Rheinmetall Air Defence appeals Indian trade ban

Rheinmetall Air Defence (RAD) has filed a petition to the High Court of Delhi challenging the Indian Ministry of Defence's (MoD) decision earlier in 2012 to debar the company from trade with the state-run Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) network for 10 years.

Swiss-based RAD was one of six companies blacklisted by the MoD in March over allegations of misconduct and is the third to attempt to resolve the dispute through India's legal system.

Singapore Technologies Kinetics and Israel Military Industries filed petitions to the Indian Supreme Court and High Court of Delhi in mid-March and May respectively.

The RAD petition was submitted to the high court on 18 September, and the court has asked the MoD to respond by 6 November.

A statement by RAD said the company is "determined to prove in India's courts that allegations, which led to RAD's blacklisting in March 2012, are false and that RAD and its employees acted in full compliance with the law.

"Notwithstanding its decision to seek redress through India's legal system, RAD remains committed to a close dialogue with Indian authorities and is ready to co-operate with them in order to clear its name with regard to the blacklisting".