15:04 GMT, March 16, 2010 According to the Indian Press Information Bureau, the following information was recently given by Indian Defence Minister, Shri AK Antony, and the Minister of State for Defence, Shri MM Pallam Raju, in written replies to members of the Parliament of India:


Joint Manufacturing of Aircraft

India and Russia signed Inter Governmental Agreements (IGA) for Co-development and Co-Production for Multi Role Transport Aircraft (MTA) on November 12, 2007 and for a Prospective Multi Role Fighter Aircraft (PMF) on October 18, 2007.

The percentage share of investment by the Indian side towards development will be 50 % each for both aircraft. The Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) would be comparable to the best of its type/class in the world. The project would be set up in India, as well as in Russia. MTA & FGFA, both are design and development programmes. It is estimated that the aircraft would be inducted by the Indian Air Force in the 13th Plan period.


Satellite for Navy

A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with Indian Space Research Organisation to provide a communication network to the Navy, including space based resources.

Government has initiated several measures to strengthen coastal security. An integrated approach has been put in place. The coastal surveillance and patrolling has been enhanced. Joint and operational exercises are taking place on regular basis between Navy, Coast Guard, Coastal Police, Customs and others to check the effectiveness of the new system. Further, continuous review and monitoring mechanism have been established at different levels and involving various agencies including the State/UT authorities.


Aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov

Contracts and supplementary agreements comprising repair and re-equipping, logistic supports, training, etc were concluded with Russian side for acquisition of the aircraft carrier, ex-Admiral Gorshkov, in January 2004 at a cost of US Dollars 974 million. The Russian side submitted a revised Master Schedule indicating a delay in the project and an increase in price for repair and re-equipping of the aircraft carrier, due to increase in scope of work not originally envisaged. The Government approved the proposal for conducting negotiations with the Russian side for finalizing a revised Repair and Re-equipping Contract and other related contracts/agreements affected due to delay in the project and Additional Works projected. The negotiations have since been concluded by the Contract Negotiation Committee (CNC). The revised cost of USD 2330 million has been approved by the Government. Prices for the works to be carried out under the revised contracts/agreements are fixed. The aircraft carrier was originally scheduled to be delivered in August 2008. The ship’s delivery is re-scheduled to December, 2012. Re-scheduling of the ship’s delivery and revision in its cost were necessitated due to emergence of Additional Works projected, detailed agreed scope of trials, etc.


Purchase of howitzer guns

In March, 2008, the Government had issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for procurement of towed guns. The name of one of the firms participating in the said procurement case figured among the names of seven firms in the FIR filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in May, 2009 in respect of various supply orders placed by Ordnance Factory Board. The procurement / acquisition cases in pipeline with any of the firms figuring in the said FIR were put on hold until further orders. Later, it was decided that multi-vendor procurement cases, presently held up at various stages of technical evaluation / trials, may be progressed further as per Defence Procurement Procedure – 2008. However, no tender will be awarded to the companies mentioned in the FIR unless CBI investigation clears them totally.

No towed guns / howitzers have been procured during the last three years. The proposals presently being processed includes production of towed guns by Ordnance Factory Board under transfer of technology from the selected vendor. The procurement proceeds as per the provisions of the Defence Procurement Procedure 2008. The induction of the equipment, as and when it takes place, will enhance the firepower of the Indian Artillery.


Strengthening of counter-terrorism measures

Adequate counter insurgency/counter terrorism measures are in place to keep security situation under control. Measures taken include augmenting the Central Para-Military Forces; amendment of the CISF Act to enable deployment of CISF; strengthening and re-organizing of Multi-Agency Centre for collation and sharing of intelligence with other intelligence and security agencies; tighter immigration control and effective border management through border fencing, flood lighting, deployment of surveillance equipment and coastal security. The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 was amended and notified in 2008 to strengthen the punitive measures to combat terrorism. A National Investigation Agency has been constituted under the National Investigation Agency act, 2008 to investigate and prosecute offences. NSG hubs at Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Mumbai have been established. Operations are based upon threats perceptions. Anti-insurgency weapons developed by DRDO include weapons used by commandos, survival kits, fire-retardant material/equipment etc.


Partnership of DRDO for development of products

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed a number of technologies/equipment during the last three years. These include missiles; unmanned aerial vehicle; electronic warfare systems; avionic systems; radars; sonars; combat vehicles; remotely operated vehicles; bridges; gyroscope; infrared seeker; sensors; NBC decontamination suites; parachutes; propellants and explosives; detonators; grenade launcher; rifles; composite materials; fuel cells; paints; data processing; antennas; communication systems; signal processing; guidance and control systems, etc.

At present, more than 400 private industries are associated with DRDO projects to develop systems/sub-systems/products to be used by the Services. Knowledge sharing is being done with academia in the form of extramural research for basic and directed research. DRDO has entered into an MoU with FICCI for commercialization of DRDO developed technologies for potential civilian market. More than 200 technologies are being assessed under this MoU. DRDO has entered into a contract with FICCI for Rs. 4.50 Cr and 6 technologies have been successfully commercialised so far. DRDO laboratories extend its facilities for students for research work in non-sensitive and non-strategic areas.