US Sanctions Regime and Defence Preparedness

25 Jan, 2001    ·   456

Wg Cdr NK Pant evaluates the impact of US sanctions against India on defence preparedness of the Indian Armed Forces
Wg.Cdr. NK Pant (Retd.)
New Delhi must take up strongly with the new administration in Washington the issue of lifting sanctions slapped by the US and its European allies after the Pokhran II underground nuclear tests in May 1998. These measures have adversely affected some of the futuristic military projects vital for the nation’s security, which were on the anvil for more than a decade. This explains the undue delay in the maiden test flight of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), which proved its airworthiness in the first week of January 2001. In fact, no industrialised nation barring Russia and France is willing to supply high-tech defence equipment or dual use items due to the US policy. President Bill Clinton even tried to put pressure on the former Russian President Boris Yeltsin to snap military co-operation ties with India during his Moscow summit meeting in September 1998. 

 

 

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was to develop avionics and computer systems for the SU- 30 MK being acquired for the IAF from Russia but was not able to deliver the goods in time as it cannot source the required components in the US or European Union markets due to the sanctions. Moreover, there has been an inordinate delay in finalising the Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) deal as New Delhi wanted to be clear that the much needed trainer aircraft was not fitted with US fabricated or licensed components. Similarly, the Indian Navy’s Sea Harrier jets and Sea King helicopters sent to the manufacturers in UK for repairs are reportedly held up as some of the spares to be used therein are from American companies and cannot be procured due to the ongoing embargo. 

 

 

In today’s context no country in this global village, can claim that it does not learn and benefit from the scientific genius of other countries. Many of the technologies needed to improve battlefield awareness like communications satellites, high performance communications, microprocessors, advanced flat panel displays and composite materials are being developed by commercial firms in the US and the European Union but the sanctions prohibit India from procuring these technologies. 

 

 

Economic sanctions are punitive tools of US foreign policy. The Americans had imposed sanctions prior to May 1998. In 1992 when the Russian space agency Glavkosmos and the Indian Space and Research Organisation decided to go ahead with their $250 million cryogenic rocket engine deal, a ban of US licensed exports was imposed on the two organisations because Uncle Sam found the deal inconsistent with the guidelines of the missile technology control regime. But, in reality, the action appeared to be part of larger plan to stifle the Indian space programme through application of sanctions on the availability of critical components from the US manufacturers. Apparently, the success of the GSLV programme would have offered stiff competition in the commercial launch market and proven detrimental to the American interests. 

 

 

Notwithstanding the spectacular progress achieved in the field of information technology, the truth is that India , unlike the US , Russia , France and the UK , has still a long way to go to reach the stage when it can independently develop the necessary designing capabilities and infrastructure, especially in the field of critical defence technologies. Most of the prestigious DRDO high-tech projects have drawn upon the expertise of the world leaders in military technology and liberally used sophisticated components and assemblies fabricated abroad. No wonder, the LCA, ALH, MBT Arjun, ATV and a few others have a large proportion of imported content, especially from the US and the western countries, and economic sanctions pose a serious hindrance to completion of these programmes. 

 

 

Bowing to the immense pressure from American business interests, the Congress had  authorised the President to lift the embargo. Imposing weapons sanctions on India has  equally hit US business establishments selling equipment for  India ’s fighter aircraft and other programmes. For example, General Electric was supplying engines for the initial LCAs and Martin Marietta had been selected to provide fly-by-wire controls. 

 

 

Subsequently President Clinton did waive some insignificant sanctions ones but the bulk of the ban  related to military and dual use items still remains untouched, despite warming of  relations between the two largest democracies of the world. The ultimate solution lies in developing indigenous technological capabilities in the defence as well as civil sectors. The ongoing IT revolution has proved that India has world class scientific talent which is waiting to be tapped. The research and development activity not only needs infusion of adequate funding but also requires to be let off the bureaucratic look to march ahead. At the same time, New Delhi must make vigorous efforts at the highest levels to get the sanctions totally lifted.

 

 

 

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