‘Provide test plan before trial’

Perplexed by the UPA government’s decision to hold two more trial rounds for its acquisition of 155mm towed artillery guns, Bofors Defe...

Perplexed by the UPA government’s decision to hold two more trial rounds for its acquisition of 155mm towed artillery guns, Bofors Defence has decided to give a firm commitment to the trials only after the Army provides a detailed test plan for the next two trials, due to be held in June and October. According to Bofors, the Army has given the firm an ‘‘extremely brief’’ trial plan that is ‘‘simply a repeat of the last tests’’.

After blacklisting Denel and virtually dismissing Israeli firm Soltam over its poor performance, the government is understood to be wary of what it perceives as a single-vendor situation even though all three guns were put through two rounds of trials in 2003 and 2004.

SWS Defence chief Haken Kangert told The Indian Express, ‘‘We are in dialogue with the Indian Army and would like to see exactly what they want. From the brief test plan that we have been given, it appears that they want us to demonstrate aspects in different environments now, from low to high level, but we have already done so.’’

Swedish Army chief Major General Svorker Goransson is in India and is scheduled to meet his Indian counterpart Gen J J Singh to whom he will he will convey Sweden’s concern over the delays in the Indian artillery procurement procedure. With the re-emergence of the Bofors scam, Maj Gen Goransson will be reaffirming the country’s stand that Bofors’ current owners, BAE Systems, have none of the liabilities of erstwhile A B Bofors, which currently lie with a Netherlands-based firm.

Canada, UK and Australia formally recognise a Palestinian state

World8 min ago

The UK, Canada, and Australia have recognized Palestine as a state, going against the US and Israel's opposition. British PM Starmer aims to revive peace without Hamas and hostage release. Canada and Australia also recognize Palestine, condemning terrorism. Over 145 UN members recognize Palestine, with France likely to join soon.

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