Given the job conditions, the outdated machinery, and the endless politics, the good work done by our navymen is surprising and commendable. What makes me write a review here? Well my relative designed some components for a navy ship and I have a second hand experience of what goes on in our defence ’deals’.
We basically buy JUNK from russia. That too at exorbitant prices and we are forced to purchase accompanying materials like spare parts, planes for carriers, etc. The gorshkow deal is a JOKE. Probably something to show to the media and people, while something more important(hiopefully) is being purchased. We are spending millions of dollars for a tub that cant even float! It will be battle ready by 2010! I wonder how many governments will come and go in that time and further slow down the process.
Why dont we make our own ships, carriers? We have enough money, resources and brilliant engineers. But we also have the most wondeful bureucrats and politicians. Every time a innovative design goes for approval to the government, it is rejected. Why? Because the concerned government official wants no ’responsibility’ for the untested component. So, instead of trusting our own men, we buy the same component from russia.
When we have to approve major development projects, we look for MIT, Princeton, while we neglect the IITs. So far, the navy has had no good deals. The only succesful deal, I feel has been offered to the Air Force, which are the Sukhoi fighters, one of the best in the air today.
The navymen are doing a tough job, well. Its hard for them, staying on sea for months. But this is not good for the navy as more and more talented engineers will shy away from marine engg. And young men will opt for the army or air force. The Navy needs to relax some of its rules and job conditions. People must look at the Navy as a career option, rather than just a patrotic service to the nation, the former cannot be neglected.