Cost issues holding up artillery guns procurement from US: Govt

NEW DELHI: The procurement of artillery guns through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route from the US Government has not progressed due to the cost issues, Rajya Sabha was told today.

Besides, the vendor's (BAE Systems) proposal is also not fully compliant to the offset requirements, Rajya Sabha was informed today.

"The case of procurement of artillery guns through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route from the US Government has not progressed due to the cost issues and vendor's (M/s BAE Systems) proposal not being fully compliant to the offset requirement," Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said in a written a reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.

All capital procurements are carried out as per the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP), which contains stringent provisions aimed at ensuring the highest degree of probity, public accountability and transparency, the Minister said.