The French offer comes at a time when Indian Army is on the threshold of floating its biggest-ever global tenders for 2000-3000 wheeled, towed and tracked 155 mm guns of .52 calibre and 1000-2000 high speed mine protected troop carrying 4x4 and 8x8 specialised troop combat vehicles for forces operating against terrorists and Maoists.
In the first of the series of recruitment drives launched in Kupwara and neighbouring areas in 20 years, the response has been overwhelming, an army official said. It may be recalled that during the height of militancy from 1990 to 2005, security forces were unable to hold or even think of any recruitment camps.
Already faced with rising complaints of sexual harrassment, the army has been rocked by yet another case, with a young woman officer levelling misconduct charges against no less than a general commanding a division on the Chinese border.
Defence Minister A K Antony emphasised the upcoming five-nation naval wargames, which will include the US, were not aimed at any third country, but to help Indian forces enhance their fighting capabilities.
India's fighter needs beyond the induction of the 126 Multi Role Combat Aircraft.
The army has about 200 UAVs, mostly the Searcher 1, Searcher 2 and Heron supplied by Israeli Aerospace Industries, but security experts feel mini-UAVs will give troops an edge in operations against militants.
The visit of the team assumes significance with Defence Minister AK Antony admitting that New Delhi was facing 'problems' in acquisition of the carrier Gorshkov.
According to officials in the Defence Production department, the deal for joint production of the multi-role transport aircraft would be split on fifty-fifty basis.
In an effort to build cordial relations with Pakistan, India has taken several policy initiatives and proposed confidence-building measures to enlarge the areas of convergence and to build trust, the report said.
'The American armament companies, though late entrant want to make the Indian defence market more competitive and technology-oriented.'
The offer comes as the country is also ready to unveil its new Kamaov-60 and next generation 10-tonne-class MI helicopters, which can be used as heavy lift troop carriers.
RAC-MiG is offering IAF the same 4 plus generation capability for upgrading the existing 64 MiG-29s.
The army has re-deployed 3,500 troops from Misa in Arunachal Pradesh to Sibsagar and Dhemaji districts, where many Hindi-speaking people were gunned down.
Army has now 85 such specialised units, with each unit comprising 24 dogs. Of these as many as 35 are deployed in Jammu and Kashmir, 15 in North-East and some in Western and Southern Army Commands.
The failure of the Agni-III was a major dampner to defence scientists as it came even as Pakistan went ahead with a series of successful missile tests of its clandestinely acquired Hatf, Gauri and Shaheen range of missiles in 2006.
The tanks with new systems will be imported from Russia at an estimated cost of Rs 3,900 crore and are likely to be inducted over the next two years, army officials said.
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