In Service of the Nation

The process of indigenisation began in 1960s, yet continues to flounder

Late Air Chief Marshal Arjan Singh DFC

Aeronautics Production

A country cannot exercise its independence in this turbulent world when it is dependent on foreign countries for military equipment for its defence forces. A beginning was made during the ’fifties to start the manufacture of some aircraft, equipment and the Vampire and Gnat aircraft with the associated engines under licence at the Hindustan Aeronautics at Bangalore. Steps were also taken to produce bombs and ammunition.

If was only in the early ’sixties that big decisions were taken to make India independent of foreign sources in military equipment, particularly Air Force equipment. It was decided to establish factories at Nasik, Koraput and Hyderabad to manufacture Mig-21, and its engine and electronics, which had been acquired in small numbers by the Indian Air Force in the early ’sixties. It is not my purpose to recount here all the facilities established for manufacture of Air Force equipment but to show that firstly, whatever the cost, the Air Force (in fact, all Defence Services), should not depend on foreign sources for military equipment and secondly, that India has taken big steps in that direction.

Our emphasis on research and development has not, however, been quite satisfactory. At present, all sophisticated equipment, particularly the aircraft, engines and electronics, is being produced under licence. The Air Force has always been eager to establish manufacture within the country and has been generous in sending officers and airmen on deputation to fill gaps in the technical cadres of aeronautical factories, but there is a need for a permanent and strong cadre of engineers, designers and scientists.

Indo-China War—1962

Till 1960 we thought of danger mainly from Pakistan and all our defence build-up was to meet the threat from that direction. We neglected our defences in many other parts of India, particularly Eastern India, where we found ourselves unprepared to face the Chinese attack in 1962. The Air Force assisted only in giving transport support to the Army which had to fight under some very difficult conditions in areas for which they were not fully trained, and with equipment not quite suited to fighting in those areas.

I recall my few air-dropping sorties; it was quite pathetic to see so much air-dropped stores lying on the restricted, and inaccessible sloping D.Zs., at high altitudes because no proper arrangement existed for their collection. The troops required to collect those stores had to man their defences and be ready for fighting. Much of that equipment (unpacked) was handed back by the Chinese after cease-fire.

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The Indian Air Force was fairly well equipped at the time of the 1962 Chinese attack. I have no personal knowledge, but the decision not to use it in the offensive role was, perhaps, taken so as not to extend the war in other dimensions. However