by Sanjeev Miglani
NEW DELHI, May 14 (Reuters) – The Indian government has authorized the purchase of 56 transport aircraft to Airbus, together with the local group Tata Sons, a contract valued at 1 9 billion dollars (1.7 billion euros), said Thursday a source from the Ministry of Defense.
New Delhi also approved a Russian proposal Kamov light helicopters construction in India and buying the US 145 ultra-light mortars in order to modernize the army.
The transport planes are to replace a fleet of aging Avro. Airbus must supply 16 C295 aircraft ready to fly, while the remaining 40 will be built and assembled by Tata Advanced Systems in India.
This will be the first military aircraft manufactured locally by a private Indian company. In this sector, the construction in India is dominated by a public company, Hindustan Aeronautics.
“The defense acquisition council gave the green light for negotiations with the Airbus consortium for Tata aircraft although in this case, the claimant was unique, “said the source.
The Indian procurement law stipulates that it takes more than one bidder for the contract unless exemption Acquisition Board chaired by the Defence Minister.
The source added that the negotiations should be concluded by the end of the year.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants greater participation of Indian companies in the defense market and reduce dependence of the armed forces to foreign industrialists, under its program “Make in India” (Do it in India).
No one was immediately available at Airbus Group for comment. (Wilfrid Exbrayat for the French service, edited by)
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