India to
scrap QR-SAM surface-to-air missile contract? Big setback for Make in India
scheme in the offing
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.
By: Huma
Siddiqui | New Delhi | Published: February 9, 2017 5:53 AM
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 R14,180crore. 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.
Original post: financialexpress.com
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