Indian Defence contractors may find a new lease of life now for Indian Army modernisation
Delhi: Though the Comptroller and Auditor General of India , in a recent report, was right in blaming defence PSUs for delays in fulfilling contracts and hampering the capability enhancement plans of the Indian Army, the government’s arbitrary regulations are also partly to blame for the stagnation of modernisation of armed forces. The blacklist policy—that saw many top suppliers and associated firms banned by successive governments, for a minimum of ten years, when they were found guilty of graft—shrunk the pool for the armed forces a…
Indian Navy Chooses Sikorsky S-70B
The Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk has been selected to meet the Indian Navy’s multi-role helicopter (MRH) requirement. A contract for 16 with an option for eight more is expected to be signed within eight months and will include a complete logistics support and training program. The selection was held up for two years following the controversy over India’s purchase of AgustaWestland AW101 VIP helicopters. The other shortlisted contender was the NH-90 from NH Industries, which is 32 percent owned by AgustaWestland . The request for proposal m…
Indian AirForce will soon fix over VVIP copters Deal
New Delhi: The Indian Air Force is in a bind over its “lalbattis-in-the-sky” that are now “mothballed on the ground”. It has asked an equally vexed defence ministry to make up its mind on what it should do with three super-luxury AW101 VVIP helicopters that were meant to fly the President, Prime Minister and other dignitaries but have been dismantled and stowed in protective casing in a hangar at the Palam air base. The helicopters are occupying valuable space in the airbase. The IAF decided to mothball them since former def…
China Unveils Mars Rover After India's Successful Mangalyaan
Seeking to catch up with India's Mangalyaan mission, China has unveiled its Mars rover being developed to scurry the Red Planet's surface for signs of water and life and plans to test it in the rugged terrain of Tibet. China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) has displayed the machine and the technological hardware set-up at an air show. Photos of the rover's prototype, to be displayed at the annual air show at Zhuai being attended by Defence Attaches of all countries including India, were carr…
IAF to procure equipment, platforms worth $150 bn
The Indian Air Force will procure $150 billion worth of equipment and platforms in the next 15 years. Giving this bit of information, Air Marshal P.P. Reddy, director general, inspection and safety, Wednesday said the Indian industry requires tax holidays and a more friendly import and export regime. Research and Develpment funds should also be made available to the private sector companies, Air Marshal Reddy said while speaking at the inaugural session of 8th International Conference on Energising Indian Aerospace Industry. …
AgustaWestland firm on expanding footprint in India
The company is undaunted by probe into corruption charges in VVIP copter deal Unfazed by the probe by the Indian and Italian governments into charges of corruption in the Rs. 3,727-crore contract for 12 AW-101 VVIP helicopters for the Indian Air Force, helicopter major AgustaWestland is keen to expand its footprint in the Indian military and civil aviation markets. “Notwithstanding the current difficulties, we need to expand our presence in India,” said Jackie Callcut, Chief Executive Officer, AgustaWestland India. Talking to The…
Night Vision Devices: Rs 2,800 Cr Deal Approved
The Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) Tuesday cleared a Rs. 2,800 crore deal for boosting the night vision capabilities of the Indian Army's tanks and infantry combat vehicles. The DAC, which was headed by Defense Minister A.K. Antony approved the procurement of 2,000 pieces of night vision devices for T-72 tanks for Rs. 1,000 crore; 1,200 pieces for T-90 tanks for Rs. 960 crore and 1.780 pieces for infantry combat vehicles for Rs.860 crore. While discussing the deal for purchasing AgustaWestland VVIP helicopters for the Indian …
Chopper scam: CBI to register preliminary enquiry
The CBI is likely to register a preliminary enquiry (PE) to look if the UK-based helicopter supplier AgustaWestland had paid alleged kickbacks to a senior Army officer to swing the deal for supplying Light Utility Helicopters to the Army in its favour. The Army had plans to procure as many as 197 light utility helicopters but the deal was stalled after the allegations of corruption came to the fore. The CBI is now probing whether the senior Army officer had assured AgustaWestland to swing the contract for supplying 197 light utility h…
India launches second graft probe into AgustaWestland
Investigators have launched a second corruption probe into defence firm Agusta Westland in connection with a deal to sell 197 army helicopters, authorities said on Saturday, potentially dealing another blow to a company that India might blacklist. New Delhi is already investigating the firm, a division of Italian defence group Finmeccanica, for bribes allegedly paid to Indian officials in a separate 560 million euro helicopter deal. AgustaWestland has denied any wrongdoing and has tried to prod the Indian government to pay for thre…
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