No irregularities in Black Shark torpedo procurement:Def panel

An internal committee of the Defence Ministry has opined that there were no wrongdoings in the selection of Black Shark torpedoes being procured for the Indian Navy after irregularities were alleged in the process, Lok Sabha was informed today.
"The Special Technical Oversight Committee (STOC) has opined that the procurement has been progressed in accordance with the laid down procedures, in keeping with the provisions of the Request for Proposal and DPP-06 in transparent and fair manner.
"The DAC has considered the STOC Report and accepted the same in September, 2012. Government has not taken a final decision on the procurement," Defence Minister A K Antony told Lok Sabha in reply to a written query.

Black Shark torpedoes, multi-purpose weapons designed to be launched from submarines or surface vessels, are produced by a Finmeccanica company called WASS. Finmeccanica is under the scanner for its alleged role in the VVIP chopper scam.
He said representations were received from different quarters, including from one competing vendor and Members of Parliament regarding irregularities in the selection process.
Meanwhile, answering another query, the minister said a contract has been signed with MBDA of France on January 30, 2012 for procurement of 493 Air-to-Air missiles, which will replace the life-expired S-530D and Magic-ll missiles procured earlier for the Mirage-2000 aircraft.

The missiles in question are MICA air-to-air missile, which will be put on the Mirage 2000s after they undergo a life expansion upgrade at the HAL facilities here.
Answering another query, Antony said China has not built any base in Seychelles.
"Government is aware of Chinese participation in development projects in Indian Ocean Region and keeps watch on all developments concerning national security," he said.