US doubts HAL's capability

NEW DELHI: The US seems to have committed a howler in the race to bag the "mother of all defence deals", the $10.4 billion project to acquire 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft for IAF, which is in the final lap now.

Washington has expressed serious doubts on the ability of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to handle projects like the MMRCA, dubbing it "untested and suspect". This drew a sharp response from a defence ministry official, who pointed out the defence PSU was already engaged in producing a frontline "air dominance" fighter like Sukhoi-30MKI with Russia's help.

As per the MMRCA contract, which India hopes to ink this year, 18 jets will be bought off-the-shelf from the foreign vendor finally selected, while the rest will be manufactured by HAL in India after transfer of technology. 

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The Largest Ship In The World-Allure Of The Seas

At a length of 361 meters, the Allure of the Seas is almost four American football fields long. It has a beam that is 66 meters long and its height from sea level 72 meters. The gross weight of the vessel will be 225,000 tons. At full capacity, the Allure of the Seas will accommodate 6,320 passengers and a crew of 2,100. It will have 16 passenger decks and 2,704 cabins. The brand new sister ship of the world’s largest cruise liner narrowly passed under a Danish bridge Saturday, a feat that required smooth seas and adjustable smokestacks, officials said. Ship  measures around four football fields and accommodates 8,300 people, including crew members. The cruise liner measures 1,200 feet from bow to stern, and its height from sea level is 236 feet. Aside from a two-deck high dance hall, a 1,380-seat theater and an ice skating rink, a number of pools, spas, gyms, it also houses bars, restaurants and cafes as well as a shopping street with a park with trees.

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