With the Special Forces still making do with underpowered assault rifles, it is finally clear why there has been such inordinate delay in the procurement of Israeli-made alternatives ordered over three years ago — Washington’s preoccupations got in the way.

South Block has all along insisted that ‘‘technical problems’’ had caused delays after New Delhi ordered 3,400 Tavor-21 5.56 mm assault rifles worth approximately $ 20 million in Oct 2002. But the Army has now told The Indian Express that the US, which was to supply two main components of the rifle, refused to do so in Sept 2003 — almost a year after the contract was signed with Israeli Military Industries (IMI) — because of its heavy deployments in Iraq.

‘‘The under-barrel grenade launcher and its ammunition, which was to be provided by USA, was denied by them due to their commitment in Iraq in Sept 2003; an alternative Turkish UBGL and Singaporean ammunition was offered for trials by the vendor in Nov 2003. Trials were held in 2004 and accepted for procurement in 2005. The process is presently underway,’’ the army told Express in written reply

The first consignments of the new rifles will begin arriving in the next five-six months, army sources said. A US Embassy spokesperson here made no comment except to say that the Embassy was not aware of the request. The contract, they say, many have been routed otherwise as an Israeli firm was the principal vendor. The fact could, however, prove delicate for Pentagon, considering Washington’s current weapons hardsell to India.

... contd.