Indian state-run shipbuilder Mazagon Dock Ltd. has entered into a joint venture with Pipavav Defense and Offshore Engineering Co. to build warships for the Indian navy and the export market. The equal joint venture, announced Sept. 12, will create an independent company to be named Mazagon Dock Pipavav Ltd. “This company will be executing the existing orders of Mazagon Dock worth 1 trillion rupees [$21.69 billion] and bid for future defense orders jointly,” says Nikhil Gandhi, chairman of Pipavav Defense.

NEW DELHI — The Indian government’s auditing watchdog is slamming the defense ministry’s arms procurement process for its long, unexplained delays. “In high-value capital expenditure cases, the acquisition process lacks proper planning, effective price negotiation, proper monitoring etc.,” the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India says in its latest report, which was tabled in parliament last week.

An aircraft purchase agreement between Air India and Boeing in 2005 was a scripted plan between the U.S. government and the aircraft manufacturer, according to a diplomatic U.S. cable released by whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks.