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Praful Patel's outburst 'misinformed', likely to be ignored

 
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shivendrashukla
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 12, 2013 12:26 pm    Post subject: Praful Patel's outburst 'misinformed', likely to be ignored Reply with quote

Praful Patel's outburst 'misinformed', likely to be ignored, says IAF


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After Praful Patel's public outburst against the Indian Air Force's move to replace ageing Avro aircrafts, the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) - MoD's only aircraft assembling and manufacturing Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) - too attacked the IAF, albeit privately. And even though Defence Minister A K Antony has, for now, ordered an examination of the entire case, details accessed from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) show that the IAF has all but thrashed the claims of the Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.

It was learnt that the need for replacing these aircrafts emanated from the IAF in June 2011, following which a very detailed examination was done to evaluate the situation facing HAL with regards to its order books and capabilities. Towards the same, the proposal went through the usual channel of the Services Capital Acquisition Categorization Committee (SCAPCC) and the Services Capital Acquisition Categorization Higher Committee (SCAPCHC) before reaching at the doorstep of Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), MoD's highest decision making body. Then, on the insistence of the Defence Minister, his Scientific Advisor (SA) reviewed this proposal which was followed by a review by the Additional Secretary (Defence Production). At the end of this exhaustive route, on July 23, 2012, the DAC gave this project its nod. "In all of these deliberations, there were members including the Joint Secretary (Aerospace), who were in charge of the HAL and other PSUs so today to turn around and say PSUs were not given a chance is being misinformed," said an MoD official aware of the matter. He further added that the IAF, on this basis, had urged the MoD to 'stay the course and not get deviated' on this requirement.

According to sources, where Patel went wrong was in mentioning that PSUs were not being allowed to participate and that their infrastructure was not being utilised. "Nobody has said PSUs can't participate. Under the categorization of this project, they can form a Joint Venture or a Special Purpose Vehicle with private Indian players and foreign manufacturers and compete. After all our policies are clear in wanting our private sector also to can gain expertise and unlike helicopters and fighters, transport aircrafts are easier to make" said a source.

On the other side however, sources in the HAL believed that the IAF was 'overplaying the condition of our orderbooks and we certainly have the capability to deliver on the deal under consideration. Our Kanpur unit is geared up for it.'

Why HAL's hands are full?

As per the website of the HAL, it is presently assembling and manufacturing the Sukhoi 30 MKI fighters, Mig 27M, Mig 21 variants, Hawk - Advanced Jet Trainer, Chetak helicopters and Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv, apart from a slew of accessories, undercarriages, communication equipment, engines and more. Moreover, it is also handling the development of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT), Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), Jaguar and Mirage 2000 upgrades, the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA), Multi-role Transport Aircraft (MTA) among others.

How close are we to acquiring replacements for ageing Avros?

A Request For Proposal (RFP) was sent to eight foreign vendors, also known as Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) on May 8 2013. As per the process, these OEMs had to tie up with the best options available in India and based on that, participate in the tender. On October 8, 2013 the deadline for submission of proposals was given. However based on the request of the OEMs, it has now been decided to extend this timeframe till December 8, 2013. On conclusion of the scrutiny, a Technical Oversight Committee (TOC), flying tests, Contract Negotiating Committee (CNC) and other procedures to follow, ensuring that the date of signing the contract is atleast a year away.



Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/praful-patel-iaf-tender-indian-psus-hal-avro-aircraft-a-k-antony/1/314310.html
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