R-Infra announces takeover of Pipavav Defence

Reliance Infrastructure (R-Infra) on Monday announced the takeover of the management and control of Pipavav Defence & Offshore Engineering Co (PDOC). It would hold 36.5 per cent of the equity capital of PDOC.

Anil D Ambani has taken over as chairman of PDOC.

R-Infra, along with defence special purpose vehicles, are the new promoters of PDOC. The company will be renamed Reliance Defence and Engineering. This is the largest acquisition in the defence sector in India. The sector is likely to attract orders of Rs 1.2 lakh crore ($20 billion) in the next five years, said the company. Vice-admiral (retired) H S Malhi has been appointed whole-time director and chief executive of the company. He has 36 years of experience in the Indian Navy and was earlier chairman and managing director of Mazagon Dock.PDOC has also appointed air chief marshal (retired) Fali Homi Major and Lt general (retired) Syed Ata Hasnain as independent directors.

The Government of India has identified ship building as a priority sector to support the critical need to meet the requirements of the Indian Navy as well as that of commercial ships. The expected naval capital outlay in ship-building for the next 10 years is Rs 2.25 lakh crore, of which the private sector is expected to grab at least 50 per cent amounting to Rs 1,12,500 crore, the company said.

PDOC is participating in various programmes in the field of new ship-building and maintenance, repair and overhaul worth Rs 1.8 lakh crore.

The company is the first private-sector firm in India to obtain the licence and contract to build warships. The facility houses the only modular shipbuilding facility with a capacity to build fully fabricated and outfitted blocks. The fabrication facility is spread over 2.1 million sq ft. The shipyard has a pre-erection berth of 980 metres length and 40 metres width, and two Goliath cranes with combined lifting capacity of 1,200 tonnes, besides outfitting berth length of 780 metres.

Reliance Defence is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure with industrial licences for the full spectrum of military platforms

businessstandard

Plane comparison: Pakistan Thunder versus Indian Tejas

This will be the first appearance of Tejas at a foreign air show, and is bound to be compared with Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder fighter produced with Chinese help.India’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas reached Sakhir Air Base last week to participate in the Bahrain International Air Show 2016, which will be held from January 21. This will be the first appearance of Tejas at a foreign air show, and is bound to be compared with Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder fighter produced with Chinese help.JF-17 Thunder is a third-generation fighter co-produced by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), Kamra, and China’s Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation. It has been in service since 2010, with the PAC rolling out the 16th of its 50 Block-2 aircraft to complete the PAF’s fourth JF-17 squadron last month.

Tejas
LCA Tejas has not been inducted into the IAF yet. Starting in 1984, Tejas has been designed and developed by Aeronautical Development Agency with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and Defence Research and Development Organisation. Test pilots have done more than 3,000 flights on the fighter, which still awaits IAF’s Final Operational Clearance. The IAF has ordered six squadrons (120 aircraft) of Tejas Mark-1A but there is no certainty over the induction schedule.
Match-up
How do the two fighters stack up against each other? Aviation expert Angad Singh says that “between the lack of publically confirmed data on the JF-17 (weapons, for example) and the in-development status of the LCA Tejas, any comparison is inherently apples to oranges. Tejas and JF-17 have been designed very differently. Tejas was meant as the next generation fighter — there is a lot of great technology on the Tejas, such as the Israeli HMD. For Pakistan, the JF-17 is meant to replace its old fleet of Mirage III and Chengdu J-7 fighters, which it has done.”

 indianexpress

India, France scramble to ink Rafale deal during Hollande's visit

 

Indian and French defence establishments are scrambling to seal the over $4 billion deal for 36 Rafale multi-role fighter jets in time for French President Francois Hollande's visit as chief guest for the Republic Day parade down the majestic Rajpath.

But defence ministry sources said there was "still some distance to go" before the final Rafale contract -- under which delivery of 36 twin-engine fighters in a "flyaway condition" will begin after two years - could actually be inked. This comes after the Manohar Parrikar-led defence acquisitions council on Monday reviewed progress of the final negotiations for the government-to-government fighter deal.

"It's unlikely the actual contract will be inked during Hollande's visit. Though all the complex technical and contractual issues have virtually been settled now, the commercial negotiations will take at least another 2-3 weeks. Then, it will require clearance from the finance ministry, and the final nod from the Cabinet Committee on Security," a source said.

