Topic: Pilatus
Defence Ministry clears purchase of indigenous basic trainer aircraft, upgrade of Israeli UAVs
HAL acquisition among projects worth Rs 8,722.38 crore to be cleared. The upgrade of Israeli Heron UAVs will include arming them, a need being pushed due to stand-off with China.
BJP MP links defence middleman Sanjay Bhandari to Robert Vadra in Lok Sabha speech
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey urges Modi govt to look into 2009 Pilatus defence deal, draws links between property bought by Bhandari's firm in London to Vadra.
CAG report pokes holes in UPA-era deal for Pilatus trainer aircraft for IAF
The controversial Rs 2,895.63 crore deal for 75 Pilatus basic trainer aircraft is already under the scanner of the CBI.
As CBI pursues Swiss firm Pilatus, IAF’s trainer fleet remains without maintenance deal
The IAF never signed a pact for maintenance of the fleet in 2011 and now thanks to a CBI probe into Pilatus there's little chance of the deal being signed.
On Camera
YourTurn
The four-point plan to revive Pakistan’s economy—from land reform to real estate
Pakistan must reduce non-productive expenditures like defence. The country's political economy has been overdetermined by the imperative of 'national security'.
Bad timing could hamper LIC IPO
Most early public enterprise IPOs have been trading 75% below their original price, small investors concerned.
Defence
India ‘doesn’t foresee’ border fighting with China, but ‘won’t back down’ if tensions reignite
Aim is to ensure not just disengagement of troops, but overall de-escalation. Govt in favour of solving tensions through talks as it wants peace with all neighbours including China.
How Congress is like the Ambassador & why Indian politics needs a brand new set of wheels
Like the car, nothing the party has done to reinvent itself has worked. Only way forward is to offer something looking towards the future, not in image of glorious past.