NEW DELHI, FEB 29: An additional Rs 13,000 crore has been proposed for defence in the 2000-01 budget, the highest ever. The total outlay is Rs 58,587 crore - 3.32 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) - as compared to Rs 45,694 crore last year. This is a 28.2 per cent increase from the last year.The Army which suffered considerable losses during the May-July 1999 Kargil operations due to paucity of advanced technology weapons has been allocated Rs 28,939.14 crore, more than Rs 5,000 crore over last year. The expenditure incurred in the Kargil operations had been estimated at Rs 1,984 crore. The additional burden of deployment in the high-altitude Kargil sector will be met by a Rs 1,800-crore allocation.The Air Force too has got an additional Rs 1,736.30 crore (Rs 7,896.03 crore as compared to Rs 6159.73 crore) and a capital outlay of Rs 4,502 crore. Top on the IAF priority are the Advanced Jet Trainers (AJTs) followed by Mirage 2000 aircraft, midlife upgradation of some in its existing fleet of jets and acquisition of other modern equipment.The Navy has been allocated Rs 4040.47 crore as compared to Rs 3596.96 crore last year. The Navy now hopes to go full steam ahead with new acquisitions (like an aircraft carrier and new aircraft), modernization in its existing fleet) and getting new electronic warfare equipment with this Rs 443.51 crore increase apart from a Rs 682.50 crore increase in the capital outlay.Also on the wishlist are T-90 tanks, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Advanced Jet Trainers (AJ), Tu-22 aircraft, upgradation and modernization and even the Admiral Gorshkov.The Rs 13,000-crore increase has enthused the Armed forces. The forces want to go ahead according to their ``perspective planning'' and also to tide over the deficiencies brought out during the Kargil conflict. ``But I hope Government approvals and clearances follow in time otherwise as before we will forfeit the money,'' sources said.The Navy, which of course, has got the smallest share (Rs 4040.47 crore) of the defence budget (Rs 58,587 crore), is taking solace in the fact that its utilization rate is the best among the three services. ``Only 40 per cent of our total allocation goes into pay and allowances. We spend 60 per cent on modernization, upgradation or even acquisition. The increase in our capital outlay (Rs 682.50 crore) will help in acquiring Il-38 and Tu-22 aircraft, the Carrier, electronic warfare equipment and modernization like in Project 15 A (Delhi class),'' sources said.The Army too has a long wish-list. Starting from better electronic surveillance equipment and T-90 tanks in the desert to the much-needed modernization of equipment and high technology weapons to keep human casualties down in high altitude areas too.
