Article Posted on : - Nov 11, 2009

RAJAHMUNDRY (PTI): The Indian Government is spending 40 per cent of its defence allocation for modernisation of armed forces, Union Minister of State for Defence, M M Pallam Raju, has said.

The Government has taken steps to modernise Army, Navy and Air Force to meet challenges, he told reporters here on Tuesday.

Thirty nine ordinance units, three shipyards and eight public sector undertakings in defence sector will be modernised and fire control systems improved, the minister said.

�BRAHMOS missile's naval and land versions are ready. We are taking steps to develop the aircraft version, the minister said, adding, �instead of transferring the new methods from one country (Russia) to another, we can achieve good results if both the nations (India and Russia) cooperate with each other to produce weapons.�

The Centre is also strengthening intelligence agencies in view of threats, he said.