Ban on defence firms will delay artillery upgrade: Army Chief

Interestingly,the Singapore-based firm is the only vendor offering its “Pegasus” gun to the Army for its requirement of ultra-light howitzers needed for deployment in mountainous regions. With the only other contender,BAE systems,backing out of the contract,the ST gun was the only one available that met the Army’s requirements.

ST was banned after its name figured along with six other firms in the CBI inquiry against former Director General of Ordnance Factory Board Sudipta Ghosh. The defence ministry has put all dealings with the seven firms on hold till the CBI completes its probe.

This is the second major blow for the Army’s artillery modernization plans after South African giant Denel was blacklisted in 2005 for allegedly paying kickbacks in a deal for anti-material rifles for the Army. General Kapoor also said today that the much-awaited comparative trials between the indigenous Arjun tanks and the Russian origin T 90 mainstay tanks of the Army will take place in October.

The trials are considered vital as the induction of larger numbers of the tank will be dependant on how reliable the Arjun is found by the Army. “The tanks have been just delivered to the Army. It would take three to four months before the regiment is fully operationalised. After that,we will carry out comparative trials between the Arjun tanks and the T-90s,” Kapoor said.