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Top army and defence ministry brass Friday defended the purchase of controversial Russian Krasnopol-M laser guided 155mm artillery shells as well as the contract signed for purchase of 300 T-90 S-tanks saying these have been made in view of acquisition of such systems by Pakistan.
A fortnight after the Tehelka expose on bribe taking in defence deals, senior army and defence ministry officials for the first time went public to state that purchase of Krasnopol shells had been made in view of "exceptional circumstances prevailing during and post Kargil intrusion".
Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen S S Mehta told reporters former defence minister George Fernandes "used his waiver" on March 27, 2000 for induction of 1,000 rounds of terminally guided shells and 10 laser target designated shells after the successful third round of testing of these shells fired from Bofors 155MM guns in upper reaches of Ladakh.
Mehta admitted that after its successful first three round desert trials in Pokhran in 1999, the laser guided shells had failed high altitude tests held at Karbuthang in Kargil in February-March 1999 and the vendors M/S KBP Tula had asked for three months for modifications.
He said results of the next round of trials in August 1999 had been "50-50 with two hits and two misses" and top commanders of the Northern Command had recommended induction of the shells on selective basis on judicious positioning of the Bofors guns.
Mehta, the direct superior officer of the suspended Additional Director General (weapons and equipment) Maj Gen PSK Choudhary, said the shells were purchased after a third round of trials in Mahe Ranges in eastern Ladakh, which offered extended range, in November 1999 on recommendation of the then Northern Army Commander.
He said the army needed such shells to counter Pakistan's acquisition, in the late eighties, of American made copperhead shells. Mehta said the shells were capable of being directed during its last ten seconds in flight by lasers mounted on helicopters.
On why, India had gone in for single vendor situation in acquisition of T-90S tanks disregarding offers from Israeli's, French and Ukranian Markava Company, the deputy chief of army staff said the T-90's had been picked due to their compatibility with other armament systems in use with the armoured formations, offer of technology transfer, costs and logistics.
He said Indian armed forces had been concerned with pruchase of 320 frontline T-80u tanks by Pakistan from Ukraine their upgradation of Chinese T-59 tanks and development of their MBT Khalid with help from China.
Gen Mehta said the proposal for T-90 tanks had been made to Fernandes during his visit to Moscow in early 1999 following which a high-level team had gone to Russia for technical evaluation of the tanks.
PTI
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