Defence Ministry clears procurement of Barak missiles

Defence Ministry today cleared procurement proposals worth over Rs 16,000 crore including that of the Israeli Barak missiles, whose acquisition was on hold for the last five years due to a CBI probe in an alleged bribery case.
The Ministry had put on hold procurement of Barak-I missiles because of a CBI probe in the case since 2006.
It also cleared a proposal for acquiring 2 deep submarine rescue vessels for the Navy while approving the indigenous construction of the 16 anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft at the cost of Rs 13,000 crore.
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by Defence Minister AK Antony cleared the Rs 880 crore proposal for 262 Barak-I missiles, which are expected to be put on the aircraft carrier INS Virat. It is also the chosen air defence system for the new aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, defence sources said.