The new order for two of the Indian Navy’s four HDW Type-209 submarines is expected to cost an estimated USD 200 million and the planned purchase currently awaits the Indian govt’s approval of the US Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA).
Lall, who joined Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) two weeks back, is reporting directly to the Chairman and Managing Director, Mukesh Ambani. His brief is to stand up the new venture, which will focus on technologies like advanced material sciences and advanced communications technologies, that are likely to have a bouquet of applications in the homeland security, aerospace and defense sectors.
The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has issued a notification to the US Congress for the possible Foreign Military Sale of ’21 AGM-84L Harpoon Block II Missiles and associated equipment, parts and logistical support for a complete package worth approximately $200 million’.
India is going to be disappointed with President Barack Obama’s visit beginning Saturday after next. The upside of this is that the Indo-US relationship has come a long way in so short a time as to engender expectations that could induce performance anxiety.
The Indian purchase of Harpoon anti-ship missiles has settled the issue of end use monitoring by the US, with both sides agreeing to a compromise that can be a model for future deals.
