The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is planning to scrap a contract for buying surface-to-air missiles (QR-SAM) for the Indian Army to replace its Soviet-vintage OSA-AK (SA-8) and SA-6 units.
The
ministry of defence (MoD) is planning to scrap a contract for buying
surface-to-air missiles (QR-SAM) for the Indian Army to replace its
Soviet-vintage OSA-AK (SA-8) and SA-6 units. Such a move is expected to come as
a blow to the Make in India initiative as the chosen company was
expected to make major parts of the system in India.
The
army had conducted field trials in 2014-15 of the missile systems from
Rosoboronexport, the sole state agency for Russia’s exports/imports of
defence-related products, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems of Israel and Swedish
SAAB.
Highly-placed
sources told FE that “there was a difference of opinion over the compliance of
the systems tested as there was a very minor difference and the Israeli Spyder
QR-SAMs reportedly come out to as clear winner.”
However,
the matter was raised during the Defence Acquisition Council meeting in
September 2016 headed by defence minister Manohar Parrikar. The choice laid
down was either to open commercial bid for all three despite minor differences
or go with a single vendor,”explained sources.
It
was decided in September 2016 to explore options for other vendors as well as
re-look at the indigenous Akash missiles developed by the Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO).
The
Indian Army had last year made it clear that it does not want the indigenous
‘Akash’ regiment apart from the two regiments ordered earlier for R14,180 crore.
Citing problems including infrastructural, requirement for 360-degree coverage
and several vehicles for launchers, in deploying the Akash missiles against
enemy air attacks in forward areas, the army was keen on buying globally.
“The
Indian Air Force does not have similar problems as the Army and is set to
induct four Israel developed SPYDER units, starting soon. It is also inducting
15 squadrons of Akash missile systems for R10,900 crore — meant to guard its
airbases,” added sources.
Now,
with the MoD planning to scrap the plan of procurement, the vendors are very
upset and now questioning the credibility of the RfPs that are being issued by
the MoD and then later being scrapped. A senior executive of one of the
companies which had participated in the trials told FE, “A lot of money is
invested in the whole process including responding to going into trials which
are carried out in extreme hot/cold weather. The government, after going
through all these procedures, suddenly scraps the RfP causing inconvenience as
well as financial losses.”
The
army has sent a request for information (RFI) for a new short range
surface-to-air missile system to replace its Soviet-vintage OSA-AK (SA-8) and
SA-6 units in 2010, and had sought information for a 20-km range missile system
with active and passive guidance, with the capacity to engage targets moving up
to 500 metres/second, and including hovering targets.
Source :- The Financial Express
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