Crucial meet held on arms procurement

BY OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI

Aug. 8: The Indo-US defence procurement and production group met at the ministry of defence (MoD) headquarters in South Block in the capital on Friday, the first such meeting ever since the Left parties withdrew support to the UPA government in July.

MoD officials were tight-lipped about the meeting which comes at a significant time. India is in the final stages of clinching a US $2.1 billion deal for eight maritime surveillance aircraft with American aviation giant Boeing. The government had also issued a major request for proposal in 2007 for 126 combat aircraft for the Indian Air Force and two American companies — Boeing and Lockheed Martin have submitted bids. The MoD has also issued an RFP for 197 light-utility helicopters for the Indian Army and Air Force. The Indo-US group was set up three years ago after the signing of the historic "New Framework for India-US Defence Relationship" on June 28, 2005.