Article Posted on : - Aug 17, 2010

A file photo.

NEW DELHI (PTI): Of the Rs 43799 crores allocated to the defence forces for acquisition of weapon systems, only Rs 7550 crores has been spent by the three services till July 31, the Lok Sabha was informed on Monday.

The Air Force has been given the highest allocation of Rs 23482.43 crores of which Rs 4062 crores has been spent, Defence Minister AK Antony said in reply to a query.

A number of big ticket deals including contracts for 12 VVIP helicopters, six C-130 J Hercules aircraft have been signed by the force.

Indian armed forces are undergoing large-scale modernisation and are expected to spend over USD 80 billion in the next decade for making purchases of weapon systems and defence equipment.

After not being able to utilise the procurement funds in last three-four years, the Defence Ministry overspent by four per cent in the last fiscal.

In 2009-10, the Ministry was allocated Rs 40367.72 crores for capital acquisitions but later on the figure was revised to Rs 35146.88 crores.

However, at the end of the last fiscal, it had spent Rs 38427 crores.