India’s 2023: Strengthening Defense, Breaking Barriers, Enhancing Global Partnerships

Team Udayavani, Jan 1, 2024, 4:50 PM IST

In 2023, India secured defense purchases totaling more than Rs 3.50 lakh crore. This was due to the ongoing border tensions with China in eastern Ladakh and various global crises and conflicts. The military concentrated on improving India’s overall fighting capability to effectively address any security threats.

In response to China’s continuous efforts to dominate the region and assert its influence in the South, India significantly increased its military cooperation with neighboring and other similar-minded nations.

Indian soldiers, overseeing the roughly 3,500 km Line of Actual Control (LAC), adopted a firm stance as the border situation in eastern Ladakh entered its fourth year. Despite multiple rounds of high-level military and diplomatic discussions between both sides, efforts to resolve the issue continued.

The standoff involving two of the world’s largest military powers predominantly persisted in the Demchok and Depsang areas, even though disengagement was achieved at several other contentious locations.

Demchok is located in the eastern part of the Ladakh region in India, near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) which serves as the de facto border between India and China. It’s in a remote area, characterized by its rugged terrain and strategic importance due to its proximity to the disputed boundary.

Depsang is an area situated in the northern part of the Union Territory of Ladakh in India. It lies close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC), which is the de facto border between India and China. Depsang is known for its strategic importance and is located in a high-altitude region near the Karakoram Pass.

Recognizing the necessity to strengthen national defense capabilities, the defence ministry sanctioned several major acquisition initiatives. These included the purchase of 97 Tejas light combat aircraft, 156 Prachand combat helicopters, and the upgrade of 84 Su-30 fighter jets.

In 2023, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) gave the green light in its sessions for proposals totaling over Rs 3.50 lakh crore. This was done to boost the operational readiness of the armed forces, as stated in a year-end summary by the defence ministry.

In June, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the top decision-making entity for procurement within the defence ministry, authorized the purchase of 31 MQ-9B high-altitude, long-endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) for all three military branches. This acquisition from the US was made through the Foreign Military Sale (FMS) channel.

Foreign Military Sale (FMS) is a program managed by the U.S. government. It allows allied countries to purchase U.S. defense equipment, services, and training. This program ensures that allies receive necessary military capabilities, fostering international partnerships. It includes government-to-government contracts, ensuring standardization and compatibility of military equipment among allies.

In another major move, the Defence Acquisition Council approved the purchase of 26 Rafale marine aircraft, including related equipment, weapons, simulators, and spare parts for the Indian Navy. This procurement is from the French defense company Dassault Aviation and will be conducted under an inter-governmental agreement.

The Indian Air Force officially welcomed its first C-295 medium tactical transport aircraft shortly after receiving it in Seville, a city in southern Spain.

The IAF received the first of the 56 C295 transport aircraft two years after India sealed a Rs 21,935-crore deal with Airbus Defence and Space to procure the jets to replace its ageing Avro–748 fleet.

As per the agreement, Airbus will provide the initial 16 aircraft directly from its final assembly line in Seville, set to be completed by 2025. The remaining 40 aircraft will be produced and assembled by Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) in India, marking an industrial collaboration between Airbus and TASL.

Throughout the year, the defence ministry continued to concentrate on establishing India as a center for defense production.

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the US in June, GE Aerospace, a leading American defense company, signed a deal with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the joint production of F-414 fighter jet engines in India.

Under the terms of the agreement, GE Aerospace’s F414 engines, set to be jointly produced in India, will be used to power the Tejas light combat aircraft Mk2.

This deal is considered a significant step in enhancing the strategic global partnership between India and the US.

Demonstrating the strengthening military relationship between the two countries, two B-1B Lancer supersonic heavy bombers from the US Air Force were featured at Aero India, held at the Yelahanka air base in February.

These bombers, known for carrying the US Air Force’s largest payload of both precision-guided and unguided munitions, are regarded as a critical component of the United States’ long-range bombing capabilities, as stated by American officials.

In 2023, India and France saw a significant boost in their defense and strategic relationships.

They unveiled several innovative defense collaboration projects, such as co-developing jet and helicopter engines and building three Scorpene submarines for the Indian Navy, announced in July.

The government focused on enhancing local defense manufacturing in 2022-23, achieving a milestone with defense production surpassing Rs 1 lakh crore for the first time.

In November, Prime Minister Modi undertook a flight in the ‘Tejas’ twin-seater Light Combat Fighter aircraft, which was designed, developed, and produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

On the 30-minute flight, Tejas’ capabilities were showcased to Modi. This marked the first instance of an Indian prime minister participating in a fighter aircraft sortie.

Aligning with government policies, the three military branches conducted several joint exercises over the past year with forces from various allied nations, aiming to enhance collaboration in addressing shared challenges.

Towards the end of the year, the Indian Navy initiated concentrated maritime security operations in the Arabian Sea, responding to incidents of attacks on commercial ships.

The Liberian-flagged ship MV Chem Pluto, manned by 21 Indian crew, was hit by a drone strike off the west coast of India on December 23. This incident raised security alarms, especially since it occurred during a period of attacks on multiple commercial vessels by Iran-backed Houthi militants.

On the same day, another crude oil tanker, MV Sai Baba, en route to India, experienced a suspected drone strike while in the Southern Red Sea.

In 2023, India focused on enhancing its border infrastructure, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh dedicating 118 Border Roads Organisation (BRO) projects to the nation.

In September, he initiated 90 infrastructure projects valued at over Rs 2,900 crore, covering 11 states and Union territories.

In February, the defense budget for 2023-24 was raised to Rs 5.94 lakh crore, marking a modest increase of 13% from the previous year’s Rs 5.25 lakh crore allocation.

Additionally, the year witnessed women in the armed forces breaking barriers in various areas.

In January, Captain Shiva Chauhan made history as the first female officer to be operationally stationed at Kumar Post on the Siachen Glacier, known as the world’s highest battlefield.

In a significant achievement, Lt Cdr Prerna Deosthalee was appointed as the first female officer to take command of an Indian Naval warship.

The process of including women officers in the Regiment of Artillery is ongoing. In 2023, ten female officers were commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery.

The Regiment of Artillery is a specialized branch in the military focused on using large-scale weaponry, such as big guns, howitzers, and missile systems. They provide crucial support in combat by delivering indirect fire to engage enemy forces and fortifications from a distance. This unit plays a key role in modern warfare strategies, significantly contributing to the overall effectiveness and strength of the military forces.

Group Captain Shaliza Dhami was assigned by the Indian Air Force to lead a frontline combat unit in the Western sector, becoming the first woman to command a combat unit in the IAF.

In 2023, the Indian Army persisted with its operations against militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, while also maintaining a vigilant watch over the Line of Control.
“India’s 2023: Strengthening Defense, Breaking Barriers, Enhancing Global Partnerships”

Written by Girish Linganna, Aerospace & Defence Analyst

(The author of this article is a Defence, Aerospace & Political Analyst based in Bengaluru. He is also Director of ADD Engineering Components, India, Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. You can reach out to him at: [email protected])