Armed forces granted financial power to buy any weapon up to Rs 500 crore per project

Key Highlights

• The defence forces can acquire the required weapon systems under fast track procedures

• The Vice Chiefs of the three services have been given the financial power

• The armed forces were granted similar financial power after the Uri terror attack and the Balakot airstrike against Pakistan

New Delhi: In a bid to scale up weapon system of defence forces amid the ongoing border dispute with China, the government has given a big financial power to three services of armed forces empowering them to buy any arms and ammunition up to Rs 500 crore.

The financial power has been granted to the defence forces to prepare them for any future conflict or contingency.

“The Vice Chiefs of the three services have been given the financial powers up to Rs 500 crore per project to acquire the required weapon systems under fast track procedures needed to fill whatever shortcomings or requirement is felt,” a senior government official was quoted as saying by agencies.

This comes close on the heels of recent clashes between Indian and Chinese troops in Galwan Valley of eastern Ladakh in which 20 Indian soldiers were martyred.

Similar financial power granted to defence forces after Uri attack, Balakot airstrike

The armed forces were granted similar financial power after the Uri terror attack and the Balakot airstrike against Pakistan.

Following the Balakot airstrike, the Air Force procured large number of equipment including the Spice-2000 air to the ground stand off missiles, Strum Ataka air to ground missiles along with multiple spares and air to air missiles for its aerial fleet.

The Army acquired the Israeli Spike anti-tank guided missiles along with the precision-guided Munitions from America.

India-China border clash

On Monday night, 20 Indian Army personnel were martyred in a violent clash with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh where the two sides have been on a bitter standoff for over five weeks. The Indian Army said that 18 soldiers were admitted to a hospital in Leh while 58 were in other hospitals.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday, asserted that neither has anyone intruded into Indian Territory nor has anyone taken over any post.

“Today, we possess the capability that no one can eye even one inch of our land. India's armed forces have the capability to move into multiple sectors at one go. Till now, those who were never questioned or stopped, are being stopped and warned by out jawans in multiple sectors,” he had said in a closing remark at the all-party meet.