According to India’s defence ministry, an order worth INR 5,100 crore (around USD 670 million) has been placed for 6,01,427 AK203 rifles to be manufactured at Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. The 7.62 X 39mm calibre AK203 rifle will replace the INSAS rifle that has been in service for three decades.
An estimated 80,000 employees have been transferred to the new companies and E.R. Sheikh has been appointed the first Director General of the Ordnance Directorate (Co-ordination and Services), the successor organisation of Ordnance Factory Board.
A wargame conducted last month anticipates higher prices, fewer products and reduced manpower as a result of the corporatisation of process of India’s Ordnance Factory Board that traces its origins to the early 18th century and employs an estimated 80,000-strong workforce.
General Rawat’s comments were critical of OFB’s products and were made with reference to a recent controversy over changes in rules for the supply of uniforms to troops.
The list of 51 items proposed consists of a range of equipment and includes fighter aircraft, amphibian aircraft, tanks, artillery, small arms among others.
India’s defence procurement continues to raise more questions than answers, points out Hemant Shivakumar, with the uncertainty over the order of Spike Anti Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs) appearing to be the latest casualty to the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
Here’s why the first India-Singapore defense industry joint working group held last May didn’t include Singapore’s biggest defense company.
When Parliament was told that there is no ‘bhaiya‘ system in the army, DefExpo is indeed happening in Goa and there’s no plan to put barcodes on uniforms.
Our columnist Mark narrates what transpired at Make In India Week and explains why Make In India cannot work in the defence sector under the existing dispensation.
StratPost goes through the revisions in the Defense Procurement Procedure announced by the defense ministry and tells you exactly what’s changed from DPP 2013.
Take a good, hard look at the 155 mm towed howitzer built by India’s Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) on the basis of designs transferred by Bofors in the 1980s.
The failure to consider the order by the DAC has wider implications as it is unlikely that any decision can be taken on this order by October 15, after which the value of the deal will see a 37 percent hike.
The Delhi High Court has dismissed the challenge filed by Israel Military Industries (IMI) to its blacklisting, saying there was no merit in its petition.
BAE Systems is to sell its stake in Defence Land Systems India (DLSI) to Mahindra Defence Systems less than three weeks after the two issued a statement announcing a strategic review of their joint venture.
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.”
