India’s military procurement plans are likely to be hampered by a minimal raise in budget allocation for acquisition in the next financial year. Though India has proposed increasing its defense spending by 10% to 2.24 trillion rupees ($36.2 billion) in its 2014-15 fiscal year, which begins April 1, the capital allocation earmarked to buy new arms and weapons systems has been increased by only a paltry 3.2%, or 28.47 billion rupees, to 895.87 billion rupees. The remaining 1.34 trillion rupees will go toward payment of salaries and other expenses.
NEW DELHI — The Indian air force (IAF) may be within months of getting its intermediate jet trainer (IJT), which has been in development since 1999. The Sitara is being developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) for the IAF and the Indian navy. “The much-delayed Sitara IJT is likely to be operational this year . . . All efforts are being made by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. for achieving the final operational clearance by December 2014,” Defense Minister A.K. Antony says.
