Global cos vie for Indian defence deals

NEW DELHI: Murky it certainly is, but it seems there is no business like arms business . With India projected to spend well over $30 billion for procuring military hardware and software over the next fourfive years, global armament giants are vying to grab a piece of the lucrative action.

The government���s decision to fasttrack deals after 26/11 to plug gaps in the operational capabilities of army, navy, IAF and coast guard has only whetted their appetite.

There will be over 300 foreign companies from countries like the US, Russia, France, Israel, the UK, Sweden and the like, as well as over 200 Indian firms, which will hawk their wares during Aero India-2009 in Bangalore, said defence ministry officials on Wednesday.

International aviation majors ranging from Boeing, Sikorsky, EADS and BAE Systems to MiG-Sukhoi, Embraer, Bombardier and SAAB will all be there during the show from February 11 to 15.

The focus will be on fighters, aircraft, helicopters, UAVs and radars. If the IAF has the huge $10.4-billion project to acquire 126 multi-role combat aircraft, with the six contenders preparing for trials in April-May, the army, navy and coast guard too want to bolster their own air wings.

Take, for intance, navy. After the ministry inked the $2.1-billion contract for eight Boeing P-8 i long-range maritime jets on January 1, the deals for 29 more Russian MiG-29 Ks for Rs 5,380 crore, five Kamov-31 copters for Rs 1,377 crore and two Israeli Heron UAVs for Rs 386 crore are now ready.

Navy is also hunting for six to eight medium-range reconnaissance planes, each worth Rs 270-300 crore, and 16 multi-role helicopters with anti-submarine warfare capabilities, each costing Rs 110 crore.