New Delhi: Defence Minister Arun Jaitley has said that enough arms and ammunitions are available in the country to face any exigencies. Replying to supplementary questions in the Lok Sabha, he said that all public sector defence units are producing arms and ammunitions as per need of defence forces. He said government has finalised the policy of strategic partnerships in defence sector.

The Minister said, the policy is intended to institutionalize a transparent, objective and functional mechanism to encourage broader participation of the private sector in manufacture of major defence platforms and equipment. He said, indigenous contribution in the production of arms and ammunitions have increased many folds. The Minister said further, government has initiated move for modernisation of state owned ordnance factories and has taken measures to increase their production capacities.

Replying to supplementary, Minister of State of Defence Subhash Bhamre said that no state owned ordnance factory will be closed down and no worker will face unemployment. He said, 25 private sector factories have been identified to engage for production of arms and ammunitions for defence forces. He said, eight items including aircraft submarines, helicopters and armoured vehicles will be produced from identified private sector Indian companies.

This comes after a CAG report said that India lacked enough ammunition to fight even a 10 day war.