Defence expenditure review committee submits report
December 29, 2009
Reports noted that the Defence Expenditure Review Committee (DERC), a high powered group set up by the Ministry of Defence under the Chairmanship of VK Misra, former Secretary (Defence Finance) has submitted its report. The report, although yet to be made public, has made a number of suggestions. It has recommended to increase the FDI cap in defence production to 49 per cent (from the present level of 26 per cent) across the board and to a higher level (up to 74 to 100 per cent) on a case by case basis. To expedite the acquisition process, the Committee has suggested to cut down the time taken between request for information (RFI) and the final acquisition, through a series of efficient measures. To promote greater competition it has advised that except for strategic and operational reasons, single source procurement should be avoided.
To enhance the domestic defence industrial and technological capability, the committee has suggested to further promote the private sector; reform the existing public sector enterprises; and bring “synergy among the DRDO, Ordnance Factory Boards, defence PSUs and the private sector to address design, manufacturing and maintenance concerns of India's defence.” Besides the Committee has recommended “setting up of a defence regulatory authority to deal with a range of issues concerning offsets, defence industrialization, capital acquisitions and potential reforms in defence on a permanent basis (Source: DNA).”
• India may get Nerpa nuclear sub in mid-2010
December 28, 2009
Nerpa, an Akula II class nuclear powered attack submarine joined Russian navy after months of trial, in which it met with a fatal accident in November, killing 20 sailor and technicians. The underwater boat, weighing 12,000 ton, is to be subsequently handed over to India around mid-2010 under the name INS Chakra. India has reportedly paid $650 million for a 10-year lease. The submarine, when joins Indian Navy, will not be armed with ‘strategic weapons’ like Russian 3,200-km range Granit nuclear-capable cruise missiles due to restriction under Missile Technology Control Regime(MTCR). Rather it is expected to be armed with 300-km range Klub-S land-attack cruise missiles.
• India building technology to defeat enemy satellites
January 03, 2009
Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister and chief of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), VK Saraswat told that his organising is building “technology that could be used to neutralise enemy satellites” in low-earth orbit and polar orbit. Although trial of the technology has so far not been planned, the scientists are gearing toward to building a weapon in case the country needs it, he added.
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