil servants after army chiefs were given powers over their expanding budgets to combat terrorism.

The report details how the army bought Dhruv helicopters that can fly to a height of only 5,000 metres (16,400ft) — well short of the 6,500 metres required to patrol the Himalayan battlefields. Thousands of Russian-made heavy artillery shells that do not fire were bought and the Northern Command, which oversees Kashmir, bought stretchers that were unsuitable for evacuating combat casualties.

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The allegations come at a sensitive time for India’s security services. The terror attack in Mumbai in November led to criticism after frontline forces were left to tackle militant gunmen with ageing rifles and faulty armour.

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It sounds like there are several officers in need of retirement. India needs modern arms to face regional enemies and the terrorist who are attacking its noncombatants. But if there is a sneak attack on the golf course they may be ready for it.