Though imports from Russia are down, it still remains India’s largest arms supplier. While sourcing from Israel has also decreased, it has risen from the US & France.
Work is also ongoing on a guided Pinaka system with ranges of 120km, 150km & 200km to counter China's long-range guided rocket systems. The existing Pinaka has a range of about 37km.
The government-to-government contract, valued at about Rs 2,000 cr, is learnt to have been signed earlier this month. Supplies to be fast-tracked according to Armenia's requirement.
While the commission didn’t mention provisions under which IndiGo's market domination would be examined, Competition Act 2002 prohibits abuse of dominant position by any enterprise.
It is argued that India-Israel ties are moving from buyer–seller dynamic to one focused on joint development & manufacturing partnership, a shift 'more durable' than traditional arms sales.
Don’t blame misfortune. This is colossal incompetence and insensitivity. So bad, heads would have rolled even in the old PSU-era Indian Airlines and Air India.
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