weasel1962 wrote:The Indians know full well their issues/constraints. From a budget angle, budgets have been going up. Using the last budget as an example, out of 4.71 lakh crore (US$65.9b using 71.5 exchange rate on Feb 1 when the budget was announced), they lose US$3b off the bat with the exchange rate going down to RS75+ per US$1 today.
Then 28.4% goes to defense pensions. Of the largest chunk - defense services that comprise 44.4% of the defense budget, 64.5% goes towards pay alone. The remaining to stores and other maintenance upkeep, barely enough to keep things running. Nevertheless a sizeable 24% goes towards capital expenditure of which the air force gets the biggest chunk at 38% , 62% of which (US$3.76b) goes into aircraft renewal/recapitalization. The bulk of which are used to pay past projects like Rafale (termed as "committed liabilities") for which there are reports that the budget is actually lower than committed liabilities. Once the past commitments are cleared, then that amount may afford roughly 1 squadron of fighters a year currently earmarked for the Tejas up to 2029.
Asking India to reduce pensions is like asking Americans to give up social security. Not going to happen. Reduce army size? Sure, just after they finish expanding with a new mountain strike corp. Increase budgets? They are already doing that as fast as they can. They don't have a sugar daddy subsidizing fighter production like what the Chinese do for the Pakistanis. At least with the Tejas (unlike the Rafale), a chunk of the monies flows back into the economy.
If, India knows full well their issues/constraints as you say. Then it's funny they don't use "what" resources they do have far more wisely???
We aren't talking about developing and building Washing Machines for the masses here! We're talking about the defense of the country. Now they can build new Mig-29's for all I care. Yet, the end result won't be pretty........
As China isn't sitting still and neither is Pakistan.
Hell, by 2030 I doubt the Indian Air Force would "even" rank in the Top Ten. Especially, if they continue with the current plan....(as a matter of fact I know they wouldn't)