NEW DELHI — An internal audit by India’s defense ministry has concluded that violations of procurement rules by the Indian army has resulted in the loss of more than 1 billion rupees ($18.6 million) in public funds during the two fiscal years since April 1, 2009. According to the 118-page audit report, equipment such as bulletproof jackets, night vision devices and parachutes were procured by the Northern Army commander between 2009-2011 from “unlisted and unregistered” vendors.
India’s government says it is unrealistic to expect grounded Kingfisher Airlines to fly again in the near future after the country’s aviation regulator suspended the carrier’s operating license for failing to produce a credible financial and revival plan.
NEW DELHI — India plans to buy 270 F-125IN turbofan engines from Honeywell to improve its fleet of Jaguar aircraft, the key strike asset for the Indian air force (IAF). “The defense ministry on Oct. 15 issued a request for proposal to Honeywell to supply the turbofan engines through the U.S. foreign military sales route,” IAF spokesman Wing Cmdr. Gerard Galway tells Aviation Week.