NEW DELHI, March 12 — Singapore is the front runner to supply the Indian military's planned purchase of ultralight howitzers, the Republic's first major defence contract from South Asia's dominant power, people familiar with the developments said.

"Most of the technical evaluation of the contract to buy 145 pieces of the ultra-lightweight 155mm cannons has been done," said an Indian official who has proved reliable in the past.

Should the deal come through - possibly after field trials - it will be a major breakthrough for Singapore into India's arms market and help boost its economy's sagging export order-book.
The value of the contract is believed to be about S$1 billion (RM2.3 billion).

ST Kinetics confirmed that it had participated in the tender for the Indian army's ultra-lightweight howitzer and towed howitzer requirements.

"As with all our commercial and defence negotiations, we are bound by customers" confidentiality requirements," a company spokesman in Singapore said.

New Delhi, reliant on the Soviet Union and its successor state Russia for most of its defence needs, has embarked on a plan to diversify its arms purchases. Israel is nudging Russia to be the top supplier while US companies are eyeing major deals with the Indian Air Force and Indian
Navy.

ST Kinetic's Pegasus ultralight howitzers, which weigh just above 5 tonnes, are capable of firing three rounds in 24 seconds. Heavy use of titanium and light alloy aluminium gives the machines both mobility and ruggedness.

The Pegasus can be transported by helicopter as well as fixed wing aircraft.

In the case of India's military that would probably mean Mi-26 heavy lift helicopters and Ilyushin 76 aircraft.

Only two companies, ST Kinetics and BAe Systems have weapons that match India's specifications for the ultralight guns. It was not clear if BAe had bid for the contract, though the Britain-based company is said to have displayed the weapon at a trade event in India last year.

Singapore also was included in the list of nations to which India sent the Request for Proposals for the heavier 52-calibre howitzers, people familiar with the issue said.

That contract, for which there are several more bidders, envisages the outright purchase of 400 artillery pieces and licensed production in India of another 1,180 pieces.

The tender for the ultralight cannons does not include a clause for licensed production in India, according to people who have seen the documents. — The Straits Times

i recall there was another tender for lightweight howitzers from India involving the Pegasus and the M777...in the end it was cancelled due to ammo type issues...is this a ressurected form of the deal, or something entirely new?

$1bil sounds expensive for 145 guns.

on another note; while there are undoubtedly many other factors that will be weighed in the Indian Army decision, i can't help but wonder if STK's and BAe's relative ability and willingness to play 'under the table' might play a part in the eventual decision. BAe is known to have done so in the past, though i am not sure about STK in this regard. this would likely not have been an issue with UK MoD in our Bronco sale, but with the Indians things could be different.

wonder also if the high(?) price is related to the above.

http://militarynuts.com/index.php?showtopi...dpost&p=9983436

http://militarynuts.com/index.php?showtopic=2317

As I recall, neither guns would fulfill the requirement in entirety.

Always nice to see our hardware in action.

SGD1B for 145 pieces comes to USD4.5M each, presumably inclusive of spares, tools, training, etc. is that high?

from The Straits Times 12 March 2009

To be honest, the Streakers article caught more of my attention. :)

Thanks for sharing.

Interesting to note that the gunners are carrying M16s though.

Yup, read unconfirmed reports in Sep last year that BAE had issues with IA's requirement for the howitzer to be able to fire its existing stock of 155mm ammunition.

http://livefist.blogspot.com/2008_09_01_archive.html

If the report is correct, weight doesn't appear to be that significant an advantage for the M-777. Medium lift helos do have limits on how high and far guns can be carried.

India doesn't have significant heavy lift capability but has floated a tender for heavy lift helos. The contenders are the Ch-47, Ch-53 and Mi-26.

http://livefist.blogspot.com/2009/01/boein...-comparing.html

http://trishulgroup.blogspot.com/2009/01/s...helicopter.html

According to Prasun Sengupta's blog above, who writes for Janes regularly, the requirement is for 16+6 utility which would mean 1 sqn that will service the 14X howitzers.

and the Pegasus can?

it's something to laugh at if the deal didnt go thru....like, we cry for the loss but laugh at the other news :D

Prasun does not write for Janes as far as I'm aware of, he writes for Tempur and some other publications

So now it stands at NTU 2 - 2 NUS. =D

I tot I recall seeing his name in jdw but you are definitely in a better position to know. Thanks.

Principally Prasun, who is based in KL, Malaysia, was special project editor for Asian Defence Journal. During that time, he did write articles for Tempur and Force.

Any idea if STK coming up with similar video Rafael's been making ala Bollywood? dingga dingga dingga! dingga dingga dingga! dingga dingga dingga! dingga dingga dee......

lol, can recycle some of our National day song for promo video. :ph43r:

can imagine a pegasus one.

you and me, will build big gun,
stand together, gun to gun
together we can show the world,
what pegasus can be !
we got big gun
we have big guns.(buns ?)

wow, with that kind of export videos...I dunno what to say man haha...

