Guns hit,NSC for review on blacklisted firms

A committee,serviced by the National Security Council Secretariat,is being formed to look into whether a system of penalties can be adopted to punish vendors accused of payoffs rather than ban them. In fact,sources said,this suggestion first came from the Central Vigilance Commission last year.

The matter was discussed at a meeting of the National Security Council headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and including Defence Minister A K Antony.

Upon upgradation,which essentially meant mounting a new 155-mm barrel on the old 130-mm gun,their range was to increase from about 27 km to 39 km in the plains. A vital element was the bimodular charge system which serves like a propellant for the ammunition.

In the absence of the same,these upgraded guns are unable to fire beyond 24 km. This,incidentally,is shorter than the 27-km range of the original 130-mm guns.

The bimodular charge system was also meant to improve the range of Bofors guns to around 45-48 km from 30-35 km.

Meanwhile,China is quietly reaching out to the very vendors India has blacklisted. Chinas NORINCO is said to be making efforts with South Africas Denel to manufacture 155-mm guns. Pakistan is also in talks with the company for even missiles. China has also gone the extra mile to revive military ties with Israel after a 10-year gap.