Interestingly, after some hard-nosed negotiations, France has now apparently agreed to 30% offsets in the Rafale deal. This means French companies like Dassault will have to plough 30% of the contract value back into India as offsets.India had specified 50% offsets in the original $20 billion MMRCA (medium multi-role combat aircraft) project for 126 fighters, under which the first 18 Rafales were to be imported from France, with the remaining 108 being made by defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics after transfer of technology.

But the MMRCA project was scrapped last year after persisting deadlock over Dassault's refusal to take "full responsibility" for the 108 jets to be made by HAL as well as the stiff hike in its production costs here.Concurrently, the NDA government decided to go in for direct purchase of 36 Rafales during the Modi-Hollande summit in Paris on April 10 last year, citing the IAF's "critical operational necessity" and the need to cut time and costs.

Though France offered better terms and longer maintenance responsibility for India's direct acquisition of 36 jets, it said 50% offsets would hike the overall cost. Under the give-and-take of negotiations, both countries have now veered around to a 30% offset clause, said sources.While the negotiations are only for 36 Rafales, less than one-third of the 126 envisaged under the MMRCA project, the new contract will have a mandatory clause for acquisition of another 18 jets under the 50% follow-on order option at the same price. The 36 jets are to be delivered in the same configuration as were tested and approved by the IAF during extensive field trials in the MMRCA project.

While IAF would have been much happier with 126 Rafales, considering it's down to just 35 fighter squadrons when at least 44 are required for the "collusive threat" from China and Pakistan, it will make do with 36 jets for now. The force is trying to bolster the serviceability of its existing Sukhoi-30MKI and Jaguar fleets, which still hovers around only 55%, to maintain its required air combat ratio.

timesofindia

Barack Obama warns Pakistan: Shut down terrorist safe havens

 

The US president's remarks, made on the eve of his visit to India, were soon condemned by Pakistan and others as "unfair" 

 President Barack Obama has warned Pakistan it must shut down terrorist safe havens and bring those behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks to justice on the eve of his visit to India.

His comments, made in an interview with the magazine India Today, were condemned in Islamabad as an attempt to curry favour with his hosts which could undermine Pakistan's war against Taliban terrorists in its tribal areas along the Afghan border.

Mr Obama arrives in India on Sunday for his second visit in four years and is hoping to clinch a series of nuclear energy and defence deals to underpin what he hopes will be the "defining partnership" of the 21st century.

He believes the two countries have a natural affinity and wants more trade, greater co-operation against terrorists and pirates and a common approach to climate change.

To underline their common ground on terrorism, he contrasted how the United States had been "unrelenting in our fight against terrorist groups - a fight in which Indians and Americans are united".

"Indians were tragically killed on 9/11, as were Americans on 26/11. On my previous visit to India, my first stop was the memorial at the Taj hotel to pay my respects to the victims, meet with survivors and send a strong message to the Indian people that we stand together in defence of our security and our way of life," he said.
India's neighbour and enemy, Pakistan, was lagging behind, he suggested. "I've made it clear that even as the United States works with Pakistan to meet the threat of terrorism, safe havens within Pakistan are not acceptable and that those behind the Mumbai terrorist attack must face justice," he said.
The United States, along with its partners, had "decimated" the leadership of al-Qaeda in Pakistan and Afghanistan, he said, while the "senseless slaughter" of students and teachers in Peshawar last month was a "painful reminder" of the continuing threat terrorists pose to all.
His comments provoked anger in Pakistan where Mr Obama was accused of undermining its war on Taliban terrorists and undervaluing the lives of thousands of Pakistani soldiers killed in anti-terrorist operations. Lieutenant-General Talat Masood, retired and a leading strategic analyst, said the president's comments had been made to please India on the eve of his visit but would undermine Pakistan just as its army has intensified its operations against Taliban, al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups in the country.
More than 30,000 army troops are now involved in the Operation Zarb-e-Azb offensive, which was launched last June following an al-Qaeda attack on Karachi Airport.
It has carried out air strikes and artillery attacks on terrorist bases throughout the tribal areas, killing dozens of commanders and volunteers. The offensive was intensified after the Taliban attack on Peshawar's Army Public School in which more than 150 people, mostly children, were killed.
"We have launched a major military operation in which so many lives have been lost. Just to humour the Indians, he's making this statement and it's unfair to Pakistan. It will cause resentment, especially now when Pakistan is doing so much to clear these havens.
"It doesn't make sense. When Pakistan is doing exactly what the international community is asking from them, for them to say these things to please the Indians or rub it is all the time, it's not good politics. If you want to achieve results, you don't say these things, it puts people off.
"[The Army] is taking huge risks by fighting these militants and militant organisations and now you're not even supporting us internationally, it helps the militants. It will disillusion those trying to support the government," Lt-Gen Masood said."

