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Archer · 12-14-2006, 08:48 AM

In a manner of speaking, but times have changed..
Kalam personally went and met bigwigs when IGMDP was launched and asked for their support. Some agreed, some didnt.
Today, its far harder, especially with the halo of India shining over the private sector. But on the plus side, private industry now realises the money in defence, some fellers also want in by hook and crook. They want the same status, same deal as DPSUs and DRDO, but have not shown the infrastructure or for that matter the investment to back it up..and are conducting a very public campaign about "discrimination". In the meanwhile they are also paying off mags like Force to push for "their case". Heh, how times change. But the MOD is acting as gatekeeper and only letting those with a proven track record- L&T, TATA through.

Some local projects which have succeeded recently have pi$$ed off a load of arms sellers, especially one which the IA is buying 6 -8 regiments of. It was thought to be a done deal for imports, what with a Billion $ price tag, but it went belly up, because DRDO and its private partners delivered. So now its being attacked on the grounds of some magic foreign assistance, because DRDO and its partners are undertaking some tough negotiations and "show us proof" for whatever tech is being offered, without just handing over the moolah.

Another project which is being "pushed for", is the refit of IN Kilo subs. Again very open attempt to have the IN purchase some gear as it is "essential".

The campaigns are getting more and more brazen. A couple of years back, a Czech firm even openly ran adds for reopening the AJT tender and getting its L-159 "in" versus the Hawk. It didnt work. Before that, a massive media campaign was conducted against the Su-30 MKI as it was a "paper project", unlike "proven fighters". Heh, arms sellers.

12-14-2006, 08:48 AM	#14 (permalink)
Archer *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 10-13-03 Posts: 2,888	In a manner of speaking, but times have changed.. Kalam personally went and met bigwigs when IGMDP was launched and asked for their support. Some agreed, some didnt. Today, its far harder, especially with the halo of India shining over the private sector. But on the plus side, private industry now realises the money in defence, some fellers also want in by hook and crook. They want the same status, same deal as DPSUs and DRDO, but have not shown the infrastructure or for that matter the investment to back it up..and are conducting a very public campaign about "discrimination". In the meanwhile they are also paying off mags like Force to push for "their case". Heh, how times change. But the MOD is acting as gatekeeper and only letting those with a proven track record- L&T, TATA through. Some local projects which have succeeded recently have pi$$ed off a load of arms sellers, especially one which the IA is buying 6 -8 regiments of. It was thought to be a done deal for imports, what with a Billion $ price tag, but it went belly up, because DRDO and its private partners delivered. So now its being attacked on the grounds of some magic foreign assistance, because DRDO and its partners are undertaking some tough negotiations and "show us proof" for whatever tech is being offered, without just handing over the moolah. Another project which is being "pushed for", is the refit of IN Kilo subs. Again very open attempt to have the IN purchase some gear as it is "essential". The campaigns are getting more and more brazen. A couple of years back, a Czech firm even openly ran adds for reopening the AJT tender and getting its L-159 "in" versus the Hawk. It didnt work. Before that, a massive media campaign was conducted against the Su-30 MKI as it was a "paper project", unlike "proven fighters". Heh, arms sellers. __________________ Karmani Vyapurutham Dhanuhu My bow is stretched for its task Last edited by Archer : 12-14-2006 at 08:57 AM.