According to ST today, the SLWH bid has hit snags with the arrest of the retired OFB head on suspicion of corruption. Not STK per say but the whole bid now have been freezed, pending the outcome of the investigation.

Ban on defence firms will delay artillery upgrade: India Army Chief

Read more here

ST Big Guns right now in India, that is the top management, trying to salvage arty deal

Monday, Jun 29, 2009

Despite ban, Singapore guns arrive for trials

K.V. Prasad

NEW DELHI: The Defence Ministry could consider the option of acquiring 155mm light howitzers from an alternative supplier following its decision to “put on hold” acquisitions from Singapore Technologies among other firms.

The company was the only vendor left to supply the howitzers after the other seller pulled out from the bidding. Top sources in the Ministry said a decision would be taken in due course even as a consignment of the howitzer guns (Pegasus SLWH) from Singapore Technologies, arrived in India recently for field trials.

However, the Ministry appears in no mood to relent from blacklisting, for the time being at least, seven firms whose names figured in the CBI probe into the corruption allegations against former Ordnance Factory Board chief, Sudipto Ghosh.

The sources said attempts were made by representatives of both the Singapore company and the Israeli Military Industries to meet Defence Secretary Vijay Singh, but they were not granted audience.

However, having received communication from these two firms following the ban, the Ministry approached the CBI seeking information on the allegations of transfer of money by them to personal accounts.

It is understood that some evidence pointing to transfers of money was detected even though in one case it was not directly linked to the plan to procure the ultra-light howitzers, the sources said.

With the Defence Minister having declared a ‘zero-tolerance’ to corruption policy, sources said it was time to send a strong message that any reports of misdeeds would not be acceptable.

Aware that such an action could lead to delay in procuring equipment, the Ministry might explore the option of getting these guns under the foreign military sales route.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/29/stories/2009062959411000.htm

this could only mean going for the M777 right?

spidey got telepathy :ph43r:

touch wood touch wood!!! :P

Latest Indian news update that impacts ST Kinetics:

lets hope this deal gets through...has BAE's M777s been tested by Indian officials already?

Hmmm, hope so.. If only ST Kinetics have promoted their products just like the way Israeli's Rafael have done to promote their missiles at Aero India 2009, bollywood style.. Must be pretty interesting.. hehe.. :lol:

The Rafael Ad to the Indian Market:
Israeli Rafael's Indian promo

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4373211&c=POL&s=TOP

Singapore Tech Banned From Indian Gun Bid[/SIZE]

NEW DELHI - Singapore Technologies will not be allowed to participate in an Indian tender for 155mm ultra-light artillery guns because it was named in an alleged corruption scandal in June this year by India's fraud investigating agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The move is the outcome of the latest circular from the Indian Defence Ministry, which does not allow tainted defense companies to participate in the procurement process pending a full CBI report, ministry sources said.

"Where the tender process has not started, there should be no dealing with the companies in the First Information Report until finalization of the investigation," a ministry source added.

With South African company Denel still blacklisted in India following a 2005 bribery case, Singapore Technologies was the front runner in the $1 billion tender to provide 155mm light howitzers for the Army's use in mountainous terrain.

The government has frozen the howitzer tender for now because only one bidder, BAE Systems, remains, and single-vendor defense procurements are not permitted.

In June 2009, seven companies were added to the list of those banned from Defence Ministry procurement bids: Singapore Technologies, Israel Military Industries, Poland's BVT, Singapore's Media Architects, and domestic companies HYT Engg, T.S. Kishan and R.K. Machine Tools. All seven figured in corruption charges filed against the former director-general of India's Ordnance Factory Board, Sudipta Ghosh. The Defence Ministry had blacklisted these seven companies following advice from the CBI, but the latest circular officially ends Singapore Technologies' part in the ultra-light howitzer tender.


I bet 90cents wont print this

well, that's dumb. They just banned everyone who can provide them what they need

The Indians want to look clean... but am sure after awhile when all has blown over am sure they will reopen the bidding...at the same time, am sure there is another around it for them....by having a third party who buys the hardware and then sold to the Indians.... :P

I thought one is innocent until proven guilty?? :blink:

for those who have to work with Indian entities (whether private enterprises or public organisations) this would be so completely unsurprising. Now you know why CAAS pulled out of one of their airport projects, and they had to compren to LKY to get CAAS to revisit the project? AFAIK that project still did not go anywhere.

will CPIB investigate STK for this ?

iirc, the prevention of corruption act allows prosecution of any singaporeans caught in the act of corruption beyond singapore. but then again, the arms business has always been a less than scrupulous industry. im not sure about this.

CPIB will not act unless they receive a complaint.

The challenge of selling arms to a 3rd world country... lah! According to Ajai Shukla, it is routine Indian business practice to level allegations against another arms seller (if one loses). Whether the accusation has any truth or not is another matter. Keep in mind that STK, and the parent company, ST, are Singapore companies and the directors are subject to Singapore laws.

