Centre committed to provide state of the art equipment to defence forces: Antony

New Delhi, July 20 (ANI): Defence Minister A K Antony said on Monday that the Central Government is committed to provide state of the art equipment to the armed forces to meet any possible security challenge to the country.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha during Question Hour, Antony said defence procurement procedure is being simplified to expedite the process of self-sufficiency of defence forces.

Antony clarified to members that defence equipment will be bought from the international market only if they are not available domestically, and that the defence ministry would prefer to buy equipment from domestic entities, whether in the private or in the public sector.

Replying to a supplementary question, Minister of State for Defence M. Pallam Raju said the upgradation of equipment is an ongoing process and lapses, if any, are being looked into.

Raju admitted that there were shortcomings in the performance of bullet proof jackets and clarified to the house that, it is for this reason that the rules for procurement of bulletproof jackets have been changed.

Both ministers stressed on public - private partnership in the defence equipment production sector. (ANI)