With the Army submitting a favourable trial report on the performance of the lethal Smerch multiple launch rocket system, the Government has given its nod to initiate final negotiations for procurement of the system from Russia. Considering that the equipment had been identified more than a decade ago, officials say the roadblocks in the purchase seem to have been finally removed. It’s learnt that the deal could be between Rs 12,000 crore to Rs 35,000 crore, depending on the number of systems India decides to procure. It’s learnt that the Army has been building a case for effective deployment of the Smerch along the Line of Control. With the 70 to 90 km range of the later generation Smerch systems, sources say, the Army could change the dynamics of the artillery duel which goes on along the LoC. The mere possession of the system would carry an inherent threat of Indian capabilities — just by using its artillery — to engage targets deeper inside enemy territory. While there was never any doubt on the utility of the system, apprehensions had arisen when the automatic homing device of one of the smart ammunition variety failed to work during trials in India last year. Since Smerch can fire more than one variety of ammunition, highly-placed sources said, the decision hinged on whether to purchase the equipment with or without this particular bomblet. There was apparently a proposal to purchase four to six systems on a priority basis under the fast track purchase mechanism put in place during the Kargil conflict. After objections were raised by the Comptroller and Auditor General on certain other procurements, the initiative ended midway and the Army reverted to earlier procedures. As red tape took over, the Army carried out several trials of the Smerch system and last year decided to send a team to Moscow to view the trials of the equipment. This was done at the instance of the Russian side which insisted that the failure in India was an exception. It’s learnt that the team headed by now Maj Gen B W Kelson witnessed the trials and submitted its report in March. The observations were apparently positive and it was expected that negotiations could begin in the previous fiscal year itself, but last-minute cuts in the Defence Budget put matters on hold. While in Russia, the Kelson team apparently witnessed successful trials of the smart ammunition which had failed in India. Based on the favourable trial report, official sources say, the Government has now decided to go ahead with the financial negotiations. It was not until the success of multi-barrel rocket launchers in the 1991 Gulf War did the Army evince interest in the equipment. According to analysts, the US Army used the equipment to great effect to neutralise Iraqi artillery guns tucked away in defensive positions. Their effectiviness increases further when complemented with observation data avalaible from unmanned aerial vehicles. The one criticism of the equipment was that it was effective only in only the plains and deserts. But analysts point out that over the years, smart ammunition with automatic homing devices have been developed and made compatible to the Smerch, which lends more accuracy. Some senior officials rue the fact that in case the equipment had arrived before the Kargil conflict, it could have been easier to engage targets inside enemy territory without having to examine the political consequences of using the Air Force. They also think its mere deployment during Operation Parakaram would have had a tremendous psychological impact.
