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They chose Pranab President to dismiss all the scams!
Notwithstanding the prospect of being blacklisted over
India has asked the two vendors in the race to extend the validity of their commercial bids till the end of this year, making it clear that the procurement is in for further delay
The firm has submitted its response to Indian Navy's tender for procuring 56 naval utility helicopters and Coast Guard's Request for Proposal (RFP) for buying 14 medium-lift choppers, defence sources told PTI here.
In the naval tender for 56 choppers, AgustaWestland is one of the two bidders along with Eurocopter, which is offering its AS565 Naval 'Panther' helicopter.
The Navy is planning to procure these twin-engine light choppers to replace its fleet of vintage Cheetah/Chetak helicopters which are operated from warships and air bases of the force.
In the Coast Guard tender, two other companies, including American Sikorsky and Eurocopter, have also submitted their bids along the Anglo-Italian firm in response to the RFP last week.
The Coast guard, which has a fleet of Cheetah/Chetak and ALH Dhruv helicopters, is strengthening its rotary wing aerial surveillance capabilities after the 2008 Mumbai attacks and is in the process of acquiring several light and medium weight surveillance choppers.
AgustaWestland is facing the threat of being blacklisted for the alleged payment of kickbacks of Rs 362 crore by its former CEOs violating the integrity pact signed by it with the Indian government.
The Defence Ministry has already initiated the process of cancellation of the deal after the arrest of former Finmeccanica CEO Guiseppe Orsi and former AgustaWestland CEO Bruno Spagnolini by Italian investigators in connection with the case.
The Ministry has already ordered a CBI probe into the deal and is waiting for the CBI inquiry report before initiating any further action on the future of the Rs 3,600 crore deal.
Army chief General Bikram Singh is pushing hard for modernization of the 1.13-million force, especially the arms of infantry, artillery and mechanized forces, which had virtually stalled over the last few years due to shoddy management of procurement
the VVIP chopper scam, Anglo-Italian firm
AgustaWestland has submitted its bid for two military
tenders to supply helicopters to the Navy and the
Coast Guard.
Nothing to happen in any of the scams in question
just because of Presidential immunity.They chose
Pranab President to dismiss all the scams!
Palash Biswas
Notwithstanding the prospect of being blacklisted over the VVIP chopper scam, Anglo-Italian firm AgustaWestland has submitted its bid for two military tenders to supply helicopters to the Navy and the Coast Guard. The global weapon industry has not to care for Indian democracy or the sovereignty of the republic. The ruling hegemony has killed both.Everyone involved in scams have been ensured that all parliamentary political hue and cry mean eye washing only. Because no investigation, no trial is possible without impeaching the president. Because Indian political system is run and governed by the zionist hindutva global corporate order,because Pranab, the prime minister, and the extra constitutional policy makers represent the satanic order, free hunting in Indian exclusive open market economy is allowed on the name of defence, internal security, blind nationalism. Apartheid is the basis of this corruption, no one realises.
India has asked the two vendors in the race to extend the validity of their commercial bids till the end of this year, making it clear that the procurement is in for further delayThe firm has submitted its response to Indian Navy's tender for procuring 56 naval utility helicopters and Coast Guard's Request for Proposal (RFP) for buying 14 medium-lift choppers, defence sources told PTI here.
In the naval tender for 56 choppers, AgustaWestland is one of the two bidders along with Eurocopter, which is offering its AS565 Naval 'Panther' helicopter.
The Navy is planning to procure these twin-engine light choppers to replace its fleet of vintage Cheetah/Chetak helicopters which are operated from warships and air bases of the force.
In the Coast Guard tender, two other companies, including American Sikorsky and Eurocopter, have also submitted their bids along the Anglo-Italian firm in response to the RFP last week.
The Coast guard, which has a fleet of Cheetah/Chetak and ALH Dhruv helicopters, is strengthening its rotary wing aerial surveillance capabilities after the 2008 Mumbai attacks and is in the process of acquiring several light and medium weight surveillance choppers.
AgustaWestland is facing the threat of being blacklisted for the alleged payment of kickbacks of Rs 362 crore by its former CEOs violating the integrity pact signed by it with the Indian government.
The Defence Ministry has already initiated the process of cancellation of the deal after the arrest of former Finmeccanica CEO Guiseppe Orsi and former AgustaWestland CEO Bruno Spagnolini by Italian investigators in connection with the case.
The Ministry has already ordered a CBI probe into the deal and is waiting for the CBI inquiry report before initiating any further action on the future of the Rs 3,600 crore deal.
Amid allegations of bribery attempt in the 197 chopper deal, India has asked the two vendors in the race to extend the validity of their commercial bids till the end of this year, making it clear that the procurement is in for further delay.