 telegraph

Tejas will be at ‘striking distance’ of Pak JF-17s at Bahrain

 

It's official! And, it is as close as it can get! India's Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas will be at a ‘striking distance' of Pakistan's JF-17 Thunder in Bahrain. The Bahrain International Air Show (BIAS) is scheduled from January 21-23 at the Sakhir Airbase.

At BIAS, two Tejas aircraft will be parked next to two Pakistan's JF-17s on aircraft display Pad No 15. Two Royal Air Force Typhoons will also be parked on Pad No 15. Behind the Tejas, the entire Pad No 14 has been allotted to the United Arab Emirate's Al Fursan aerobatic display team. Pakistan's JF-17s is a joint development project of Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and China's Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation. Operational with the Pakistan Air Force since 2010, the JF-17s have already seen some international air shows, including Paris. It's unclear on what basis the organisers have grouped two military platforms from two not-so-friendly nations on the same parking bay. 

The move is expected to grab immense media attention during the show. An LCA Tejas telemetry cabin with a tracking antenna and other equipment have also been given a space inside the Sakhir Airbase area, closer to the static aircraft display trade area. Likely to reach Bahrain today Military sources have confirmed to OneIndia that two Tejas platforms LSP-4 and LSP-7 are scheduled to fly out of Air Force Station Jamnagar on Wednesday. "The planes reached Jamnagar last week from Bengaluru and they are all set to fly out to Muscat today. 

It will be historic in many ways as Tejas will be cruising out of Indian skies for the first time," an officer told OneIndia. In the last one week, in addition to various technical clearances, Tejas had to undergo a series of mandatory custom checks at the Jamnagar base. "It will have a stopover at Muscat before flying out to Sakhir Airbase in Bahrain. It is scheduled to reach Bahrain today itself," the officer said.

Technical crew spread across different bases A team of over 150 technicians, engineers and ground crew have already been positioned at Jamnagar, Muscat and Bahrain ahead of the Tejas' historic outing. As reported by OneIndia recently, Tejas had cleared one of the most critical flight test parameters in the programme, when the pilots pulled 8 'g' (limit of envelope) during its test flights in Bengaluru last month.

A top delegation from Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) is expected to depart for Bahrain next week ahead of the air show. "It's a massive effort by the team to ensure that the planes are in good shape and ready for the demonstration. Everyone is excited since it is for the first time Tejas will be performing outside India," the officer added. 

 

OneIndia News

Indian Army will finally receive self-propelled K9 Vajra-T howitzer after successful evaluations

 

Although the bids were made under the ‘Buy Global’ provision of the defence procurement procedure, the K9 Vajra-T gun will be made at its Talegaon plant near Pune by the L&T.

Defence ministry sources told The Indian Express that the evaluation process was completed in September last year, when L&T was informed of the ministry’s decision. After completing the benchmarking process, the ministry, on December 22, opened the price bid of L&T as it was the only gun to qualify in the trials.

Ministry sources said that the price negociations with L&T will begin this month and are likely to be concluded in this financial year. The deal for 100 guns is estimated to cost between Rs 4,500 to Rs 5,000 crore ($670 million to $750 million). The contract will also have a follow-up option clause of 50 additional K9 Vajra-T guns.
The first 10 guns are to be supplied by L&T to the Army within 18 months of signing, with the balance 90 guns to be supplied in the next two years. These will be the first howitzers to be inducted in the Army after the procurement of controversial Bofors 155mm guns nearly three decades ago.
Four companies, including the Tatas, the OFB and the BEML, bid for the RFP (request for proposal) issued in January 2011. Along with L&T’s K9 Vajra-T, an upgraded version of OFB’s Russian MSTA-S SP gun participated in the field evaluation trial held from March to August 2013 at the Pokharan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan.

