DRDO’s Uttam Vs Israeli ELTA Radars For Tejas : Avoiding The Indian Software Companies Fate Due To Bribes and Quality Issues . Government Delay In Procurement Decision Will Always Block Indigenisation Efforts .
Rajiv Upadhyay 
The decision of HAL to buy and fit 83 Tejas fighter jets with Adani / Israel’s ELTA Radars in preference over DRDO’s tested and successful Uttam radars, has rekindled the debate for proven superior imported technology versus development of indigenous technology for ultimate self reliance .
We must be aware that DRDO suffers from inherent disadvantage in bribing ability and offering matching proven technology problem . Even the globally successful Indian software giants are not able to get government orders as big foreign companies like IBM are preferred . Indian companies have hundreds of crores unpaid bills and in disgust they have stopped quoting in government tenders .
The Indian defence companies will also meet the same fate . Indian high bribe rates will make them uncompetitive in comparison to foreign companies . Justification for ignoring them will be marginal superior performance of foreign products like 28000 vs 30000 ft operating height debate in helicopter / drone recently . Those who have dealt in research and development, know that big bribes go deep in system and can even change our testing reports just as once General Sundarji had revealed that he was offered one crore rupee to make a product number two instead of number three in test report . Arjun tank trials had to be personally witnessed by Defence Minister due to strong anti indigenous lobby . Many of our retired Babus / Generals / Admirals can be kept as consultants by foreign companies who finally manage to get orders at a much higher price by demonstrating marginal advantage like 28000 vs 30000 ft operating height .
But armed forces are also right because 200 kms Chinese PL 15 BVR missile rendered our 65 kms range Sukhois and 100/ 150 kms range BVR missiles of Rafales totally useless . In war there is only only one winner with better weapon and the loser dies .
But indigenisation has a price . Our indigenous products will always be marginally inferior to imported products as global technology improves in the intervening period of development . The solution is planning in advance and giving sufficient time for development . Developed countries plan decades in advance like they are planning sixth generation fighter now when we are planning our fifth generation fighter . Indian bureaucracy is control freak and delays procurement till we lose a war , like computer link in Abhinandan’s case or long range missiles for Sukhois like PL 15 . After losing war, suddenly panic purchase is done but it reverts back to its tortoise pace just to lose another war .
We have to sanction development projects well in advance the way Srimati Indira Gandhi did for missiles and Nehru did for Atomic energy . Cost centric or vigilance centric approach will be the sure key to failure. We must remove Babus from defence ministry . Their choking power with their antediluvian mindset is a great danger for India progress in defence preparedness .
It is not that greed cannot affect our armed forces . The case of Admiral Nanda and his son Suresh is well known so is General Kapoor flat in Adarsh society. Coal Secretary was jailed for three years . Top bureaucrats should be barred from accepting post retirement jobs in their area for five years after retirement .
Coming back to latest proven technology vs development or indigenous technologies , a good solution is to have 30 % latest imported technology but seventy percent fully proven indigenous technology . Defence minister must be aware of low bribe giving capability of DRDO /HAL/BEL type bodies . India must order seventy percent indigenous items .
Our nascent defence industry should be protected from predatory policies of foreign manufacturers even if from friendly countries like Israel or Russia. There are no saints in arms market.
HAL must review its decision to block Uttam Radar in Tejas beyond first thirty planes , in greater national interest.
