Antony "anguished" over delay in supply of military equipment

New Delhi, May 28 (PTI) Anguished over delays in
procurement and supply of military equipment, India's Defence
Minister A K Antony Thursday 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
USD 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 USD 1.1 billion deal, for the IAF before the
end of 2010.

Though Antony felt that cost escalation (in Gorshkov
deal) was a problem, he said the issue was not specific to
Russia and this deal alone, but cut across defence contracts
with other countries too.

"Real issue is to get delivery of the equipment on
time. We are in touch with all countries supplying equipment
not only at the official level, but also with the companies,
and are seeing to it that all equipment are delivered on time.
Entering into a contract is not enough, but delivery on time
is a must," he added.

Highly critical of the prolonged procurement process
for even critical defence weapon system, Antony cited the
20-year delay in acquiring the Hawks advanced jet trainers
from Britain, which were delivered only last year after
several rescheduling of deadlines.

"Five years (for delivery of AWACS) is too long a time
in the emerging security situation in the region. But I was
told that there were special needs of IAF that had to be met
and hence the delay. If delivery schedule of the other two
AWACS are met, I assure youth that the government can think of
procuring more AWACS in the future considering the air, land
and coastal security needs," he said. PTI NCB
RKM
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