Top army commanders to meet next week to discuss preparedness

Top army commanders will discuss next week the state of preparedness at a meeting which assumes significance in the light of Gen VK Singh's assessment of deficiencies and shortages in the force.

The bi-annual Commanders' conference starting on Monday is taking place at a time when the Army Chief has been mired in a number of controversies just before his retirement next month-end.

Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen Bikram Singh would also be attending the meeting for the first time after he was appointed as the Army Chief-designate.

On the inaugural day of the meeting, Defence Minister AK Antony will separately hold a meeting to review the capital acquisitions for the Army along with senior Ministry and Service officials.

During the four-day conference, senior Army Commanders will discuss operational preparedness along with training and other issues, Army officials said here.

In a letter written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Gen Singh had raised serious questions about the preparedness of the armed forces and lack of ammunition for tanks.

He had also pointed out the obsolescence of air defence systems in the force.

In view of the shortages of tank ammunition, the Defence Ministry had signed a contract with Russian Rosoboronexport in 2010 to supply shells for the T-90 tanks.

Several other fast-track projects are also in the pipeline for procuring ammunition for the armoured regiments.