Russia wins tumultuous Indian air defence tender
Illustrating all that is wrong with many Indian defence procurement, on 19 November the MoD disconcertingly declared KBM’s 9K338 Igla-S as the lowest bidder for its years-old very short-range air defence system (VSHORADS) requirement.
Long before the decision was announced, competitors and commentators were questioning its drawn-out and tumultuous tender process for 5,175 missiles for the Indian Army that fit on 1,000 twin launchers or can be installed on vehicles.
The Russian Igla-S was one of three shortlisted contenders, the others being Saab’s RBS 70 NG and MBDA’s Mistral. This current effort to replace the in-service Igla-M dates
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