The validity of the commercial bids of the two firms -- European Eurocopter and RussianKamov -- is expiring by the end of this month.
The Director General (Acquisition) in theDefence Ministry has asked the Eurocopter and Kamov to extend the validity of their bids up to December, defence sources told PTI here.
The development makes it clear that the procurement of the light helicopters for the Army and Air Force, which has already been in pipeline for over three years, is in for further delay.
The move comes against the backdrop of the Army asking the Defence Ministry to conduct a probe into allegations that a Brigadier, who was in-charge of the trial team for 197 light choppers, demanded a Rs 25 crore bribe from AgustaWestland to swing the deal in its favour.
AgustaWestland, an Anglo-Italian company, was one of the contenders in the deal for 197 helicopters but lost out in the race during trials.
The allegations against the Brigadier surfaced during investigations into the 12 VVIP chopper deal with AgustaWestland, which is shrouded in a controversy over charges of kickbacks to the tune of Rs 360 crore.
"The Army Headquarters has asked us to investigate the matter before taking any decision on the future of the deal, in which only two firms European Eurocopter and Russian Kamov are left in the race as AgustaWestland was eliminated before trials itself," a Defence Ministry source had said.
The allegations have led to delay in the finalisation of the deal for 197 helicopters for the Army and the IAF to replace its fleet of vintage Cheetah and Chetak choppers.
Recently, in a Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) meeting, the Ministry had asked the Army to take 'responsibility' that there was no wrongdoing in the charges against the officer. However, the Army asked the Government to conduct a probe before taking any further decision, the sources said.
The DAC also has to take a call on whether to allow the deviations from the tendering process by the two companies and a Special Technical Oversight Committee (STOC) has submitted its report in this regard.
After the charges came up, the Ministry had asked the Italian government to provide the name and relevant documents relating to the alleged involvement of the Brigadier in the ongoing process for acquisition of 197 helicopters for the Army.
The allegations have been levelled against the officer in a letter allegedly sent by an AgustaWestland official in India to his superiors in Italy saying the Brigadier was seeking USD 5 million for facilitating the deal in their favour.
The deal for procuring 197 light choppers has already been cancelled once in the last stages even after the selection of Eurocopter.
The officer has denied the charges against him in a letter written by him.
The validity of the commercial bids of the two firms -- European Eurocopter and RussianKamov -- is expiring by the end of this month.
The Director General (Acquisition) in theDefence Ministry has asked the Eurocopter and Kamov to extend the validity of their bids up to December, defence sources told PTI here.
The development makes it clear that the procurement of the light helicopters for the Army and Air Force, which has already been in pipeline for over three years, is in for further delay.
The move comes against the backdrop of the Army asking the Defence Ministry to conduct a probe into allegations that a Brigadier, who was in-charge of the trial team for 197 light choppers, demanded a Rs 25 crore bribe from AgustaWestland to swing the deal in its favour.
AgustaWestland, an Anglo-Italian company, was one of the contenders in the deal for 197 helicopters but lost out in the race during trials.
The allegations against the Brigadier surfaced during investigations into the 12 VVIP chopper deal with AgustaWestland, which is shrouded in a controversy over charges of kickbacks to the tune of Rs 360 crore.
"The Army Headquarters has asked us to investigate the matter before taking any decision on the future of the deal, in which only two firms European Eurocopter and Russian Kamov are left in the race as AgustaWestland was eliminated before trials itself," a Defence Ministry source had said.
The allegations have led to delay in the finalisation of the deal for 197 helicopters for the Army and the IAF to replace its fleet of vintage Cheetah and Chetak choppers.
Recently, in a Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) meeting, the Ministry had asked the Army to take 'responsibility' that there was no wrongdoing in the charges against the officer. However, the Army asked the Government to conduct a probe before taking any further decision, the sources said.
The DAC also has to take a call on whether to allow the deviations from the tendering process by the two companies and a Special Technical Oversight Committee (STOC) has submitted its report in this regard.
After the charges came up, the Ministry had asked the Italian government to provide the name and relevant documents relating to the alleged involvement of the Brigadier in the ongoing process for acquisition of 197 helicopters for the Army.
The allegations have been levelled against the officer in a letter allegedly sent by an AgustaWestland official in India to his superiors in Italy saying the Brigadier was seeking USD 5 million for facilitating the deal in their favour.
The deal for procuring 197 light choppers has already been cancelled once in the last stages even after the selection of Eurocopter.
The officer has denied the charges against him in a letter written by him.
The defence ministry has rejected the Army's case for ownership of the 22 heavy-duty Apache helicopters, armed with Hellfire and Stinger missiles, which India is all set to acquire from the US in a $1.4 billion contract.
The MoD, citing defence minister A K Antony's approval, has held the 22 AH-64 D Apache Longbow gunships will remain with the IAF because the procurement deal was an ongoing one, which did not fall into category of future acquisitions, said officials.
