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| Delay in defence equipment supply anguishes Antony |
| Press Trust of India / New Delhi May 28, 2009, 12:15 IST |
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Anguished over delays in procurement and supply of military equipment, Defence Minister A K Antony today urged foreign vendors, including those from Russia and Israel, to stick to deadlines.
Stepping up pressure on foreign countries, Antony said, "I convey my anguish to foreign vendors, including Russia and Israel, on the delays in delivery of defence equipment. They have to try and deliver the defence equipment on time."
Russia and Israel are the two largest military suppliers to India. New Delhi had recently signed contracts with Tel Aviv for supply of Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missiles worth Rs 7,500 crore and with Russia for design and development of fifth general fighter aircraft and medium transport aircraft.
Formally inducting the Israeli-built Airborne Early Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) into the Indian Air Force at Palam airbase here, Antony, who deviated from his written speech, said: "Thorough the Ambassadors of the two countries, who are present here, I request the foreign countries for cooperation in meeting delivery schedules of AWACS and other equipment so that the Indian armed forces get the latest, modern weapons systems in time."
Indian defence procurement is expected to touch about $100 billion in the next 10 years, and several foreign companies including those from the Americas, Europe and Asia are vying with each other for a big chunk of the deals for themselves.
Antony also conveyed his dismay over the delayed delivery of the AWACS that were originally scheduled to arrive in India about 18 months ago.
He said India had signed the tripartite contract with Israel and Russia for the AWACS in 2004 and it took about five years for delivery of the first of these sophisticated 'eye in the sky' system.
However, he said the problem of delayed delivery was a cause for concern with not just the two major suppliers, but with other countries too, though he did not name the US, France, Britain and Italy, who handle the rest of the defence contracts in India.
The Minister said Defence Secretary Vijay Singh would be leaving for Russia this Sunday to hold talks over the inordinate delays in supply of defence equipment, in particular the Gorshkov aircraft carrier price renegotiation and to press for the timely supply of two more AWACS, which are part of the $1.1 billion deal, for the IAF before the end of 2010.
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