Britain ready to outsource defence solutions

i understand britain's first choice of payment for the weapons is offering a certain share in the loot gotten from these weapons. hindu reaction was total disbelief - even after 200 years of experience!

Britain ready to outsource defence solutions

HUMA SIDDIQUI Posted online: Friday, February 11, 2005 at 0000 hours IST

YELAHANKA AIRBASE, FEB 10: Britain on Thursday expressed its readiness to cooperate with the Indian defence industry for outsourcing products and high-tech solutions required by British industry and armed forces. British defence procurement minister Lord Ivor Caplin Bach said that his country would encourage such partnerships with the Indian defence industry, including the private sector to bid for its defence equipment orders.

"The UK prides itself in having the most open market, not only for exporting abroad but also considering bids from other countries, including India for equipment used by our armed forces and the huge defence industry," Lord Bach said.

"It would be good to see Indian companies participate in our defence expositions like the Farnborough Air Show and enter into joint ventures or collaborate with our firms to leverage the strengths in both the countries," he added.

Acknowledging Indian expertise in software development and avionics packages, the minister said that there was a tremendous possibility of competing for UK systems on a level-playing field in terms of acquisitions for their own (British) armed forces. "They should be able to compete on par with peer players to pitch for high-tech projects and services in view of the cost advantage and domain expertise they command," he pointed out.

With o5 billion of international defence equipment orders each year, Britain is the second largest supplier after the US.