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India to get jet trainer soon: Fernandes
Charging that vested interests had delayed the acquisition of the Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) for the Indian Air Force obviously in the hope of pay-offs, defence minister George Fernandes has expressed optimism that much awaited trainers induction should come soon.
Charging that vested interests had delayed the acquisition of the Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) for the Indian Air Force obviously in the hope of pay-offs, defence minister George Fernandes has expressed optimism that much awaited trainers induction should come soon.
Terming the delay as a matter of shame, Fernandes said according to his inputs there was only the Hawks in running and no other aircraft was in the reckoning.
The Defence Ministry officials are currently engaged in final price negotiations with British Aerospace, the makers of Hawks for purchase of 66 AJTs at an estimated cost of Rs 3,300 crores.
Launching a new Defence magazine Defence Digest edited by Virender Mohan, former General Manager and Chief Editor of the United News of India (UNI) on Saturday night, Fernandes said the Defence Ministry's efforts to put defence procurments on the web as part of new transparency in defence deals had run into some rough weather. He said there was a divided opnion on the move, with the plus points being that vendors at a keyboard could have a country's requirements, but the minus points being vendors who were selling weapons to the country at friendly prices could have their sales affected elsewhere.
Counselling defence writers to be discreet, the defence minister said that confidentiality had also to be respected as the country could not not afford to suffer if vendors selling critical weaponary wanted the deals to be kept secret.
Warning that speculation on security matters could cause grave danger to the country's interests, Fernandes said journalists should not make some matters relating to strategic weapons acquisition, location and procurement public as these could be harmful. The minister, who after releasing the inaugural issue, engaged in discussions with some former eminent service personnel present, said he was opposed to investigative mode of journalism on defence and security matters.
On the occasion, Fernandes outlined that there was a move to set up the country's first ever National War Museum in the vicinity of the capital and smaller museums in states too.
Initially, he said it was proposed to have the museum in the heart of the capital, adding that the Urban Development Ministry when approached could come up with only a 22 acre plot, which was not found to be sufficient. On whether the United States would take on the fight against international terrorism to encompass terrorist camps located in Pakistan, Fernandes said, "They (US) will tell you to fight your own war."
Fernandes, who has set up sort of record by visiting Siachen Glacier 20 times, said he was proposing to spend his Christmas and New Year weekend with Jawans in Siachen, Kargil, Tawang and in the western sector. Bureau Report
The Defence Ministry officials are currently engaged in final price negotiations with British Aerospace, the makers of Hawks for purchase of 66 AJTs at an estimated cost of Rs 3,300 crores.
Launching a new Defence magazine Defence Digest edited by Virender Mohan, former General Manager and Chief Editor of the United News of India (UNI) on Saturday night, Fernandes said the Defence Ministry's efforts to put defence procurments on the web as part of new transparency in defence deals had run into some rough weather. He said there was a divided opnion on the move, with the plus points being that vendors at a keyboard could have a country's requirements, but the minus points being vendors who were selling weapons to the country at friendly prices could have their sales affected elsewhere.
Counselling defence writers to be discreet, the defence minister said that confidentiality had also to be respected as the country could not not afford to suffer if vendors selling critical weaponary wanted the deals to be kept secret.
Warning that speculation on security matters could cause grave danger to the country's interests, Fernandes said journalists should not make some matters relating to strategic weapons acquisition, location and procurement public as these could be harmful. The minister, who after releasing the inaugural issue, engaged in discussions with some former eminent service personnel present, said he was opposed to investigative mode of journalism on defence and security matters.
On the occasion, Fernandes outlined that there was a move to set up the country's first ever National War Museum in the vicinity of the capital and smaller museums in states too.
Initially, he said it was proposed to have the museum in the heart of the capital, adding that the Urban Development Ministry when approached could come up with only a 22 acre plot, which was not found to be sufficient. On whether the United States would take on the fight against international terrorism to encompass terrorist camps located in Pakistan, Fernandes said, "They (US) will tell you to fight your own war."
Fernandes, who has set up sort of record by visiting Siachen Glacier 20 times, said he was proposing to spend his Christmas and New Year weekend with Jawans in Siachen, Kargil, Tawang and in the western sector. Bureau Report