News May 31, 2010

Army follows up on light tanks

The Indian Army is moving to firm up the criteria for a possible Request For Proposal for light tanks. Significantly, the Army is to issue a supplementary Request For Information (RFI) asking for more information on light tanks, following up on an initial RFI that was issued in October last year.

T he Indian Army is moving to firm up the criteria for a possible Request For Proposal for light tanks. Significantly, the Army is to issue a supplementary Request For Information (RFI) asking for more information on light tanks, following up on an initial RFI that was issued in October last year.

The army held a collegiate meeting earlier in May this year and decided to ask for more specific details from the eight vendors who responded to the RFI with, apparently, ‘generic information’.

The army thinks this will allow them to conduct a better analysis of the technology available in global markets as well as in formulation of a practical and realistic GSQR (General Staff Qualitative Requirements).

Media reports last year had indicated a move by the army to acquire light tanks for deployment in mountainous terrain in Jammu and Kashmir and on the eastern borders with China.

The initial RFI had indicated an interest in the acquisition of 200 wheeled and 100 tracked advanced light armored vehicles. Significantly, it had also asked of potential vendors as to whether the vehicle offered would be capable of operating in an urban environment.

Tags: , , ,

About Saurabh Joshi

View all posts by Saurabh Joshi
Follow Saurabh Joshi on Twitter @ http://www.twitter.com/saurabhjoshi Saurabh is a journalist based in New Delhi, India who has worked in print, television as well as internet news media. Besides defense and strategy, his past assignments have included reporting from Kashmir, coverage of terror strikes as well as election coverage from all over India. He has a Bachelors degree in Journalism (Honors) as well as a law degree (LLB), both from the University of Delhi.
News January 6, 2012

China launches Asia’s largest helicopter

The move marks the official approval for the 13-tonne AC313, Asia’s largest helicopter, to enter the market, said the Aviation Industry Corp of China (AVIC), which developed and manufactured the helicopter. The company says the AC313 is also world’s first civil helicopter to receive an A-category airworthiness certificate at an altitude of 4,500 meters.

Share
News January 6, 2012

Fake cadet nabbed from NDA campus

Fake cadet Anmol Banotra was found when authorities at India’s tri-service, National Defense Academy, realized that there was a cadet more than their regular count. He was arrested on Wednesday.

Share
News January 4, 2012

Mirage jets to get new missiles in $1.23 bn deal

French firm MBDA will supply 450 MICA interception and aerial combat missiles as part of the second phase of plans for upgrading the Mirage fleet of the Indian Air Force (IAF). India had last July signed a $2.4 billion deal with French defense firms Thales and Dassault for upgrading the Mirages.

Share
Analysis January 3, 2012

Army’s artillery buy in a confused mess

In the background of these challenges and the defence ministry’s inaction on a decision to blacklist the Singapore-based company, the OFB mandate should not become an excuse for lack of movement on the procurement of artillery by the army. Already, the ministry has been reported to have indicated it cannot move on the procurement as the matter is sub judice. At the same time, it has not decided the issue either, as is evident from the observations of the court. This has held up the acquisition of crucial types of artillery again, after the multiple cancellation of tenders since the Bofors buy.

Share
News January 3, 2012

Letter on army chief my personal opinion: Amarinder

In a clarification issued here after it was reported that Former Punjab chief minister, Amarinder Singh had favored correcting the birth records of the army chief in a letter to letter he wrote to Defense Minister Arackaparambil Kurian Antony, the state Congress president said he had written the letter about a month ago putting forth his “opinion on the issue” only in his “personal capacity”.

Share
News January 3, 2012

Iran warns US battleship to keep out of Gulf

Iran’s military leadership Tuesday warned a US aircraft carrier to keep out of the Persian Gulf. The warning from army commander Major General Ataollah Salehi comes after a 10-day Iranian naval exercise ended in the Strait of Hormuz.

Share
View in: Mobile | Standard