No middlemen in defence deals: A K Antony

NEW DELHI: With India poised to spend another $30 billion in importing arms over the next five years, the government is keen to ensure that crucial defence projects are not derailed by shadowy middle-men lurking near the corridors of power. "The government stance is very clear...there is no question of middlemen in defence deals," said defence minister A K Antony on Saturday, after inaugurating the DefExpo-08, which has seen a record 475 participants this time.

"Whenever we get any complaint, we go to its root," said Antony, adding that no complaint had so far been received about alleged kickbacks in the $1.1-billion contract for the three Israeli Phalcon AWACS (airborne warning and control systems) signed in 2004.

The government had acted fast in the past to scrap two-three contracts after valid kickback allegations (the South African Denel anti-material rifle contract) or deviations from proper procurement procedures (the scrapping of the almost finalised $1 billion Eurocopter deal for 197 light helicopters), he said.

But controversies apart, global armament giants are certainly eyeing the lucrative Indian arms market with considerable glee, evident from the fact that as many as 273 foreign companies from around 30 countries are present at the DefExpo-08 ��� organized by the defence ministry in collaboration with CII ��� to hawk their weapon systems.