UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 1030 ANSWERED ON 12.08.2013 SHORTAGE OF ARMS EQUIPMENTS

Question: Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to satate :-

((a) whether the chiefs of the three Services of the Defence forces have written any letter to the Government highlighting use of obsolete defence systems, shortage of arms and ammunitions and ill-equipped Special Forces personnel in the past few years;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the corrective steps taken / proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

Answer: Minister of Defence (Shri A.K. Antony)

(a) to (c) Concerns relating to weapon system and ammunition of the Defence Forces are brought to the notice of the Government on a regular basis. Modernisation of Defence Forces is an ongoing process and procurement of equipment and ammunition is carried out on a continuous basis as per the Annual Acquisition Plan (AAP) which in turn is part of the Services Capital Acquisition Plan (SCAP) of five years. The procurement process aims at keeping the Defence Forces in a state of readiness and remaining equipped with modern weapon systems.