Saab threatens defence ministry with legal action over Russia contract

Sources close to Saab say the firm has not yet made a final decision to go to court

Mirroring frustration amongst international arms firms at the unpredictability and opacity of India’s weapons procurement, Swedish company Saab says it could take the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to court over the November 19 award of a $1.5-billion contract for Igla-S air defence missiles to Russian entity, Rosoboronexport.

Last Saturday, Business Standard reported (‘Air defence missile contract embroiled in vendor protests’) that Saab had shot off four protest letters to the MoD alleging grave irregularities in user trials of the ‘very short range air defence system’ (VSHORADS). Rosoboronexport, Saab, and French firm MBDA competed in that tender.

On Thursday, Saab’s Asia-Pacific