MoD takes U-Turn On Cancellation of Black Shark Torpedo Contract

[Zarvan]

by Sandeep Unnithan

The government's new approach towards cancellation marks a return to following a nuanced approach towards subsidiaries of tainted firms.

SUMMARY


The torpedo is made by a Finmeccanica subsidiary WASS.
India wanted to buy torpedoes of worth Rs 1,800-crore.
The torpedoes were meant for six Scorpene class submarines.
The Ministry of Defence has put on hold plans to scrap its acquisition of 98 Black Shark heavyweight torpedoes from a subsidiary of tainted Italian firm Finmeccannica.

Sources told that the decision to stall the scrapping of the Rs 1,800-crore torpedo deal was taken this month. Defence minister Manohar Parrikar is believed to have instructed MoD officials to hold on the cancellation until the MoD's new debarment policy is finalized.

On May 6 this year, Parrikar announced a blacklist of Finmeccanica for bribery in the 560-million Euros VVIP helicopter deal in 2010. Defence ministry officials said that the process for revoking the Request for Proposal on the Black Shark torpedo contract, had been initiated in May this year. The torpedo is made by a Finmeccanica subsidiary WASS.

WE HAVE ALTERNATIVE FOR FINMECCANICA'S TORPEDOS: PARRIKAR

"Wherever there is capital procurement of Finmeccanica and their subsidiaries, all Requests for Proposal [RFP] will be closed. I am very clear," he said in a May 29 interview. The government had found alternatives to the Finmeccanica torpedo, MoD officials said.

The government's new approach towards cancellation marks a return to following a nuanced approach towards subsidiaries of tainted firms. Officials in the law, finance and defence ministry consulted over the Black Shark cancellation, warned of its financial implications and its impact on defence preparedness.

The torpedoes were to have equipped the six Scorpene class submarines being built at the MDL, Mumbai. The first submarine of the class is on sea trials without torpedoes.

As first reported by on July 1, officials in the strategic submarine project had communicated their alarm over the cancellation of the Black Shark torpedo deal. The Italian torpedo was to have also been fitted in three 'Arihant class' nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines.

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/...of-black-shark-torpedo-contract/1/726783.html

 

[Alphacharlie]

Good--- Navy you are a Role Model.

My Nation needs to give a Chance to Our Domestic Torpedos.....

Where is that Lungi Saint Anthony saying we "Dont have Intellectual "Capital to make Advanced Weaps"...

 

[Abingdonboy]

@PARIKRAMA

 

[PARIKRAMA]

@PARIKRAMA

There is a debarment policy coming out soon. Till then black listing is stopped as we have to wait for a clear cut policy.

We have alternative thats F21 and no French side has not said its for only Scorpenes. Its we who want much more in terms of the deal with some help for Varunastra Under Water Torpedo version

Rest all is our media interpretation. A U turn and a public outcry and a stalled parliament.