CONNAN
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8ak - Indian Defence News
26 Apr 2010 8ak: Live Mint reports that state run defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs) HAL and BEL have won the government order for the design and production of indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle – Rustom.
A few notes of caution though. Within the article itself it says that "Aeronautical Development Establishment, a DRDO agency, is yet to place an order" so it seems that it may not be a contract win.
Secondly, a person familiar with the deal had told 8ak more than half a year ago that the private sector did not bid for the project, so more than a win it is a walkout by private sector over badly thought-out/written tenders. The reason, he said, was that the specifications were 6 years old by the time the tender was issued in Dec 2008 and there was no assurance from the armed forces that they would buy the UAV once developed in another 4 years time (confirmed in the LiveMint report). Hence making the technology 10 years old by the time it is ready and even older by the time it is inducted.
It should be noted that changes and amendments cannot be made to a RFP once it is issued. The RFP can only be cancelled and cumbersome processes followed for a re-issue which adds years to acquisitions processes. The DPSU's are taking this opportunity to blame the private sector's profit seeking motive that it goes against national interest.
It is an 8ak prediction that since there is no buyer for this outdated technology, the DPSUs will keep delaying it as has been their track record, but they will keep the project alive with the sole objective of keeping the Indian private sector out. The winners, again will be Israel which sells India the Herons that the Rustom was meant to replace. Israel's IAI recently bagged an order for a hundred UAVs and the Americans are reportedly demonstrating their UAVs in Maoist controlled areas.
Earlier 8ak had reported that the technology demonstrator (TD) of Rustom had crashed in its maiden flight near Hosur in November last year. The crash had come as a major set back for the developing agency DRDO, which has been trying to develop Rustom, a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV, since the past two decades.
8ak had also reported that the UAVs will play a crucial role in low-intensity conflicts last year in December. This has come true as the government is mulling to deploy a huge number of UAVs in tackling the naxal crisis.
26 Apr 2010 8ak: Live Mint reports that state run defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs) HAL and BEL have won the government order for the design and production of indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle – Rustom.
A few notes of caution though. Within the article itself it says that "Aeronautical Development Establishment, a DRDO agency, is yet to place an order" so it seems that it may not be a contract win.
Secondly, a person familiar with the deal had told 8ak more than half a year ago that the private sector did not bid for the project, so more than a win it is a walkout by private sector over badly thought-out/written tenders. The reason, he said, was that the specifications were 6 years old by the time the tender was issued in Dec 2008 and there was no assurance from the armed forces that they would buy the UAV once developed in another 4 years time (confirmed in the LiveMint report). Hence making the technology 10 years old by the time it is ready and even older by the time it is inducted.
It should be noted that changes and amendments cannot be made to a RFP once it is issued. The RFP can only be cancelled and cumbersome processes followed for a re-issue which adds years to acquisitions processes. The DPSU's are taking this opportunity to blame the private sector's profit seeking motive that it goes against national interest.
It is an 8ak prediction that since there is no buyer for this outdated technology, the DPSUs will keep delaying it as has been their track record, but they will keep the project alive with the sole objective of keeping the Indian private sector out. The winners, again will be Israel which sells India the Herons that the Rustom was meant to replace. Israel's IAI recently bagged an order for a hundred UAVs and the Americans are reportedly demonstrating their UAVs in Maoist controlled areas.
Earlier 8ak had reported that the technology demonstrator (TD) of Rustom had crashed in its maiden flight near Hosur in November last year. The crash had come as a major set back for the developing agency DRDO, which has been trying to develop Rustom, a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV, since the past two decades.
8ak had also reported that the UAVs will play a crucial role in low-intensity conflicts last year in December. This has come true as the government is mulling to deploy a huge number of UAVs in tackling the naxal crisis.
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