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Business News/ Politics / Policy/  Manohar Parikkar clears plan to buy 814 artillery guns for Rs15,750 crore
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Manohar Parikkar clears plan to buy 814 artillery guns for Rs15,750 crore

Defence minister defers decision on joint bid by Tata and Airbus to replace IAF's Avro transport fleet, to procure 106 Swiss Pilatus basic trainer aircraft

Defence minister Manohar Parikkar. Photo: MintPremium
Defence minister Manohar Parikkar. Photo: Mint

New Delhi: Defence minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday cleared a proposal to acquire 814 artillery guns for 15,750 crore, while deferring a decision on joint bid by Tata Sons Ltd and Airbus to replace the Indian Air Force’s Avro transport fleet and also the procurement of 106 Swiss Pilatus basic trainer aircraft.

The artillery guns would be procured as per the “buy and make" procedure introduced last year under which 100 such guns would be bought off the shelf while 714 would be made in India.

The Indian Army has not acquired artillery guns in the past three decades after the Bofors scam surfaced in 1986.

People aware of the development said at least six tenders have been issued so far but were cancelled due to a number of reasons including blacklisting and single vendor scenario.

The plans to acquire such guns were first mooted under Army’s Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan (FARP) formulated in 1999.

The decisions were taken after Parrikar chaired his maiden meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) on Saturday morning.

People in the defence ministry said DAC has cleared the long pending proposal to acquire 814 mounted guns of 155mm/52 calibre.

A fresh request for proposal (RFP) would be issued for the procurement which will be open to public as well as private companies, they said.

The Indian private companies that are likely to make a bid for this project include Larsen and Toubro Ltd, Tata and Bharat Forge.

“The Indian company, when selected, will be the lead partner now. They can either show their ability to make the product completely here or tie up with a foreign firm and build the guns here," a person aware of the development said.

Talking about the multi-crore joint bid by Tata Sons and European firm Airbus to manufacture 56 transport aircraft to replace the Avro fleet of the Indian Air Force (IAF), the people said DAC has sought additional information.

A similar decision was also taken on the proposal to acquire an additional 106 Swiss Pilatus basic trainer aircraft for the IAF at an estimated cost of about 8,200 crore.

DAC also approved the revised payment schedule of 7,160 crore for the IAF’s Integrated Air Command and Control System which aims to integrate all ground and air censors.

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Published: 22 Nov 2014, 06:37 PM IST
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