sudeepj wrote:This is the part I dont understand.. Presumably, we are already paying for their IP when we produce the tank. Will they really complain if we replace the torsion bars by the Arjun hydro-pneumatic suspension? Or cut out the plates at the back of the turret and attach a bustle? This business is really murky so we dont really know, but as their biggest customers, we aught to have at least some leverage!
they have all the leverage.. we have little.
t-90 spares, russia. t-72 local production? not really 100% in india.
mi-17, su-30, arihant, kilo-class, talwars, subsystems eg radars/shtil, list goes on and on and on....
sudeepj wrote:Short rounds and potential to blow up in case of a turret or hull penetration.
well, you are proposing a complete redesign. leclerc style bustle autoloader with long rounds. spare rounds in their own armour (eg merkava). entirely new turret, entirely new volume management, which may mean new powerpack.
The DRDO appears to be learning, but the DGMF.. :-(
they won't till GOI steps in. when was the last time we had somebody smart at MOD. parrikar is one such individual who can at least understand basics. but whether he can succeed against an entrenched system is another issue. how many DGMF have been involved in Arjun? one, two, three? if you track the line of folks, its an entire set up of people who were involved in T-90 fiasco. bharadwaj, shekhawat, etc -long list of names in whose best interest it is, that the arjun prodcution never take off.
fact is the entire system is set up so that every babu/n and big name wallah can suborn it.
it exists to maintain small empires like above or to shovel money into vested interests.
most services folks are also unaware of scale of rot and depth of challenge.
parrikar too, has made many big statements but time will tell whether he could get MOD to actually deliver. so far, he too seems to have been stuck in defence purchase minister mode and the congress and others have planted enough bombs with OROP, completely messed up deals like rafale, for him to navigate.
he has made some big moves on local defense after initial foot-in-the-mouth behavior with chander, and what not, but actual results will be seen if we see what happens to su-30 serviceability, to drdo programs (will the chronic underfunding be reversed over a consistent period, not just 1-2 plans), about whether indigenous big ticket programs (FICV etc) get cleared..