Kautilya

“The timeline we had finalised to complete the medium refit and life certification (MRLC) for the submarine was 27 months. We are right on track with the work,” HSL Chairman and Managing Director Rear Admiral (retired) L.V. Sarat Babu told. Incidentally, HSL has undertaken major works like installation of indigenous sonar, indigenous fire control system and extensive renewal of mainline cabling professionally during a normal refit, for the first time in the country.

“The cost negotiating committee is almost finished with the price negotiations of the aircraft. Once it is done, IAF will enter into a deal with the HAL,” a senior IAF official told IANS. As per sources, the deal for 83 Tejas LCA, which are of the Mark 1A variant, is expected to cost the IAF in the range of ₹45,000 crore. The aircraft will have improved serviceability, faster weapon-loading time, enhanced survivability, a better electronic warfare suite and Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar that will significantly enhance its capability.

The country allows up to 49% foreign direct investment (FDI) in defence in the automatic route and it needs government approval to go beyond the cap. This round of liberalisation is expected to raise the limit for automatic clearance to 74% along with relaxation in other conditions. “We are examining what we can offer. What kind of relaxation can be taken up,” the official said.

According to sources, Indian intelligence agencies had been given a clear-cut directive: stop terrorist infiltration to Kashmir at any cost as the cross-border militant groups would try to push in as many cadre as possible in these months. The Army had destroyed three such terror launch pads in the Neelam Valley of PoK with heavy artillery fire and caused significant damage to a fourth one, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said on Sunday.