Dark Angel
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Despite rapidly rising defence purchases from the U.S., Indias Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) figures in a list of the U.S. Department of Commerce entities barred from doing business with American firms. 
Specifically, DRDO units such as the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), which are involved in the Light C ombat Aircraft (LCA) project, still face sanctions which had been imposed after the Pokhran nuclear tests in 1999.
In addition, Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL) and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) under the Ministry of Defence continue to be on the list.
The issue was raised by Defence Minister A. K. Anthony when the U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates called on him on January 20. According to an official statement, Mr. Anthony expressed the view that such restrictions were anomalous in the context of the steady improvement in the bilateral defence relations between both countries. the U.S. defence secretary informed that the list was up for revision and that changes in the list of entities would be made soon.
Being on the entities list means that the DRDO will not be able to participate in the offsets projects under which international arms sellers have to invest between 30%- 50% of the value of the contract received by them as direct or indirect offsets.
The DRDO laboratories are not just involved in missile or combat aircraft research but also non-weapons research to improve the lives of soldiers.
Getting onto the offsets bandwagon will enable DRDO labs to acquire much-needed capital for their various projects, acquire the latest international technology and build on their already established technological base to develop world-class products.
Specifically, DRDO units such as the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), which are involved in the Light C ombat Aircraft (LCA) project, still face sanctions which had been imposed after the Pokhran nuclear tests in 1999.
In addition, Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL) and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) under the Ministry of Defence continue to be on the list.
The issue was raised by Defence Minister A. K. Anthony when the U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates called on him on January 20. According to an official statement, Mr. Anthony expressed the view that such restrictions were anomalous in the context of the steady improvement in the bilateral defence relations between both countries. the U.S. defence secretary informed that the list was up for revision and that changes in the list of entities would be made soon.
Being on the entities list means that the DRDO will not be able to participate in the offsets projects under which international arms sellers have to invest between 30%- 50% of the value of the contract received by them as direct or indirect offsets.
The DRDO laboratories are not just involved in missile or combat aircraft research but also non-weapons research to improve the lives of soldiers.
Getting onto the offsets bandwagon will enable DRDO labs to acquire much-needed capital for their various projects, acquire the latest international technology and build on their already established technological base to develop world-class products.
