Posted on 02/10/2010 6:05:16 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
The Defence Minister Shri AK Antony today said the private sector will be allowed to play an increasingly greater role in the modernisation of the Armed Forces. Speaking at a meeting of the Consultative Committee attached to his Ministry on the subject ‘Ordnance Factories’, Shri Antony said Defence Public Sector Undertakings alone will not be able to meet all the requirements of the Armed Forces at the pace and time – frame envisaged by the Government. He however, ruled out corporatisation of the Defence arms industry saying “minus corporatisation, we will give more room to the private sector”.
The Defence Minister said now that revision of Defence Procurement Procedure has become an annual affair, the thrust this year would be to give more roles to the Indian private sector. There would be more room for ‘buy Indian, make Indian’.
Appreciating the role of Ordnance Factories over the years, Shri Antony said these units have been by and large successful in establishing indigenous production facilities for a variety of defence equipment. These include production of T-72, T-90 and Arjun Tanks, armoured personnel carriers, mine – protected and bullet proof vehicles, artillery guns, naval guns, night vision devices and fire control systems for armoured vehicles, small arms and many varieties of ammunition. “Indigenisation of different products have been one of the main objectives of Ordnance Factory Board”, he said.
Replying to the concerns expressed by several members about corruption in Defence procurement, Shri Antony said his Ministry has been taking strict action against all such aberrations and will continue to do so. However, he lamented that such actions are also criticised by certain sections who feel that it leads to delay in the procurement of armaments etc.
(Excerpt) Read more at defpro.com ...
Well, that’s certainly positive news. I’ve always thought private industry’s the way to go if you want to make serious advancements. Nothing like competition to fuel innovation. Plus, DRDO has an abysmal record with slipped schedules, overrun budgets, and no real product to show for it.
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