The Army has been eyeing the Apache helicopters, that earlier defeated Russian Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant's Mi-28 Havoc choppers in the field trials conducted by IAF, for which the final commercial negotiations are now underway between MoD and Boeing.
Antony last year was compelled to step into the bitter turf war raging between Army and IAF for years, which publically erupted even during the 1999 Kargil conflict, over the ownership of attack helicopters.
The minister had then decided that future procurements of attack helicopters would be for the Army since the force contended it desperately needed the gunships to target enemy infantry and tanks.
But IAF argued it should be allowed to retain all the attack and medium-lift helicopters because it would be very expensive if the Army duplicated efforts and resources by getting its own 'little air force'. The command and control over IAF's two existing squadrons of Mi-25 /35 attack helicopters was in any case in the hands of the Army.
After MoD said the Army would also get its own attack helicopters to resolve the imbroglio, the force also laid claim to the ownership of the 22 Apache helicopters. "But the procurement process for the 22 Apache helicopters began much before the decision about giving Army ownership of future such inductions was taken," said a MoD official.
An undeterred Army, however, chalked out plans to have its own 'mini air force' in the years ahead. Apart from creating a permanent cadre for the Army Aviation Corps, the force is raising aviation brigades for each of its three strike and 10 pivot corps.
The Army currently operates 195 Chetak/Chetak light observation helicopters as well as 70 Dhruv advanced light helicopters. Its long-term plans include three helicopter squadrons (10-12 choppers each) — armed or attack, reconnaissance and tactical lift — each for all its 13 corps as well as a flight of five fixed-wing aircraft each for its six regional or operational commands.
The MoD, citing defence minister A K Antony's approval, has held the 22 AH-64 D Apache Longbow gunships will remain with the IAF because the procurement deal was an ongoing one, which did not fall into category of future acquisitions, said officials.
The Army has been eyeing the Apache helicopters, that earlier defeated Russian Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant's Mi-28 Havoc choppers in the field trials conducted by IAF, for which the final commercial negotiations are now underway between MoD and Boeing.
Antony last year was compelled to step into the bitter turf war raging between Army and IAF for years, which publically erupted even during the 1999 Kargil conflict, over the ownership of attack helicopters.
The minister had then decided that future procurements of attack helicopters would be for the Army since the force contended it desperately needed the gunships to target enemy infantry and tanks.
But IAF argued it should be allowed to retain all the attack and medium-lift helicopters because it would be very expensive if the Army duplicated efforts and resources by getting its own 'little air force'. The command and control over IAF's two existing squadrons of Mi-25 /35 attack helicopters was in any case in the hands of the Army.
After MoD said the Army would also get its own attack helicopters to resolve the imbroglio, the force also laid claim to the ownership of the 22 Apache helicopters. "But the procurement process for the 22 Apache helicopters began much before the decision about giving Army ownership of future such inductions was taken," said a MoD official.
An undeterred Army, however, chalked out plans to have its own 'mini air force' in the years ahead. Apart from creating a permanent cadre for the Army Aviation Corps, the force is raising aviation brigades for each of its three strike and 10 pivot corps.
The Army currently operates 195 Chetak/Chetak light observation helicopters as well as 70 Dhruv advanced light helicopters. Its long-term plans include three helicopter squadrons (10-12 choppers each) — armed or attack, reconnaissance and tactical lift — each for all its 13 corps as well as a flight of five fixed-wing aircraft each for its six regional or operational commands.
Army to upgrade entire fleet of infantry combat vehicles
READ MORE ON » PKT machine guns | Gen V K Singh | Bikram Singh | Army
Army chief General Bikram Singh is pushing hard for modernization of the 1.13-million force, especially the arms of infantry, artillery and mechanized forces, which had virtually stalled over the last few years due to shoddy management of procurementET SPECIAL:
NEW DELHI: India is undertaking an ambitious programme to upgrade its entire fleet of over 2,000 infantry combat vehicles with advanced weaponry and nightfighting capabilities, even as it inducts more T-90 S main battle tanks, upgrades its T-72 fleet and plans a futuristic 'smart' tank for battles beyond 2020.
Army chief General Bikram Singh is pushing hard for modernization of the 1.13-million force, especially the arms of infantry, artillery and mechanized forces, which had virtually stalled over the last few years due to shoddy management of procurement as well as bad blood between his predecessor Gen V K Singh and the ministry.
The Army wants to bolster the 'shock and awe' capabilities of its mechanized forces, which include 63 armoured corps regiments and over 30 mechanized infantry battalions, in tune with its war doctrine that lays stress on being prepared for high intensity, fast tempo and short-duration battles. Both strategic mobility and enhanced firepower are required for rapid offensive thrusts into enemy territory.
