The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has raised questions about the operational preparedness of the armed forces in the Eastern sector facing China due to delay in the induction of strategic missiles there. It is all the more a matter of concern in the backdrop of ongoing stand-off between the Indian and Chinese troops in Doklam in Sikkim sector.
In its report tabled in Parliament on Friday, the Government watchdog observed that Akash surface-to-air missile project to provide necessary deterrence for the eastern sector and some locations in ladakh was given the go-ahead in 2010 due to threat perception. The induction was to be completed within two years from 2013-2015 in a phased manner but till date none of the missile systems was installed, it noted. Due to the delay in having this urgently needed capability, the strategic objective remains unachieved, the CAG said.
The medium range supersonic missile developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for air defence to shoot down an incoming missile or aircraft has a range of more than 40 km and is manufactured by Bharat Electronics limited(BEl). The government had approved the project for installation of these missiles at six designated sites and the contract is worth over Rs 3,619 crores.
Highlighting the importance of the project, the CAG said the Indian posture in designated areas in Eastern Sector was changed from “dissuasive” to “deterrence” due to buildup of large scale military infrastructure by the adversary. Therefore, the Cabinet Committee on Security(CCS) in November 2010 approved the induction of six squadrons from BEl to be located at six Indian Air Force(IAF) stations.
Approval was also given for creation of necessary infrastructure like missile preparation and storage facility, ramp structure and workshop buildings at these six locations. However, infrastructure to be built by BEl could not be completed till October last year at any of the sites.
The CAG said the main reason for not meeting the induction schedule was delay in execution of civil works at the sites. Audit also found the missile systems delivered by BEl were deficient in quality. Out of 80 missiles received up to November 2014, 20 missiles were test-fired. Six of these, that is 30 per cent, failed the test.
Preliminary failure analysis revealed that the missiles fell short of the target, had lower than the required velocity and also there was malfunctioning of critical units like servo control unit and connector. Two missiles had failed to take off because of the booster nozzle had failed. These posed an operational risk during hostilities, the CAG said.
Moreover, constructing external services like approach roads for maneuvering specialist vehicles, drainage system, power supply and water supply were yet to be executed. Sixteen such proposals at a cost of Rs 297.43 crore at six stations were sanctioned between March 2014 and March 2016. Probable date of completion is between two to four years. However, of this, contract for only work was concluded, the report said.