Kakinada: India is to buy as many as 126 multirole combat aircraft at an estimated cost of $ 6.5 billion , the largest ever defence indent after Independence, Union Minister of State for Defence M. M. Pallam Raju said here on Sunday.

Several aviation related equipment manufacturing companies from United States, U.K., France, Russia and Sweden are already in the field for bagging the supply order.

In an interview with The Hindu he said that more than 400 aviation related equipment companies worldwide will participate in the `Aero India' air show to be held at Bangalore for five days commencing from February 7, to exhibit their products so that they can bag the order for the multirole combat aircraft. Over a hundred aircraft of different types including civil and military ones, he said, will be displayed at the air show jointly organised by the Federation of Indian chambers of commerce and industry (FICCI) and Ms Farn Borough International organisation. Mr. Raju said such air shows will be organised once in two years.

Under the modernisation of Defence equipment the ageing aircraft such as Jaguars and MiGs will be replaced in a phased manner with the advanced multirole combat aircraft , he said. Meanwhile HAL has promised to start supplying the indigenous light combat aircraft from 2009 onwards.

Pointing out that the private sector units participation would be ensured in supply of defence related equipment, Mr. Raju said that industrial units with a turn over of Rs.1,000 crore and more were being identified as `Rashtriya Udyog Rathan' for the purpose.

Under the Offset policy effective during the eleventh plan period any supplies from abroad should invariably consists of a minimum of 30 percent indigenous component.

He said that the establishment of an STPI at Kakinada to help engineering graduates with better employment opportunities was his major achievement.

Mr. Raju said that the Chief Minister had agreed to take up modernisation of Yeleru ayacut at a cost of Rs.60 crore and Pithapuram Branch Canal (PBC) at Rs.10 crore.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail