New Delhi, April 3
Army Chief Gen VK Singh has sought a few more days to file a detailed complaint in the alleged bribe offer from a senior retired officer to clear a tranche of nearly 600 "substandard" trucks.

Defence Minister AK Antony and Army Chief Gen VK Singh after laying wreaths at the new gravestone of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw on his 98th birth anniversary at Udhagamandalam in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday. — PTI

Gen Singh, who has named retired Lt Gen Tejinder Singh as the person who had allegedly made the offer, in his initial complaint, has been asked by CBI officials to give a detailed complaint about the issue.

The Army Chief has written to the CBI saying he requires some more days to give a comprehensive complaint to the agency about the incident.

Gen Singh had claimed in media interviews that an equipment lobbyist had offered him a bribe of Rs 14 crore to clear the tranche, a matter that he had reported to Defence Minister AK Antony. The ministry had then recommended a CBI probe into the allegation.

The agency started examining the complaint received from Gen Singh on March 30. It might question Tejinder Singh in connection with the case, sources said. — PTI

US firm to supply laser-guided bombs to IAF

New Delhi, April 3
US defence major Lockheed Martin has bagged a deal, expected to be worth over Rs 100 crore, to supply laser-guided bombs (LGBs) for the Jaguar fighter aircraft fleet in the Indian Air Force (IAF).

The IAF plans to induct more than 100 bunker-buster LGBs for its Jaguar warplanes to destroy strongly fortified enemy targets.

“We have emerged as the lowest bidders in the deal for supplying LGBs to the IAF. We have offered our Paveway II LGBs for Jaguars and contract negotiations are on,” Lockheed Martin India head Roger Rose said here.

The IAF had issued a global Request for Proposal (RFP) for the purpose last year. Lockheed Martin, along with Raytheon and an Israeli missile manufacturer, had taken part in the tender.

With their capability to pierce hard surfaces, the LGBs can also be used to destroy enemy’s concrete runways and fortified locations. — PTI