अब आप न्यूज्ड हिंदी में पढ़ सकते हैं। यहाँ क्लिक करें
Home » India » UPA era defence deal under US scanner

UPA era defence deal under US scanner

By Newsd
Updated on :

A $208 million UPA government era deal for Brazilian aircraft manager Embraer’s jets has come under the US authorities’ scanner for alleged kickbacks being paid to secure the contract. A deal was signed upon in 2008 between the Brazilian aircraft manager and DRDO for three aircrafts equipped with indigenous radars for AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control Systems). Embraer had previously sold VVIP executives jets to the Indian Air Force.

US and Brazil authorities are probing charges that the company hired a Indian middleman based out of England to bag the deal.

The AEW&C system is under-development for the Indian Air Force by Bengaluru based Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS). The deal states that Embraer is to modify its jet aircraft, EMB-145 to carry the Active Array Antenna Unit (AAAU), developed by the DRDO, on the aircraft’s fuselage.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has responded to the controversy by stating that it has asked for an explanation from the firm over the matter. “We are as surprised as anyone else. If there was an investigation, they should have informed us. This is mentioned in the contract,” said a senior source to India Today.

The Brazilian aircraft manager was already under investigation by the United States Justice Department since 2010 when a contract with the Dominican Republic raised Americans suspicions.

Defence Ministry officials have said that the DRDO is yet to hear anything on the probe by the US.

Related