Army’s carbine procurement held up

Why is it in news?
  • The fast-track procurement of 93,895 Close Quarter Carbine (CQB) rifles for the Army has been delayed even after the completion of cost negotiations as the case is pending with the Defence Ministry.
More in news
  • Oversight committee:
    (1) Cost negotiations have been completed, and the file has gone to a three-member oversight committee where it has been held up without a decision.
    (2) It consists of members of the Army, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Defence Ministry.
    (3) It had received questions on the company’s capability to deliver the entire volume in time.
    (4) The case has been held up by objections from the DRDO official on the committee.
    (5) The committee was supposed to give its comments in three days, but it had taken longer, and had not given any reason for the delay.
  • Deal requirements:
    (1) The carbine should have an effective range of 200 m and weigh less than 2 kg.
    (2) Under the FTP process, there is no elaborate general staff evaluation, and the exercise is expected to be completed in a year.
    (3) The evaluation is based on the operational requirements, and deliveries should be completed in a year of the contract having been signed. The deal is estimated to cost Rs. 1,800 crore.
Source
The Hindu




Posted by Jawwad Kazi on 25th Mar 2019
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