1. Background: The Indian army's artillery directorate had already planned to replace all of its existing artillery guns with 155mm howitzers as per a 2000 policy decision after the Kargil battle of 1999, when Swedish Bofors howitzers helped the army evict Muslim fundamentalists backed by Pakistan in the upper reaches of Jammu and Kashmir.

1.1 The first Request for Proposal (RfP) dealt with the acquisition of 140 ultra-light howitzers (Note: The STK corruption allegations ironically have nothing to do with the ultra-light howitzer deal. The allegations arise from the proposal to supply SAR-21 MMS to Indian policemen after the OFB-developed AMOGH had failed during trials held by the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs. I believe STK is a victim of OFB's internal politics over the supply of the AMOGH).

1.2 The second RfP dealt with 180 self-propelled guns.

1.3 The biggest RfP was for the 155mm 52-calibre towed guns. Under it, India plans to buy 400 guns off-the-shelf and licensed production of another 1,100.


2. BAE refuses to play by Indian MOD rules: In Sept 2008, it was reported that according to Julian Scopes, BAE Systems' new president of India operations, the trial requirements had impossibly broad ammunition compatibility requirements -- that the tender required that the gun fielded be capable of firing all available 155mm ammunition in the Indian Army's artillery inventory. Hence BAE had decided that it cannot participate in the tender under the current trial requirements demanded in the MOD's RfP.


3. Incompetent Indian officialdom: According to Aviation Week, the incompetent Indian officialdom has managed to prevent the Indian army from conducting the trails that would lead to acquisition of 140 ultra-light howitzers under the first request for proposal (RfP). As a result, the Indian army's artillery modernization plans are put on hold until it is decided whether or when the RfP will be reissued. How incompetent? Let us set out the facts reported thus far:

3.1 According to ST Kinetics, there was no official advisory from the Indian authority on the temporary suspension of business activities in relation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation of former director-general of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB).

3.2 It was reported that:

(i) Following the ban, "ST Kinetics has since approached the authority for clarifications and presented to the ministry a list of all our business activities in India. While awaiting a response from the ministry, we have offered all cooperation to assist with any investigation as appropriate and hope that the ministry will quickly review the matter and clear ST Kinetics' reputation," ST Kinetics spokesman Gaius Ho said.

(ii) "We do not have any Joint Venture with OFB and have not signed any agreement with OFB," said Gaius Ho. ST Kinetics says OFB approached it when the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs was looking for a modern rifle, as the OFB's rifles had failed during internal trials. "ST Kinetics' SAR21 was presented for trials and evaluation. The discussion was for ST Kinetics to license its intellectual property to OFB if the MHA should decide to select the SAR21 and award a contract. There has been no decision to date," Ho explained.

* For more details, read this link which documents the infighting that prevented the Indian policemen from obtaining modern carbines (despite the well known fact that Indian police are equipped with antiquated rifles). If a similar 26/11 Mumbai attack were to take place today, the Indian police would still be equipped with the same antiquated rifles.

(iii) "We are perturbed by the change of events and feel strongly that we have not been fairly treated as a legitimate bidder who is committed to helping the Indian MoD with its modernization efforts," Ho added. "ST Kinetics is definitely a victim of the whole situation."

3.3 The Indian defense ministry did not inform ST Kinetics of the postponement of the trials for the guns until June 5, around four days after the guns had been delivered in Mumbai.

Well its on again...

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4435382&c=ASI&s=LAN

India To Let Singapore Technologies Join Howitzer Trials
By VIVEK RAGHUVANSHI
Published: 28 Dec 2009 13:29

NEW DELHI - The Indian government has allowed the Army to invite formerly banned Singapore Technologies to participate in trials to purchase 155mm/52 caliber towed artillery guns.

The company had been banned, along with six other defense companies, in June 2009 in connection with alleged corruption charges. However, the government's move now will allow trials to be held within a month, said a senior Indian Army official.

A senior Indian Defence Ministry official said that even if it wins, Singapore Technologies will not be given a contract until it is cleared of all charges by India's Central Bureau of Investigation.

In March 2008, the Indian Army had floated a tender for the off-the-shelf purchase of 400 155 mm/52 caliber towed artillery guns and the licensed production of approximately 1,180 guns on a transfer-of-technology basis.

Tenders were given to eight companies from Europe, Asia and the Middle East, but in the end the Army's Technical Evaluation Committee qualified only BAE Systems and Singapore Technologies.

Singapore Technologies is also competing to sell 155mm ultra light artillery guns, although it is unclear if the company will be allowed to participate in field trials, Indian Defence Ministry sources said.

wow like that also can...

Patience ....once they have clear up their bureaucracy, they should be able made the right decision

there is a derogatory cantonese phrase about doing business with Indians :P

神仙难赚吉宁钱。

We have Indians from WAFF here, please mind your language. :P

and according to indian news paper...

and of course the accusations are...

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100102/jsp/...ry_11934631.jsp