30 combat aircrafts crashed since April 2004 : Govt

New Delhi, May 16 (UNI) As many as 30 combat aircraft of the Defence forces including Jaguars, MIGs and Sea Harriers, were lost in accidents during the past three years, from April 2004 to May this year.

Defence Minister A K Antony told the Rajya Sabha today that of the 30 aircraft which crashed, 22 were manufactured by original Equipment Manufacturers and HAL.

Twenty-one of these were overhauled, of which one was upgraded.

The residual operational life of these aircrafts at the time of crash was reportedly 40 per cent to 50 per cent, the Minister said.

Replying to another question, the Minister said the government had not taken any decision on setting up the Aerospace Command.

However, adequate measures were in place to address the concerns of national security keeping in view the changing threat perception.

The Minister said India's Defence expenditure had been in the region of 2.3 per cent during the past ten years.

Defence purchases from Israel during the period 2002-2007 had been worth more than 5 billion US Dollars.

UNI