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.

NEW DELHI — India’s “air defense is 97% obsolete,” the country’s soon-to-retire army chief Gen. V.K. Singh wrote in a recent letter to the Indian premier that discusses a number of major issues plaguing the Indian military. The content of the letter, dated March 12, was leaked to the media March 28.

NEW DELHI — India will host one of Asia’s biggest defense exhibitions starting March 29 to showcase the country’s military potential as major armament manufacturing giants try to get a share of the $38 billion market. Some 567 global defense firms from 32 countries will display weapon systems for the army, navy and internal security during the four-day “Defexpo India 2012,” the seventh in the series, to be held in New Delhi, a defense official says.