OVERVIEW
The total expenditure of the Defence Services during 2009-10 was ` 1,45,781 crore. Of this,
the Air Force and Navy spent ` 33,259 crore and ` 22,935 crore respectively. The combined
expenditure of the two services accounts for 38.54 per cent of the total expenditure on the
Defence Services. The major portion of the expenditure of the Air Force and Navy is capital
in nature, constituting almost 56.77 per cent of their total expenditure.
Some of the major findings arising from test audit of transactions of the Air Force, the Navy,
and associated units of the Defence Research and Development Organisation and Military
Engineer Services included in the Report, are discussed below:
I Delayed acquisition of armaments for a frontline fighter aircraft
Flawed approach in acquiring 16 MiG-29K aircraft, at a cost of ` 3,405.61 crore without
finalising the associated package with the procurement of the aircraft, in January 2004, led to
delivery of six aircraft in December 2009 without weapons. Subsequently, five more
aircrafts were delivered in May 2011. The armament for the aircraft were contracted for only
in March 2006 which led to non delivery of weapons till October 2010, adversely affecting
the operational capabilities of the aircraft. Besides, the Beyond Visual Range missiles
contracted for the aircraft, at a cost of ` 93.68 crore, has had an unsatisfactory track record
with Indian Air Force
(Paragraph 2.1)
II Extra expenditure on procurement of Low Level Transportable Radar
Acquisition of critical requirement of air defence surveillance system was beset with delays
at each stage in the pre-contract finalisation process. Further, avoidable additional payment of
` 57.46 crore was made by the Ministry to M/s Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) without
justification due to inadequate negotiations during procurement.
(Paragraph 2.2)
III Extra expenditure on operation of a surveillance system
Indian Air Force procured two vital surveillance systems at the cost of ` 676 crore. One of
the system met with an accident and has become non operational since May 2009. It is not
likely to be available to IAF for another two years. The accident was attributable to failure in
keeping track of weather changes, inadequate supervision of the ongoing snubbing activities Report No. 20 of 2011 -12 (Air Force and Navy)and follow up on maintenance activities. Besides, the fabric used in both the systems have also started decaying prematurely causing excessive leakage of helium resulting in extra
expenditure on operation cost.(Paragraph 2.3)
IV Procurement of unsuitable communication sets
Air Defence V/UHF links play a vital role in all air operations. Ministry / IAF accepted
communication equipment, designed and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
(HAL), even though the equipment did not meet technical requirements. Despite spending
` 116 crore and considerable period of time, IAF’s critical requirement for communication
equipment is yet to be fulfilled.
(Paragraph 2.4)
V Abnormal delay in procurement of Precision Approach Radar
Indian Navy inordinately delayed the procurement of Precision Approach Radar resulting in
an additional expenditure of ` 2.01 crore over and above the initial quote. The radar intended
to be purchased on fast track basis was commissioned in April 2009, eight years after
initiating the procurement process. Post commissioning, the performance of the radar has
been erratic.
(Paragraph 2.5)
VI Delay in procurement of urgent aviation stores through Indian Embassies
Procurement of critical and urgent aviation stores/spares through Indian Embassies was beset
with delays at each stage. The decision-making even at Air HQ was slow and led to delay in
conclusion of contacts. The contract delivery schedules were significantly longer, thereby,
undermining the urgency of procurement.
(Paragraph 2.7)
VII Avoidable expenditure on procurement of spares
Failure in placement of supply order under option clause resulted in an avoidable expenditure
of ` 4.29 crore in the subsequent procurement of spares. Besides, due to delay in
procurement, established infrastructure remained idle for want of spares for considerable
time.
(Paragraph 3.1)
VIII Unfruitful expenditure on procurement of flare cartridges
Out of 20,000 flares procured for use on the MiG 21 Bison aircraft upgradation project,
19,540 flares costing ` 3.09 crore exhausted their shelf life of seven years in store. Thus
procurement of flares was rendered unfruitful due to expiry of flare cartridges before being
placed with operating squadrons, where they could have been put to use.
(Paragraph 3.2)
IX Avoidable expenditure in procurement of spares for a helicopter
There was abnormal delay in processing the case for procurement of spares for KA-31
helicopters. Further, Indian Navy's failure of to get the validity of the quote of a firm
extended resulted in an avoidable expenditure of ` 10.71 crore.
(Paragraph 4.1)
X Avoidable expenditure in procurement of Winch Reel Hydraulic
Lack of due diligence by the Tender Evaluation Committee at the initial stage in processing
of tenders for procurement of Winch Reel Hydraulic led to delay in procurement and an
avoidable expenditure of ` 9.73 crore.
(Paragraph 4.2)
XI Extra expenditure in procurement of Gas Turbines
Breaking up the procurement order of nine gas turbines by Indian Navy led to an extra
expenditure of ` 2.49 crore as the subsequent procurement of five gas turbines was at a
higher cost.
(Paragraph 4.3)
XII Inordinate delay in installation of SPL Plotting Tables on submarines
SPL Plotting Table is a navigation and tactical plotting system which can plot the ships own
position as well as it can plot the data received from the unit sensors. Four SPL Plotting
Tables procured at a cost of ` 6.05 crore could not be installed onboard the submarine for
about four years after their receipt. Continued disuse meant that, these Plotting Tables lost
their warranty cover in September 2008 without these being utilised.
(Paragraph 4.4)
XIII Tardy progress in execution of a Water Supply Scheme
There was an inordinate delay on part of the Military Engineer Services (MES) for over
seven years in execution/commissioning of Water Supply Scheme at Visakhapatnam. The
expenditure of ` 4.53 crore did not serve the objective of providing adequate and clean water
to Defence Personnel.
(Paragraph 4.6)
XIV Loss of stores in transit
Failure of Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) to comply with the extant orders
for insuring against loss or damage in transit resulted in a transit loss of stores worth ` 10.63
crore meant for Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme.
(Paragraph 5.1)
XV Savings/recoveries at the instance of audit
An amount of ` 1.31 crore was recovered/adjusted in two cases in respect of Navy and
` 31.56 crore in three cases in respect of Air Force was saved only after having been pointed
out by audit.
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