India looking for Swedish weapons systems for self propelled guns
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, Jan 7, IRNA -- India`s Defense Secretary Ajay Prasad Friday evening said that there was requirement for self-propelled and towed guns for the Indian Army and concluded that SWS Sweden are one of the parties whose products are under consideration. According to a press release of Confederation of Indian Industries, a copy of which was received by IRNA on Saturday, Prasad while delivering the valedictory session at the 2nd India Defence Industry Summit, held on the occasion of the 3rd defense exposition 2004, said Sweden is trying to make a comeback after the government lifted the ban on Bofors after the impressive performance of the Howitzers. The company`s new owner - the Swedish Weapon Systems (SWS) - is offering upgraded version of the gun as well as keenness to revive the 1986 agreement to manufacture the self-propelled and mounted Howitzers. In the seminar organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and India`s Ministry of Defence at Pragati Maidan said, the Government was constituting a certain product group where in there is a felt need among services for a product. The upgraded version of the guns, FH77 BL52 and FH77 BD wheeled self-propelled guns while retaining the advantages of the combat- proven earlier Indian Army`s FH77 B had a longer range of 40 km with the standard base bleed ammunition and a longer range of 40 km, the company`s Chairman Haken Kangert told reporters here on Friday. On the question of outsourcing, Prasad said that the Government was contemplating outsourcing of vehicle maintenance as a starting point and assured that the Government would slowly extend the horizon of outsourcing. According to Prasad, the group can make recommendations to PSUs and ordnance factories can also play the role of a facilitator. He said that even foreign direct investment could be involved. 2160/212 End
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