The K9 Vajra is a variant oft he South-Korean-made K9 155mm self-propelled howitzer especially designed for operation in the desert areas bordering Pakistan.

 

 World Defense News

 

India says closing in on French fighter plane deal

 

India and France are close to a deal to buy 36 combat planes from Dassault, India's defence minister said on Monday, after months of wrangling over price and other terms of the sale.
French President Francois Hollande is due in New Delhi this month as a guest of honour at a military parade and the two sides are expected to seal the pact for the Rafale fighters either just before he arrives or during the visit.
"It's closer to completion," Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told reporters. He didn't give any details.
India's air force desperately wants to replace its ageing squadrons of Soviet-era warplanes to face a two-front threat from China and Pakistan.
The defence ministry had originally cleared the purchase of 126 Rafale planes, estimated at the time to be worth $12 billion. Last year the number of planes was scaled back to 36 after the two sides could not agree on unit price and local assembly of the aircraft.
Under the new deal that India and France are trying to seal, the planes will be brought off the shelf. "The procedure is going on," Parrikar said, declining to elaborate.
New Delhi is hoping the bulk of the air force fleet will be made up by an indigenous fighter that has been three decades in the making.

 reuters

Tejas fighter to make international debut at Bahrain

 

India’s home-grown fighter is set to debut on the international stage. The defence ministry has announced that the Tejas will perform aerobatic displays at the Bahrain International Air Show from January 21-23.

“The show will witness flying demonstration of the ‘Tejas’, the latest and state of the art Light Combat Aircraft, the ‘Four-plus’ generation and highly cost effective fighter aircraft” (sic), said the defence ministry on Friday.

This is a bold marketing move, given that the Tejas’ final operational certification is expected only by mid-2016, and just a single fighter has been delivered to the Indian Air Force (IAF). In contrast, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) made an international splash with its F-17 Thunder fighter only after inducting the fighter into squadron service.

Top officials in the Defence R&D Organisation (DRDO) say this is a measure of their confidence in the Tejas, which has flown in several Aero India Shows in Bengaluru.

This could be a clever gambit, provided the Tejas makes a favourable impression at Bahrain. In the recent Paris Air Show in June, the PAF’s JF-17 --- a light, cheap fighter like the Tejas, developed in partnership with China --- was eyed by several air forces that cannot afford heavy fighters.

Respected defence group, IHS Janes, quoting Pakistani officials, reported that an unnamed air force had already signed a contract for the JF-17, and that discussions were under way with 11 other air forces, including Argentina.

However, the Tejas is at a disadvantage vis-à-vis the JF-17, which the PAF has aggressively supported and marketed to bring down costs by building more aircraft. The PAF aims at inducting some 250 JF-17s, with exports orders adding to that number.

In a telling contrast, the IAF has supported the Tejas reluctantly, agreeing to accept 100 improved Tejas only after the defence minister put the squeeze last year on import-happy air marshals.

There will be high stakes at Bahrain for the IAF, DRDO and the Tejas’ manufacturer, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). If the two Tejas fighters going to Bahrain are hamstrung by maintenance glitches, or their aerobatics performance is unimpressive, that would seriously jeopardise prospects for future exports.

“A fighter participating in an international air show is scrutinised like a Miss Universe contestant. Every mole of the Tejas will be scrutinised in Bahrain”, warns Pushpindar Singh, aerospace expert and editor of Vayu magazine.

Singh also wonders why Bahrain has been chosen for the Tejas’ debut. “Last month’s Dubai Air Show was the world’s third biggest air show after Farnborough (in UK) and Paris (in France). Even next month’s Singapore Air Show would provide a bigger audience,” he says.

The Tejas is regarded as technologically superior to the JF-17, and only somewhat more expensive. Built largely of light composite materials, the Tejas carries more fuel and weapons. A fourth-generation fighter, it has an “unstable design” that makes it more manoeuvrable than the JF-17, which has a “relaxed stability” design.

Aerospace experts say the JF-17 is basically a heavily re-engineered MiG-type fighter. In contrast, the Tejas represents a technology leap, with its quadruplex, fly-by-wire system that stabilises it in flight.

