Defence Minister A K Antony has deferred his visit to Japan, scheduled from June 28, apparently in view of the political developments surrounding the Indo-US nuclear deal. Antony was to undertake a five-day visit aimed at enhancing defence cooperation between the two countries.
However, trials of the missile were awaiting the necessary platform, which will be identified by the Navy soon.
During the nearly two-hour meeting that lasted almost till midnight at 10 Janpath, Mukherjee, the government's pointsman on the deal with United Progressive Alliance allies and the Left parties, and Antony apprised Sonia of the talks they had with leaders of the constituents of the ruling alliance and the Communist Party of India-Marxist and CPI in the last two days. Emerging from the meeting, neither Mukherjee nor Antony spoke to the media.
Defence Minister A K Antony will head a seven-member high-level group constituted by Congress chief Sonia to give suggestions to revive the party against the backdrop of series of debacles including in Karnataka and Gujarat Assembly elections.
Defence Minister A K Antony on Tuesday indicated a revamp of the Defence Research and Development Organisation, to give it capability to produce futuristic systems within the country."DRDO will have to play a crucial role in providing strategic defence with suitable delivery systems to the nation," Antony said. The DRDO and the end-users, the armed forces, would have to work with greater synergy to achieve the goal of self-reliance and minimise dependence on foreign nations.
"I did not know that the Australian police is so stupid and are charging on something so senseless," she said in an emotionally-choked voice.
Russia has proposed a price escalation of $1.2 billion for re-equipping aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov. Under a contract worth $1.5 billion signed between Russia and India, Moscow was to deliver the carrier along with its compliment of MiG-29K fighters in August 2007, but asked for an increase in cost to almost double, saying the warship needed a lot of additional work and would have to undergo almost a year-long sea trial in Russian waters.
"We have to constantly upgrade our military and economic capabilities," the minister told army commanders while referring to relations with China as he opened the five-day top army commanders bi-annual conference in Delhi. His remarks are significant as the minister has just undertaken a major tour of the Sino-Indian frontier in Arunachal Pradesh.
Defence Minister A K India on Tuesday successfully test-fired the nuclear-capable BrahMos missile, with a range of 290 kms, at Pokhran. Antony told reporters in New Delhi that the test was pre-planned and not directed against any country. The missile, capable of touching a speed of 2.8 times that of sound, was launched during the trial in its vertical mode, Defence Research and Development Organisation officials told PTI.
Pakistan's reluctance to authenticate has prevented any move in talks over the issue.
Antony on the security scenario in the immediate neighbourhood and beyond.
the defence minister on China, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
There has been no noticeable change in Pakistan's attitude in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks, Defence Minister A K Antony said on Friday. He added that actions, not statements made by the neighbouring country, were important.
Defence Minister, along with the Army Chief General Deepak Kumar and Defence Secretary Vijai Singh, is likely to arrive at Tawang where state Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu would receive them. Antony is scheduled to visit some forward areas in the border district before flying by chopper to Tenga, an important Army base in the district. The visit of Antony assumes significance in the light of recent disclosure that China has laid claim for Tawang.
With Intelligence inputs warning of a possible aerial terror attack, Defence Minister A K Antony today said the armed forces were ready to take on any future threats against the country. "We are ready for any eventuality," Antony told reporters while replying to a question on the sidelines of a function to honour war widows in New Delhi.
The Defence Minister was deliberating on India's friendly and cordial relations with all nations, especially countries in our immediate neighbourhood.
Faced with intelligence inputs of a possible threat from the skies on the pattern of 9/11, the Indian Air Force has decided to install a highly sophisticated radar in Delhi to detect low-flying aircraft. The decision to install 'Aerostat' radar in Delhi comes close on the heels of Defence Minister A K Antony saying that the country needs to guard against aerial threats.
The region already faces a problem from sea pirates and the terror threat had dimensions of bringing in non-State actors as well as agents of transnational crimes, Antony said while inaugurating an 'International Maritime Search and Rescue Conference 2008' in New Delhi. There should be a continuous vigil by the organisations like Coast Guard as well as maritime forces in the region, he said, adding that cooperation with other countries, including China, was vital.
With India's coastal security already breached by terrorists in Mumbai, Defence Minister A K Antony on Wednesday warned the armed forces of possible terror attacks from airborne platforms similar to the 9/11 attacks in the US.
The government will approach Swiss firms for providing expertise in setting up a unit for manufacturing sleeping bags and jackets for soldiers deployed in inhospitable terrains.
Infiltration across the border had not declined, but there had been signs of stability in recent days thanks to stern retaliatory action by security forces along the borders, Antony said.
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh continues to be in the hot soup. The crisis regarding the Indo-Pakistan joint statement simply refuses to blow over with the party now giving charge to Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Defence Minister A K Antony to diffuse the situation, retrieve the issue with the least damage to the government.
"Defence officials should adopt a humane approach towards the requirements of ex-servicemen to highlight the fact that while the country acknowledges the sacrifices being made by the jawans when they are in active service, it does not forget them after their retirement," Antony advised.
India has plans to more than double the number of Russian-made Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter aircraft in Indian Air Force fleet to 230 by 2015, Defence Minister A K Antony informed the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
The first Indian military outpost abroad is nearing completion in Tajikistan but some technical problems are hindering its full-fledged functioning, Defence Minister A K Antony said on Monday. "The base in Tajikistan is almost complete. But some technical problems are there," Antony said.
Terrorists of various outfits, after being imparted training, could use sea routes to enter India, Defence Minister A K Antony said in reply to written questions.
The issue came up during talks defence minister A K Antony had with his counterpart Najib Razak in Kuala Lumpur. However, the two leaders did not reveal details of their discussions on the issue.
However, the government would not follow the policy of "hot pursuit" against pirates in the present case, as it had wider implications, Defence Minister A K Antony said after the Defence Accounts Day function in New Delhi.
The Aero India 2007 international aerospace and defence exposition began today with India pitching itself as a global outsourcing destination offering competitive prices and a huge pool of skilled manpower.
The AWACS will provide IAF means to keep a tab on enemy aircraft and missiles taking off from across the border, thereby enhancing response time.
Coinciding with the visit of Defence Minister A K Antony to the US, the Pentagon has announced the sale of Harpoon missiles to India along with associated equipment and services for a total value of about USD 170 million.
Recently, former Army chief general J J Singh, before laying down office, had suggested that histories of the conflict with China and Indo-Pak wars should be made available to military strategists and other stakeholders to draw the right lessons from them.
Defence Minister A K Antony on Tuesday cautioned that India's vast coastline was still "vulnerable" as interests "inmical" to it were eyeing penetration through these areas to destabilise the country.
Under the deal signed in Moscow last month during Indian Defence Minister A K Antony's visit, HAL will supply large components to Russia's Irkut Corporation for assembling the airframes of Su-30MK fighters. The Russian firm is working on Indian, Malaysian and Algerian export orders.
Defence Minister A K Antony on Saturday reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir during his day-long visit to the Valley.
A change in the mindsets is called for, Antony said, adding country was in the process of accelerating the pace of modernisation of the armed forces by inducting hi-tech weapons systems, he said.
Increase in number of ceasefire violations across the Line of Control is a matter of concern and is constantly being reviewed by the government, Defence Minister A K Antony said.
The delay in the refitting of aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov and a range of bilateral issues came up for discussion when Defence Minister A K Antony on Thursday met Russian vice premier Sergei Ivanov in Moscow.
A spokesperson has said the proposal was mentioned at the recent talks.
India has refused to accept further deliveries of upgraded IL-38 anti-submarine aircraft complaning that the plane-detection equipment is not working to specifications.
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