Govt may pump in '15,000cr

The ministry of defence (MoD) may pump in about '15,000 crore for indigenisation during the 12th Five Year Plan to augment the capabilities of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB). The OFB is manufacturing indigenous equipment such as the 155 mm artillery guns that are expected to be inducted into the Army. In the wake of the controversy over bribery allegations in the VVIP helicopter deal, the MoD is expected to push for a massive boost to indigenisation to both reduce dependence on foreign arms suppliers and to eliminate any possibility of corruption in arms imports. The MoD is likely to permit arms imports in future only if the specific weaponry cannot be manufactured in India. Swedish defence think-tank SIPRI had recently ranked India as the top arms importer in the world from 2008-12. The indigenous 155 mm artillery guns are expected to undergo field trials shortly before it is approved for induction into the Army. The Army has not inducted any new artillery systems for the past more than two decades. Meanwhile, a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) was cancelled on Wednesday amid speculation that the political turmoil and busy schedule of defence minister A.K. Antony could have been the reason. The DAC was expected to discuss proposed changes in the defence procurement procedure that is expected to give a stronger push for the process of indigenous manufacture of weaponry and equipment for the armed forces. Apart from arms imports, India also is jointly developing sophisticated weaponry with countries such as Israel and Russia. Meanwhile, Mr Antony stated in a written reply before Parliament that IAF crew had to leave behind an “immobile” police signaller — after the helicopter they were travelling in, landed after being hit by naxal gunfire over Chhattisgarh recently — since “carrying him through hostile territory could have endangered his life”.