The participating Tejas fighters will fly in mid-January from Bengaluru, via Jamnagar and Muscat, to the Sakhir Air Base in Bahrain where the show will be held.

The defence ministry has also announced that the IAF’s Sarang helicopter aerobatics team, which has impressed audiences in Berlin and Farnborough, will perform at Bahrain. 

ajaishukla

Japan to deliver 12 amphibious aircraft to Indian Navy

 

(UPI) -- Japan is scheduled to deliver 12 Utility Seaplane Mark 2 amphibious search-and-rescue aircraft to the Indian Navy.
The delivery is part of a $1.65 billion deal reached between both governments to facilitate the export of the aircraft. The deal was signed following Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to India, where leaders from both countries agreed to further their cooperation on procuring defense and security equipment, according to The Hindu Business Line.
The "agreement provides a framework to enhance defense and security co-operation by making available to each other, defense equipment and technology necessary to implement joint research, development and production," sources told The Hindu.
The Utility Seaplane Mark 2 is the basis for the model known as the US-2i for India. It has the same capability as the US-2, with some equipment modifications specific to India's requirements. The plane, crewed by 11, is capable of carrying 20 passengers or 12 stretchers for search-and-rescue missions.
The first two US-2i will be imported, while the remaining 10 are scheduled to be manufactured in India.

Long Range Missile: In the halo of its success, navy to arm 23 top warships

 

With the successful firing from the Goan coast of the Indo-Israel Long Range Surface To Air Missile (LRSAM) - a weapon which can neutralise aerial threats up to 100km from a ship - the floodgates have opened.

With the successful firing from the Goan coast of the Indo-Israel Long Range Surface To Air Missile (LRSAM) - a weapon which can neutralise aerial threats up to 100km from a ship - the floodgates have opened. It is learnt that the navy plans to equip as many as 23 top warships, slated to serve the navy for the next 50 years at least, with this protective shield. These include aircraft carriers, destroyers and frigates.
The largest among them will be the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya when it is time for its mid-life upgradation (MLU), the two indigenous aircraft carriers being designed and built, the three Delhi-class of destroyers (built under Project 15), three Kolkata class destroyers (Project 15A), four Vishakhpatnam class destroyers (project 15B), three Shivalik class (Project 17) during MLU and seven frigates under Project 17A.
Next month will mark a decade to the first step taken in providing naval ships an unprecedented cover from aerial threats. That milestone would have been crossed, fruitlessly, but for the tightly-scripted program which fructified today at 8:15am, off the Goan coast from the INS Kolkata. However, the program was hardly bereft of its hiccups and a colourful background.LRSAM, as it began, would have consisted not more than three systems and about 100 odd missiles. The range - protective bubble the missile provides to the ship it is fired from or the convoy intended to secure - too would've been far lesser than the approximately 100km (farthest) and 500m (shortest) demonstrated successfully. Delays in the project, attributed to the technical hiccups faced by both partners, gave sufficient elbow room to their planners to 'push' for upgrading the system to ensure it remained contemporary. "If your food is going to take time in preparation, it should at least be hot and tasty when served," is how an officer put it.  
Contract was signed between India's Defence Research and Development Laboratory and Israel's Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). To the Indian side came the responsibility of developing the rear section of the missile whereas the lion's share, which included the front as well as the Multi Function Surveillance and Threat Alert Radar (MF-STAR) went to the latter. It was to be delivered for the INS Kolkata by 2010. However, neither was the ship ready by then nor was the missile.
"Two causes, apart from external factors, made us take time. First the DRDL had difficulty in developing the rocket motor and the Israelis found the same in coming up with servo control systems," explained a source.
Following the successful test in Israel on November 10  2014, a plan was chalked out. Under this, first came the Harbour Acceptance Trial (HAT) where the INS Kolkata integrated with its systems all the components of the system including MF-STAR, sensor but not the missile.
 This phase lasted from August 16-27 this year. When this was smoothened, next came Sea Acceptance Trials (SAT) which took place between October and November. "Everything short of firing  the actual missile happened. We even flew the MiG29K as an intruder aircraft to see if the LRSAM could track and take it on and it did. Then came the white run, just a few days ago," said a source. This was when even a missile was fired along with the MiG29K flown in.
Finally, on December 28, about half a dozen LRSAMs were taken on board, most operational, few inert. These were the missiles which gave the navy its most advanced cover till date.While some more tests will be performed in the coming days, six months from now, the INS Kolkata, INS Kochi will get its set of missiles making these modern ships complete in their capabilities to take on aerial threats.
As of now, the navy uses the Barak 1 as its primary shield. It grants ranges of up to 9km.
A senior admiral termed it 'practically, among the best systems in the world'. He said, "The Israelis announced their intention to work on Barak 8 and we too were looking at something in that range and thus the decision taken to collaborate." While there were a number of missile systems available, only a few could take on a plane, a missile or a sea-skimming missile flying metres above the sea surface - this was the one. "The LRSAM has displayed its ability to negate 'nodding' - a phenomenon which takes place when a tracking radar is unable to lock on to the target flying at a significant pace close to the surface - which makes it such a good system," he added.

