Over Rs 78,000 cr spent on import of weapons

NEW DELHI: India has spent over Rs 78,000 crore in the last three years for importing weapon systems and military hardware from countries including the US, Russia, Germany, Israel and the United Kingdom, the government today said.

"The expenditure made on import of weapons, equipments during the last three years and the current financial year includes Rs 13,411.91 crore in 2009-10, Rs 15,44.01 crore in 2010-11, Rs 24,193 crore in 2011-12 and Rs 251,26 crore in 2012-13," Defence minister A K Antony told LokSabha in reply to a written query.

In the last few years, India has procured several new systems such as P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft, ten new C-17 heavy lift transport aircraft and C-130J Super Hercules aircraft.

Answering another query, Antony said CBI has informed that its probe in Tatra truck deal was related to the point that these "trucks were not purchased from the original manufacturer during the period 1997 onwards and BEML failed to achieve 100 per cent indigenisation in the last 24 years as first agreement was signed with M/s Omnipal in 1986 and all documents for indigenisation were received by BEML".

"BEML converted the payment currency from USD to Euros on the request of Tatra Sipox UK limited, the supplier firm and this action resulted in loss of Rs 4 crores to BEML," Antony said.

He said Letter Rogatories (LRs) are being sent to various countries and the investigation will be finalised on receipt of replies from the countries concerned.