The Defence Ministry today made it clear that there is no substance in the objections raised by South Korean firm Korea Aerospace Industries after it lost to the Swedish Pilatus to deliver 75 Basic Trainers to the Indian Air Force at the cost of $ 1 billion. The presentation submitted by KAI has also resulted in the delay in the procurement of these badly needed winged machines. The tactic is similar to that employed by many disgruntled foreign vendors who try to put a spoke in the wheel by putting up these complaints thus stalling the modernisation of our armed forces. Its high time that we realise the game and try to work our acquisition processes around them or it will be we who will end up losing more than anybody else.
Here is the reply of the Defence Minister AK Antony in the Parliament-
"The proposal for procurement of Basic Trainer Aircraft for
the Indian Air Force (IAF) is awaiting consideration of the Cabinet Committee
on Security (CCS).
The proposal regarding the selection procedure of the Pilatus
Trainer Aircraft has been progressed in accordance with the Defence Procurement
Procedure. A representation submitted by M/s Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI),
one of the bidders, has been found to be devoid of merit.
The Defence Procurement Procedure prescribes an indicative
timeline for progressing procurement cases. All effort is made to adhere to
these time lines."
(Also read this - Basic Trainers )
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