BAE Systems opt out of India's Big Ticket Gun Tender raises several questions

摘要

In early May, BAE Systems took a last minute decision not to take part in the multi-million tender of the Indian Army to procure 155mm/52 calibre towed gun. BAE Systems did not file its bid before the expiry of the date for the tender on April 28th. BAE Systems decided not to take part in the re-issued tender, (it would have had significant edge with its 77B-5 gun) because the company found that the qualitative requirements in the re-issued tender had been watered down. An executive of BAE Systems said, "With watered down requirements in the tender, the competitive advantage of our gun would have been lost to another vendor. BAE Systems did not want to go through the exercise of fielding its gun for trials at large costs to the company and then find that another vendor has been selected due to lowered down requirements."