Keeping war machinery in readiness is imperative: Manohar Parrikar

NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today said keeping the war machinery in readiness and to be able to mobilise troops to forward positions at short notice is imperative to prevent any misadventure from across the borders.

In his first broadcast to armed forces personnel over All India Radio on the eve of India's 69th Independence Day, Parrikar said there is a need to constantly upgrade and modernise the weapon systems and equipment.

The government is well aware of the need to maintain all- round vigil on the nation's borders and to prevent any misadventure from across the borders, he said in the pre-recorded address.

"Therefore, keeping our war machinery in readiness and to be able to mobilise troops to forward positions at short notice is imperative. At the same time, there is the need to constantly upgrade and modernise the weapon systems and equipment.

"We have taken a number of steps to equip our forces with the best of the arms currently available and are constantly striving to make most of them indigenously. Since taking over, our government has so far sanctioned acquisition proposals worth over 1,60,000 crore rupees," he said.

The Minister said that over eight hundred 155mm mounted artillery guns for Indian Army worth nearly 16 thousand crore rupees are also being acquired and more ammunition purchased to enhance the fire-power.

He said the contract negotiations are also underway for procurement of 36 Rafale aircraft from France, to provide a major boost to IAF's operational capability.

The recent undocking of India's indigenous aircraft carrier in-the-making, INS Vikrant, and the first of Scorpene submarines are important landmarks of our endeavour to build a Blue Water Navy, he said.

Commissioning of a number of marine police stations, naval bases including INS Sardar Patel and establishment of a new Coast Guard Air Enclave at Bhubaneswar will strengthen the coastal security of the country, he added.

The government is taking measures to equip the Navy with the state-of-the-art warships, submarines and naval helicopters.