Antony meets defence chiefs today to review costal security

According to defence ministry officials, apart from looking at the security situation along the land and maritime borders, the senior officials will also be taking stock of the state of preparedness of the Armed Forces.

?The position with regard to certain critical equipment and the status of ongoing acquisition too will be reviewed in detail,? defence spokesman Sitanshu Kar said.

On Thrusday, the minister had emphasised the need for the armed forces to be fully geared up to face any challenge or threat that may arise. Security along the land and maritime borders, particularly in the light of terror threats was reviewed, said Kar.

The importance of coordinated intelligence sharing by all agencies was emphasized at the meeting attended by Naval chief admiral Sureesh Mehta, Chief of the Indian Army General Deepak Kapoor, and the chief of Indian Air Force (IAF) air chief Marshal Fali Homi Major and the defence secretary Vijay Singh.

While the three services were asked to put suitable mechanism in place to ensure proper analysis and follow-up of all relevant inputs, the security of vital coastal and offshore assets were discussed with a view to ensuring that these remained fully secure.

The three forces are on ?high alert? following heightened tensions between the two neighbours in the wake of the Mumbai terror strike that left over 170 dead and over 250 injured. The minister also called upon the defence scientists to remain prepared to provide appropriate support to the Armed Forces in any eventuality. In his address at a meeting of the defence ministry?s consultative committee, the minister said ?in the emerging scenario, the role of the Armed Forces will be critically important?.

While lauding the role of DRDO Scientists in nation building, he asked them to cut down cost and time overruns. He also asked them to develop products and systems in consultation with and to the satisfaction of the end user, i.e. the Armed Forces.

The minister also complimented the DRDO for the successful landing and takeoff of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Tejas at Leh in subzero weather conditions.

He also congratulated Dr Sivathanu Pillai, CEO & MD, BrahMos Aerospace, on the successful vertical launch of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. While lauding the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile achievements as trend setting examples of harnessing the technological capabilities of India and Russia, the minister described it as a very significant step since the firing capabilities from ship in inclined mode and from mobile autonomous launcher had been already established.