Amphib’s condition could sour arms sales

[unhappycamper]

Amphib’s condition could sour arms sales
By Vivek Raghuvanshi - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Mar 24, 2008 7:18:02 EDT

NEW DELHI — India is so disappointed with the poor condition of its recently purchased U.S. amphibious ship that other U.S. weapons sales could be in jeopardy, an Indian Defence Ministry official said.

On March 14, the government’s independent audit agency blasted the Indian navy for buying the USS Trenton for $50.63 million without checking it out first.

“The non-negotiable offer of the foreign Navy was accepted without a rigorous technical evaluation of the actual physical state of the ship and onboard equipment,” the Comptroller and Auditor General of India said in its annual report, which was presented to parliament on March 14. “Rather, there was over-reliance on information provided by the foreign Navy on the condition and maintenance history of the ship.”

Defense News obtained a copy of the 107-page report.

But Navy officials turned the criticism toward the United States. One senior Navy official said the poor condition of the ship, which has been recommissioned as INS Jalashava, casts doubt on the reliability of U.S. weapons and gear.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/03/navy_indiaamphib_032308w/

[MADem]

1. Well, at least it was the TRENTON and not the BROKINAWA....

:rofl:

Coulda been much worse...!