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B'lore: Forces in internal security only as last resort- Defence Minister
Bangalore, Feb 2 (IANS) Armed forces could be used for internal security duties only as a last resort, Defence Minister A.K. Antony said Tuesday.
"Internal security is the primary concern of state police and paramilitary forces," he told reporters here after witnessing a flight display of the light combat aircraft (LCA) 'Tejas' trainer version, the prototype-version and the first of the eight fighters being produced for induction in the Indian Air Force by 2014.
"Even in Jammu and Kashmir, state police was being strengthened so that armed forces were left to take care of border and forward areas," Antony said.
Noting that "as a policy, armed forces are deployed on borders and forward areas to protect the country", he said forces do help in rescue and relief operations in times of natural calamities.
India beefing up security in border areas: Antony
Bangalore, Feb 2 (IANS) Defence Minister A.K. Antony Tuesday said security in all border areas, including Arunachal Pradesh, was being strengthened to meet any eventuality or threat.
"We are strengthening security apparatus on all borders across land, sea and air to meet any eventuality or threat," he said.
Antony was talking to reporters here after witnessing the flight display of several aircraft being produced for induction in the Indian Air Force by 2014.
The defence minister said strengthening security on borders was an act of deterrence and not for confrontation. India, he noted, was for maintaining friendly relations with all its neighbours.
"The security beef up is not just in Arunachal Pradesh, which is an integral part of India. The beef up was to increase our deterrence against any eventuality," Antony asserted.
India spent more on defence acquisitions this fiscal: Antony
Bangalore, Feb 2 (IANS) India spent more on defence acquisitions this year than last year to equip its armed forces with the latest arsenal, Defence Minister A.K. Antony said Tuesday.
"We have spent highest percentage of funds for defence acquisitions this fiscal (2009-10) so far. It is more compared to what we spent in the last fiscal (2008-09)," Antony told reporters here.
Asserting that there was no budget constraint for defence acquisitions, Antony said the government would spend more in the ensuing fiscal and thereafter to modernise the armed forces with the latest weapons.
Antony, however, ruled out having a rolling budget for defence expenditure.
IAF orders another 750 Akash SAMs
Bangalore, Feb 2 (IANS) The Indian Air Force (IAF) has ordered an additional 750 Akash medium-range surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) from state-run defence behemoth Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) at a cost of Rs.42.79 billion ($925 million), it was announced here Tuesday.
"A decision to place this fresh order with BEL was taken after the IAF expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Akash missiles that are deployed in two squadrons," Defence Minister A.K. Antony said Tuesday.
The IAF will deploy 125 missiles each in six squadrons as and when BEL delivers them.
"The first order for 250 missiles was placed last year on a pilot basis. The IAF has decided to deploy the weapon in more squadrons for optimal use," Antony said after inaugurating the digital flight control (DFC) computer facility at BEL here.
BEL chairman and managing director Ashwani Kumar Datt said that the first order was worth Rs.12.21 billion.
Designed and developed by the state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Akash missile defence system is part of the country's integrated guided missile development programme.
"The missile can target an enemy aircraft up to 30 km away, at altitudes up to 18,000 meters and can be fired from both tracked and wheeled platforms," Datt told reporters on the margins of the function.
The missile is capable of carrying conventional as well as nuclear warheads with a payload of 60 kg.
On the occasion, BEL also handed over to the defence minister an advanced gun fire control system for the Indian Navy.
B'lore: Forces in internal security only as last resort- Defence Minister
Bangalore, Feb 2 (IANS) Armed forces could be used for internal security duties only as a last resort, Defence Minister A.K. Antony said Tuesday.
"Internal security is the primary concern of state police and paramilitary forces," he told reporters here after witnessing a flight display of the light combat aircraft (LCA) 'Tejas' trainer version, the prototype-version and the first of the eight fighters being produced for induction in the Indian Air Force by 2014.
"Even in Jammu and Kashmir, state police was being strengthened so that armed forces were left to take care of border and forward areas," Antony said.
Noting that "as a policy, armed forces are deployed on borders and forward areas to protect the country", he said forces do help in rescue and relief operations in times of natural calamities.
India beefing up security in border areas: Antony
Bangalore, Feb 2 (IANS) Defence Minister A.K. Antony Tuesday said security in all border areas, including Arunachal Pradesh, was being strengthened to meet any eventuality or threat.
"We are strengthening security apparatus on all borders across land, sea and air to meet any eventuality or threat," he said.
Antony was talking to reporters here after witnessing the flight display of several aircraft being produced for induction in the Indian Air Force by 2014.
The defence minister said strengthening security on borders was an act of deterrence and not for confrontation. India, he noted, was for maintaining friendly relations with all its neighbours.
"The security beef up is not just in Arunachal Pradesh, which is an integral part of India. The beef up was to increase our deterrence against any eventuality," Antony asserted.
India spent more on defence acquisitions this fiscal: Antony
Bangalore, Feb 2 (IANS) India spent more on defence acquisitions this year than last year to equip its armed forces with the latest arsenal, Defence Minister A.K. Antony said Tuesday.
"We have spent highest percentage of funds for defence acquisitions this fiscal (2009-10) so far. It is more compared to what we spent in the last fiscal (2008-09)," Antony told reporters here.
Asserting that there was no budget constraint for defence acquisitions, Antony said the government would spend more in the ensuing fiscal and thereafter to modernise the armed forces with the latest weapons.
Antony, however, ruled out having a rolling budget for defence expenditure.
IAF orders another 750 Akash SAMs
Bangalore, Feb 2 (IANS) The Indian Air Force (IAF) has ordered an additional 750 Akash medium-range surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) from state-run defence behemoth Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) at a cost of Rs.42.79 billion ($925 million), it was announced here Tuesday.
"A decision to place this fresh order with BEL was taken after the IAF expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Akash missiles that are deployed in two squadrons," Defence Minister A.K. Antony said Tuesday.
The IAF will deploy 125 missiles each in six squadrons as and when BEL delivers them.
"The first order for 250 missiles was placed last year on a pilot basis. The IAF has decided to deploy the weapon in more squadrons for optimal use," Antony said after inaugurating the digital flight control (DFC) computer facility at BEL here.
BEL chairman and managing director Ashwani Kumar Datt said that the first order was worth Rs.12.21 billion.
Designed and developed by the state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Akash missile defence system is part of the country's integrated guided missile development programme.
"The missile can target an enemy aircraft up to 30 km away, at altitudes up to 18,000 meters and can be fired from both tracked and wheeled platforms," Datt told reporters on the margins of the function.
The missile is capable of carrying conventional as well as nuclear warheads with a payload of 60 kg.
On the occasion, BEL also handed over to the defence minister an advanced gun fire control system for the Indian Navy.