Delays in upgrading artillery and armored vehicles are leaving critical gaps in India's ground defense capabilities.

While India has made some progress, the pace of modernization has been slow and inconsistent, creating vulnerabilities, especially in the context of a potential two-front conflict with China and Pakistan.

The Problem with Artillery-

India's artillery modernization plan, known as the Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan (FARP), has been fraught with delays since its inception in the late 1990s. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has repeatedly criticized the slow pace of procurement. The plan was to acquire a large number of howitzers by 2025, but a 2023 report indicated that only a fraction of these had been received.

• Reliance on Obsolete Systems: For decades, the Indian Army's primary artillery weapon was the Bofors FH-77B howitzer, which was acquired in 1987. While the Bofors proved highly effective in the Kargil War, the long gap in new acquisitions has led to an aging fleet. This leaves a significant portion of the artillery regiments equipped with outdated systems, which lack the range, accuracy, and rate of fire of modern guns.

• Domestic Production Challenges: While the "Make in India" initiative has spurred the development of indigenous guns like the Dhanush and the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), these projects have also faced delays. The ATAGS, for instance, has undergone extensive trials, but its induction into service has been a prolonged process.

• High-Altitude Requirements: The ongoing standoff with China in Ladakh has highlighted the urgent need for a new generation of light, air-mobile artillery systems. While India is acquiring the M777 Ultra Lightweight Howitzers from the US, the numbers are limited, and the pace of acquisition has been slow.

The Armored Vehicle Gap-

The armored corps, the backbone of India's ground defense, also faces significant modernization challenges.

• Aging T-72 Fleet: A large portion of India's tank fleet consists of the T-72 Main Battle Tanks (MBTs), many of which are nearing the end of their service life. While there are ongoing programs to upgrade these tanks with modern engines, fire control systems, and armor, these upgrades are expensive and often face delays. The obsolescence of the T-72s leaves the Indian Army vulnerable to more advanced tanks and anti-tank guided missiles used by its adversaries.

• Slow Progress on Next-Gen Tanks: The Future Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV) program, which aims to replace the T-72s with a new-generation tank, has gone through several false starts. While the program has been approved with a significant budget, the process of finalizing requirements, prototyping, and induction is a multi-year effort. This means the T-72s will have to remain in service for a considerable period, necessitating a stop-gap approach that includes converting older models into unmanned platforms for high-risk operations.

• Vulnerabilities on the Modern Battlefield: The recent conflicts in Ukraine have demonstrated the increasing vulnerability of armored vehicles to a range of threats, from drones and loitering munitions to top-attack missiles. While India is incorporating upgrades like Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA) and anti-drone systems, the slow pace of these efforts means that a significant portion of the fleet is still inadequately protected against these modern battlefield realities.

The Broader Impact of Delays-

The delays in these key modernization programs have a ripple effect on India's overall defense preparedness. They leave critical gaps in its ground defense capabilities, undermining its ability to deter or respond to a coordinated two-front attack. A lack of modern, long-range artillery limits India's ability to dominate the battlefield with precision fire, while an aging armored fleet could be at a disadvantage against more modern adversaries.

In conclusion, the Indian military's ground defense, particularly its artillery and armored formations, is in a transitional phase. While there is a clear strategic vision and a strong push for indigenous solutions, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and the sheer scale of the modernization required have resulted in significant delays. These delays are indeed leaving critical gaps in India's ground defense and are a major concern for military planners.