New Delhi: Even as senior BJP leader and Union Cabinet-member Arun Jaitley is tipped to hold the additional charge of the ministry of defence, the new defence minister will need to focus on several challenges. Minister of state Rao Inderjit Singh could function as an MoS in the MoD. Mr Singh was earlier an MoS in the MoD during the UPA-1 government when he was in the Congress.
Modernisation of the armed forces is the most serious issue facing the defence establishment. The Army badly needs modernisation of its artillery and air defence arsenal. It has not acquired modern artillery guns for more than 25 years.
The IAF has been worried over the protracted contract negotiation process and delay in clinching of the MMRCA deal since it wants to bolster the numerical strength of its fighter aircraft squadrons.
Over the past several years, the strategic advantage that India had over Pakistan in terms of air power has diminished considerably. Similarly, the Navy desperately wants more submarines. With the delay in induction of the Scorpene submarines and gutting of the INS Sindhurakshak, the Navy’s shortfall in the number of submarines has reached a point of criticality.