While infantry combat vehicles may be the poorer cousins of tanks in terms of armour-protection, weaponry, they perform the critical task of carrying soldiers into the battle zone with fire support. Apart from being amphibious, they are useful in urban combat and asymmetrical warfare.
"The plan is to provide desired offensive capabilities to our BMP-II and BMP-IIK infantry combat vehicles, which can carry 10 soldiers, on three fronts: thermal imaging integration, armament upgrade and engine upgrade," said a source.
Back-of-the-envelope calculations show the overall cost of this entire project could touch Rs 10,000 crore. The armament upgrade alone, for instance, would be worth over Rs 5,000 crore, with the BMPs to be equipped with two twin-missile launchers on each side, 2nd generation-plus ATGMs (anti-tank guided missiles) and 30-mm automatic grenade launchers.
"It also includes TIFCS (thermal imaging fire control systems) to increase accuracy of weapon systems and panoramic sights for the commanders to be able to look in all directions," said the source. While over 950 BMPs have already been fitted with thermal imaging modules, the rest will now be equipped with advanced 'TISK' systems that integrate ATGMs, auto-canons and PKT machine guns to ensure they can be fired accurately at night.
"This integration should be completed by mid-2014. The existing 285 horsepower engines of the BMPs will also be upgraded to 360 horsepower," he said.
As for the armoured corps, they have already inducted around 800 of the planned 1,657 Russian-origin T-90 S tanks and 124 indigenous Arjun tanks (the Mark-II version of which is being developed with '89 improvements' ), apart from upgrading its old warhorse fleet of T-72 tanks.
'Shock and Awe' Capabilities:
> Army to upgrade its entire fleet of over 2,000 infantry combat vehicles with advanced weaponry
> It inducts more T-90 S main-battle tanks, upgrades T-72 fleet and plans a futuristic 'smart' tank for battles beyond 2020
> Will bolster "shock and awe" capabilities of its mechanized forces, which include 63 armoured corps regiments and over 30 mechanized infantry battalions
> The overall cost for upgrading fleet could touch Rs 10,000 crore.
Army chief General Bikram Singh is pushing hard for modernization of the 1.13-million force, especially the arms of infantry, artillery and mechanized forces, which had virtually stalled over the last few years due to shoddy management of procurement as well as bad blood between his predecessor Gen V K Singh and the ministry.
The Army wants to bolster the 'shock and awe' capabilities of its mechanized forces, which include 63 armoured corps regiments and over 30 mechanized infantry battalions, in tune with its war doctrine that lays stress on being prepared for high intensity, fast tempo and short-duration battles. Both strategic mobility and enhanced firepower are required for rapid offensive thrusts into enemy territory.
While infantry combat vehicles may be the poorer cousins of tanks in terms of armour-protection, weaponry, they perform the critical task of carrying soldiers into the battle zone with fire support. Apart from being amphibious, they are useful in urban combat and asymmetrical warfare.
"The plan is to provide desired offensive capabilities to our BMP-II and BMP-IIK infantry combat vehicles, which can carry 10 soldiers, on three fronts: thermal imaging integration, armament upgrade and engine upgrade," said a source.
Back-of-the-envelope calculations show the overall cost of this entire project could touch Rs 10,000 crore. The armament upgrade alone, for instance, would be worth over Rs 5,000 crore, with the BMPs to be equipped with two twin-missile launchers on each side, 2nd generation-plus ATGMs (anti-tank guided missiles) and 30-mm automatic grenade launchers.
"It also includes TIFCS (thermal imaging fire control systems) to increase accuracy of weapon systems and panoramic sights for the commanders to be able to look in all directions," said the source. While over 950 BMPs have already been fitted with thermal imaging modules, the rest will now be equipped with advanced 'TISK' systems that integrate ATGMs, auto-canons and PKT machine guns to ensure they can be fired accurately at night.
"This integration should be completed by mid-2014. The existing 285 horsepower engines of the BMPs will also be upgraded to 360 horsepower," he said.
As for the armoured corps, they have already inducted around 800 of the planned 1,657 Russian-origin T-90 S tanks and 124 indigenous Arjun tanks (the Mark-II version of which is being developed with '89 improvements' ), apart from upgrading its old warhorse fleet of T-72 tanks.
'Shock and Awe' Capabilities:
> Army to upgrade its entire fleet of over 2,000 infantry combat vehicles with advanced weaponry
> It inducts more T-90 S main-battle tanks, upgrades T-72 fleet and plans a futuristic 'smart' tank for battles beyond 2020
> Will bolster "shock and awe" capabilities of its mechanized forces, which include 63 armoured corps regiments and over 30 mechanized infantry battalions
> The overall cost for upgrading fleet could touch Rs 10,000 crore.
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