 indiatoday

Russia, India sign deal to assemble 200 Ka-226Т helicopters

 

Russia and India signed an agreement to assemble no less than 200 Ka-226T helicopters in India, state technologies corporation Rostec said Monday.

According to the corporation, the agreement also provides for technical support, maintenance, operation and repair of helicopters.

"The State Corporation Rostec will organize in India the production of the Russian Ka-226T helicopter and its modifications in the amount of not less than 200 units," the statement reads.

A preliminary agreement on the production of Ka-226T light multirole helicopters — NATO reporting name Hoodlum — was reached after talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2014.

Having agreed to make these helicopters in India, Russia was offered an initial deal for manufacture of almost 200 of these helicopters, with the potential to increase the number by another 400.

With a maximum take-off weight of 4,000 tons, the Ka-226T is designed for cargo and passenger transportation to hard-to-reach mountainous areas and rescue and patrol operations.

The helicopter is equipped with two Arrius 2G1 engines made by the Turbomeca Company. The passenger version of this aircraft can carry up to seven people, while the transport version can carry one ton of cargo inside the fuselage or via an external sling. For transportation of oversized cargo, a high-capacity cargo platform can be installed instead of the regular transport cabin.

Ka-226T is scheduled to replace the Cheetah and Chetak helicopters currently being used by the Indian Army. 

rbth

Goa is permanent venue for DefExpo, Aero India: RTI docus

 

Panaji: Contradicting chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar's assertion that a decision is yet to be made on hosting the Defexpo permanently in Goa, right to information (RTI) documents TOI has in possession show that the state government has already agreed "in-principle" to making Goa a permanent venue for the Aero India Show and for the Defexpo. Going further, the state government has already recommended infrastructural works to prepare for the military exhibition.

RTI documents clearly show a note from principal secretary, industries saying that GIDC "will have to give consent" to allot land for permanent venue of DefExpo and Aero India.

The file also states that it had been resolved to allot 150 acres of land to the ministry of defence for organizing Defexpo 2016 and as a permanent venue for Aero India.

"Goa should be a permanent venue for Aero India Show, there should be fixed income to GIDC and incorporate a clause to repossess the land in case the show is shifted elsewhere in the future," under secretary, industries Shashank Thakur says in a handwritten note on September 17, 2015.

On Thursday, Parsekar had tried to assert that Goa would be a temporary location for Defexpo and that the land would be leased only for four days. "The chief minister is lying to the people. The project will require widening of roads to accommodate, heavy military equipment, large containers and trucks and for this nearby houses will have to be destroyed," president GenNext Durgadas Kamat alleged.RTI documents also show that defence minister Manohar Parrikar had written on June 12 to Parsekar asking for a 10,000 feet long runway along the coastline and the development of a modern and ideal convention centre. Speaking in September, Parrikar had said, "Talk about moving the air show to a different city has been doing the rounds before I took charge as the defence minister. Right now, we don't have any plans for a change of venue."

The state government in a meeting on October 12 at the secretariat has recommended widening of roads from the main highway, repair of internal roads, raising of electrical cables and erection of CISF observation towers, RTI documents indicate.GIDC at its 344th board meeting held on July 15 resolved to grant an in-principle approval for allotment of 150 acres of land in Quitol Industrial estate to the ministry of defence on a permanent basis for organizing the Defexpo and Aero India show.

Around 600 companies, including 300 foreign military equipment manufacturers are expected to participate in Defexpo 2016.

timesofindia