NEW DELHI — India’s defense minister has directed the country’s army to restructure its acquisition procedures to improve oversight and speed purchases. On April 2, Defense Minister A.K. Antony met with top army officials led by service chief V.K. Singh to complete various proposals related to acquisition and procurement of equipment for the service.

Not that long ago, the number of nations wielding sea-based airpower seemed to be headed inexorably downward. Today, the reverse is true.

NEW DELHI — India’s defense minister says the country’s defense expenditures will continue to increase as the modernization of its armed forces remains a top priority. “Our armed forces need to have access to [the] latest defense technologies, equipped with the state-of-the-art platforms, equipment and systems. With the projected growth of the Indian economy expected at a trajectory of 8-10% for the next two decades, expenditures on defense in absolute terms is bound to increase,” Defense Minister A.K. Antony said in inaugurating DefExpo 2012 here.