Ordnance Board is on full throttle to keep India ‘combat ready’

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India is on an all time high risk on the borders of the country. LoC continues to see firing, the latest being the attacks on schools. China is building road and the area near the border is under dispute. India says China is encroaching into its lands while China is denying it. The preparedness of the armed forces has to be taken to another level and the soldiers should be supported by sufficient ammunition and latest weapons. There is a delay in importing of critical equipment and this is affecting the combat readiness of the army. But there is no blame game and no time is being wasted on this score. Indigenisation of spares and components is moving on a fast track; the Ordnance Factory Board is on full throttle.

There are 41 ordnance factories under this board. Plans were afoot to bring down the import of components and spares from 60% to 30% in the next three years. Russia is the prime supplier of military spares and components for some years now. The reason to go for indigenisation has been the present government’s approach to combat readiness. The army always had a complain that the parts coming from Russia took time, so maintenance was always lagging and in the present situation India cannot lag even a little bit. In April this year the top commanding officers of the Army decided that India will have to improve its combat readiness. And there were gaps in implementing it. The main reason was the delay in imports of parts. The three year plan is now on a fast track. Army is planning to involve small, medium and even micro enterprisers to produce parts for the weapons. This decision has many benefits. For one, the delay in imports, resulting in the delay in repairs and maintenance can be avoided. The expenses on import of equipment and parts will take a dip. Combat readiness will be enhanced there by boosting the spirit of the Indian Armed Forces.

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