Former naval aviator Captain K.P. Sanjeev Kumar examines the San Juan tragedy, pointing out that after half a century of operating submarines, India still does not have organic submarine rescue capability and asks why navies such as ours invest in submarines without closing the loop on submarine rescue.
A phone call by President Trump to PM Modi on Independence Day mentioned the setting up of a ‘2-by-2 ministerial dialogue’ between the two countries.
Here’s why the first India-Singapore defense industry joint working group held last May didn’t include Singapore’s biggest defense company.
A lawyer looks at the defense ministry reference of the Rank Pay issue to the Attorney General and explains why he lacks confidence that this will lead to an equitable resolution.
In hindsight, some officials are relieved that the boiler problems with the Gorshkov came up at this time, and not at a stage after the Indian Navy took charge of it.
Defense Minister A.K. Antony directed orders to be issued by the end of this month for the payment of increased pensions for personnel who retired before 2006 at a cost of INR 2,300 crore, by March 31, 2013, which is expected to affected over two million veterans.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the company said, “In all of its R&D and supply programs in India IMI has always acted legally, ethically, and in full compliance with its established corporate policy which mandates ethical business dealings.”
Dean McCumiskey, Managing Director and Chief Executive of BAE Systems’ India operations told StratPost his company would be open to discussing any question of technical assistance the OFB might require, in its attempt to execute the designs and technology documentation transferred to it as part of the old Bofors howitzer procurement.
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.
The complaint’s 90-day mandatory period for a response ended a month ago, but Antony has maintained that he was not bound by the Army Act under which the statutory plea had been made by General Singh.
The Defense Minister’s repeated statements on cutting down unnecessary delays in arms procurement seems to be a reflection of a new purpose towards arms procurement by India. Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major has echoed that sense of purpose, expecting the Indian Air Force to be able to spend all monies budgeted for procurement this year.
