The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 21st December 2023 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

India’s defence budgeting and the point of deterrence

Why in News?

Air Vice Marshal Manmohan Bahadur VM (retired) is former Additional Director General, Centre for Air Power Studies The Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) programme of the Indian Air Force (IAF) earned the sobriquet of being the ‘mother of all procurements’ due its cost, pegged at around $10 billion in 2007. A decade later, the purchase of 36 Rafale jets was of limited value because the requirement was for 126 aircraft.

India is expected to launch its indigenous fighter Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) by 2032. The AMCA will feature geometric stealth and will initially fly with two GE-414 engines. The engines will be replaced by the indigenous engines.

There are two major ways of making a military platform stealthier.

• Geometric stealth: the shape of the aircraft is designed at such angles so as to deflect away maximum radar waves thereby minimising its radar cross-section.
• Material stealth: radar-absorbing materials are used in making the aircraft which will absorb the radio waves thus reducing the radar footprint.
• The AMCA will initially be based on geometric stealth, the material stealth shall be focussed upon at a later stage.
• The plan is to build on the capabilities and expertise developed during the development of the light combat aircraft (LCA) and produce a medium fifth generation fighter aircraft. AMCA is being conceived as a progression from the LCA Tejas.
• Apart from the technologies developed from the LCA project, the new fighter programme is important as technologies coming in through that will flow into the AMCA project.
• India had expressed its unwillingness to go ahead with the joint development of a fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) with Russia primarily due to the high cost involved in the project. This is India’s only fifth-generation aircraft programme after the decision.

Specifications of AMCA

• The aircraft will incorporate advanced technologies like super maneuverability, supercruise, stealth, state of the art sensor suite with fusion.
• It is being developed by an aerospace industry team which consist of Aeronautical Development Agency as a design firm and to be manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
• The AMCA is being designed as a stealth, medium weight, twin-engine, fifth generation multi-mission aircraft with the capability to swing roles.
• The stealth mission features the Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD), precision strike and maritime operations.

Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)

• LCA is an advanced technology, single seat, single engine, supersonic, light-weight, all-weather, multi-role, air superiority fighter designed for air-to-air, air-to-ground and air-to-sea combat roles.
• The LCA programme was conceived in 1983. The project definition phase was completed in 1989 and the full scale engineering development (FSED) phase-I was sanctioned in 1993.
• Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) was established by the government in 1984 to manage the LCA programme. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, (HAL) is the principal partner with the participation of various DRDO & CSIR Laboratories.

Different Generations of Jet Fighters

• Subsonic fighter planes built during the mid-1940s to mid-1950s are classified as first generation fighters. These planes had a basic avionic system (electronic systems used on aircraft) with no radar or self-protection system.
• Radar-connected second generation planes were made between the mid1950s and early 1960s. These jets could reach supersonic speed and were equipped with semi-guided missiles, unlike the earlier generation that used cannons, machine guns and unguided bombs and rockets for the attack. MiG-21 is perhaps the best known second-generation fighter.
• Third generation planes manufactured between the early 1960s and 1970 had advanced maneuverability and weapons systems. These planes, that included the MiG-23 and Mirage III, were capable of shooting at targets beyond the pilot's visible range.
• Fourth generation fighters were conceived in the 1970s and became operational in the early 1980s. These planes were also equipped with flyby-wire systems, which meant replacement of manual fight control with electronic devices. Notable fighters of this generation are the American F15, F16, French Mirage 2000 and the Soviet MiG29.
• Fifth-generation multi-role fighters have features that are generally taken to include all-aspect stealth even when armed, Low Probability of Intercept Radar (LPIR), high-performance airframe, a high-performance engine capable of supercruise (supersonic cruise without afterburner), advanced avionics with long-range sensors and networked data fusion providing full battle-space situational awareness. In 2005, the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor entered service with the United States Air Force (USAF), becoming the world’s first combat-ready fifth-generation fighter.

Tejas

• It is India’s first domestically designed and produced light fighter aircraft. It is a supersonic, single-seat, single-engine multirole light fighter aircraft.
• Tejas is a light combat aircraft (LCA) that uses fourth-generation technology. It has a configuration optimised primarily for maneuverability and agility.
• The plane is equipped with a digital fly-by-wire flight control system to ease handling. This helps the pilot do more head down activities (especially mission-critical activities) without worrying about the aircraft deviating from its flight path.

A security breach that must lead to sweeping changes

Why in News?

At first glance, the incident, on December 13, of two young men jumping into the chamber of the Lok Sabha from the visitors’ gallery, shouting slogans against dictatorship and releasing canisters that emitted yellow smoke, strikes you as yet another form of democratic dissent.

Key Highlights:

• Fortress Breached: The Parliament building in India, known for its security, faces a significant breach, exposing flaws in the robust system.
• Anniversary Irony: The intrusion occurs on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attack, questioning the preparedness of security agencies.
• High-Level Inquiry: The government initiates an inquiry to identify lapses and rectify security vulnerabilities.

Key Challenges:

• Collective Security Failure: The breach underscores a failure of intelligence and security agencies responsible for safeguarding Parliament.
• Questionable Access: Intruders obtained an entry pass signed by an MP, raising concerns about verification processes.
• Efficacy of Corrective Measures: Doubts arise about the effectiveness of measures to prevent recurrent security breaches.

Key Terms:

• Security Blanket: Enhanced security measures implemented in a specific area.
• Inquiry Committee: A high-level committee formed to investigate the breach and recommend improvements.
• Tear Gas Canisters: Devices used for dispersing tear gas, hidden by intruders during the breach.

Key Phrases:

• “Temple of our Democracy”: Symbolic reference to the Parliament building as a stronghold of India’s democratic strength.
• “Sanctum Sanctorum of India’s Democracy”: Describing the innermost and most sacred area of the Parliament.

Key Quotes:

• “How did a breach occur again? This is the main question. Those responsible should be punished.” – The author, a retired director general of Police.
• “The incident happened on the very day on which the dreadful Parliament attacks took place 22 years ago.” – The article highlighting the irony of the timing.

Key Examples and References:

• Arrests Made: Four individuals, including one with an entry pass signed by an MP, are arrested in connection with the breach.
• Historical Comparison: Drawing parallels with the 2001 Parliament attack to emphasize the breach’s significance.

Key Statements:

• “Egg on the Face”: The breach is described as an embarrassment to the security establishment, questioning overall preparedness.
• “Collective Failure”: The incident is considered a collective failure of intelligence agencies, police, and security agencies responsible for Parliament security.

Key Facts:

• Enhanced Security: The new Parliament building, inaugurated earlier in the year, is believed to be more secure than its predecessor.
• Timely Breach: Occurred on the day Parliament paid tributes to the martyrs of the 2001 Parliament attack.

Key Data:

• Total Arrests: Four individuals are arrested in connection with the breach.

Critical Analysis:

• Security Vulnerabilities: The breach raises concerns about the ability to prevent intrusions into highly secure areas.
• Symbolic Timing: The timing on the anniversary adds symbolic weight to the security lapse, emphasizing the need for improvement.

Way Forward:

• Thorough Investigation: A comprehensive inquiry is essential to identify lapses and implement corrective measures.
• Strengthen Security Protocols: Stricter verification processes for entry passes and enhanced security measures are crucial for preventing future breaches.