IANS

Panaji, Mar 18: Defence Minister A.K. Antony Wednesday said that India should have its own public and private firms engaged in defence equipment production as it cannot indefinitely depend on foreign weapons.

Speaking during the commissioning of Indian Coast Guard's offshore patrol vessel (OPV) Vishwast at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) in the port town of Vasco, 30 km from here, Antony said that currently, India was far from being self-reliant as far as manufacture of defence equipment was concerned.

"A country like India cannot indefinitely depend on foreign weapons alone. We should make space for Indian industries in both the private and public sector," Antony said.

The defence minister said it was imperative that the private sector made its presence felt in the defence equipment manufacture area.

"The public sector alone cannot bear the burden. We will have to involve the private sector," Antony said.

"We should be able to supply (defence equipment) to friendly countries," Antony said.

Referring to public sector shipyards, Antony in his address said the shipbuilding industry in India was facing numerous challenges and "a lot more is still needed to be done to bring our shipyards to the best international standards".

"The focus must be on shortening the delivery and gestation periods," he said.