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.
Category: News
Letter on army chief my personal opinion: Amarinder
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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”.
Iran warns US battleship to keep out of Gulf
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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.
255 kills for US military’s deadliest sniper
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With 255 confirmed kills, Chris Kyle is the deadliest sniper in US military history, the Daily Mail reported.
During the Second Battle of Fallujah alone, when US Marines fought running battles in the streets with several thousand insurgents, he killed 40 people.
Court to issue directions in blacklisting case
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“The hearing qua the issue of black-listing of the petitioner (Singapore Technologies Kinetics) was concluded on 18.05.2011. Despite this, we are still informed that the final order qua the issue of black-listing of the petitioner has still not been issued,” observed the Delhi High Court.
Uncertainty over Indian Army chief’s age rages
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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.
India-China defence dialogue resumed; border mechanism gets a push
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The fourth round of ADD, held after nearly two years, was led by India’s Defense Secretary Shashikant Sharma and Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Deputy Chief of General Staff General Ma Xiaotian. The two sides also discussed defense exchanges for 2012 and agreed to “gradually enhance” the range and scope of their interaction, according to Indian defense ministry officials.
Zardari suffers bleeding in brain, may go to London
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President Asif Ali Zardari, who left Pakistan Tuesday after suffering a stroke that caused bleeding in the brain and facial paralysis, will continue to be in Dubai for over two weeks and may even go to London for further treatment, said media reports.
Backpacks key to unmasking suicide bombers’ identity
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Through the MSU-led study, researchers obtained DNA from backpacks that had been blown up with pipe bombs inside, and subsequently obtained full DNA profiles that matched all the volunteers who had carried the backpacks for a week. The findings could ultimately change the way law enforcement officials investigate bombings.
Coast Guard to get more funds for 2012-27
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The defense ministry informed the Parliamentary Standing Committee that it had prepared a perspective plan for 2007-2022 with an outlay of Rs.49,377.33 crore (about $10 billion) for a 15-year period. But after the Mumbai terror attack, the outlay was now “under revision”, the panel said in its report tabled in parliament Thursday.
Coast Guard regional headquarters for northeast
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The new regional headquarters will help protect the environment and safety of life and property in the exclusive economic zone of India extending up to 200 nautical miles from coastal states in the Northeastern region, according to the Parliamentary Standing Committee report on the Coast Guard Organization.
Parliament panel raps Coast Guard for poor force accretion
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In its report tabled in parliament, the committee on defense noted that though it was given the impression on “a lot of efforts” by the ICG to upgrade its capacity post-26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, the force accretion rate indicated that the progress in this regard is “slow.”
MBDA pitches Mistral for Indian VSHORAD tender
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‘With Mistral having already won a competition to arm India’s ALH Dhruv helicopters, MBDA has also been keen to propose all the advantages that the missile offers as a ground-based air defense weapon’, calling the ‘supply logistics’, ‘service and maintenance benefits’ of a ‘multiple use missile’ to be ‘an added advantage’.
Bell Boeing to brief India on V-22 Osprey
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Minister of State for Defense, Mallipudi Mangapati Pallam Raju, accompanied by the deputy chief of the Indian Navy, Vice Admiral Satish Soni, asked the Bell Boeing V-22 Tiltrotor Team for a briefing on the aircraft.
RUAG offers HAL upgraded Dornier
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RUAG’s Vice President for Sales and Business Development, Klaus-Peter Leinauer told StratPost at the Dubai Air Show last week, “The difference between the Dornier 228 New Generation and the old version which is being produced in India under license is the glass cockpit. And you can see here the five bladed propeller and the engine – the Honeywell (Garrett) TPE 331 engine – dash 10.”
