Nearly 70% of the equipment used by the Indian army is obsolete, vice chief of the force recently informed a parliamentary standing committee, according to a report by The Indian Express noted in a report on the planned presentation of outdated weapons to friendly countries.
Artillery guns, armoured vehicles, helicopters, naval patrol units and radars together constitute platforms being looked at, sources told the publication. India has already provided Mi-25 helicopters to Afghanistan. Indigenously-produced equipment such as patrol vessels have also been handed over to selected regional countries.l visits, a number of friendly foreign countries have projected a requirement for second-hand military equipment for their armed forces on a gift basis,” according to the publication.
“Fulfilling the requests would open the way for deeper strategic engagement with these countries, but also pave the way for long-lasting partnership through deploying training teams, offering special courses in India as well as the supply of spares, repair work being carried out in India over the long term,” the publication added.
According to a senior Indian Air Force official, the Indian force was still using obsolete Pechora missiles which have not been replaced due to a shortage of funds. The vice chief of the Indian army recently told a parliamentary standing committee that 68% of equipment was obsolete and no funds had been allocated to replace it.
