Mrinal Suman

Of Matters Military

Mrinal Suman

A defense acquisition system is a management process by which a nation provides effective, affordable, and timely defense equipment to its armed forces. The book traces the evolution of India's defense acquisition system; faults disjointed functioning for its failure to deliver; and suggests the creation of an independent authority to administer, coordinate, oversee, direct and control multifarious acquisition activities. India has failed to appreciate that procurement of defense equipment is a highly specialized and complex activity needing unique professional skills and attributes. The book recommends a criteria-based selection of acquisition staff, pre-induction training, and sufficiently long tenures. Qualitative requirements, field trials, and staff evaluation are central to the selection of equipment for procurement. Highlighting existing infirmities, the author proposes innovative measures to rationalize the procedure.  As numerous uncertainties afflict every acquisition activity, the book recommends that a risk management plan be prepared at the outset to obviate the need for crisis management at a subsequent stage.

Of Matters Military

Mrinal Suman

The book deals with the evolving challenges confronting the armed forces. After identifying major impediments to the modernization of the armed forces, the book suggests the creation of an independent and duly empowered body to oversee the complete gamut of development, production, procurements, and export of defense systems. The participation of the armed forces in aid of civil authority has been a matter of intense debate. Delving deep into the issues involved in rendering such aid, the book scans a vast canvas, from sinking shafts for nuclear tests to constructing foot-over-bridges for the railways.  Investment in defense is an essential cost that a nation has to pay to obtain assurance of safety. The book stresses the need to inculcate a culture of cost-consciousness in defense expenditure. It also underlines the importance of defense economics as a discipline.  Finally, as the debate about the entry of women in the armed forces has always been highly subjective in nature, an attempt has been made to highlight common misconceptions.