NEW DELHI, Oct 24: India on Wednesday urged its military chiefs to ensure transparency in a swathe of multi-billion dollar deals due to be signed in coming years as the armed forces modernise.

“The urgent need of the hour is to change mindsets, in tune with the changing times where transparency and fairness are the buzzwords,” Defence Minister A.K. Antony said.

He told commanders at the opening of a four-day conclave to “reduce response timings at every level.” A string of illegalities in arms contracts dating back to 1984 has led to delays in clinching major deals and has left the politico-military establishment wary of new scandals.

Antony said foolproof methods such as an iron-clad transparency clause included in every deal would help rebuild the scandal-tarred image.

He called for streamlining of procurement procedures.

The commanders’ conclave, opened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, was also to review ambitious space plans and the turmoil in neighbouring Pakistan, Myanmar and Sri Lanka, a defence ministry spokesman said.

Singh in his address also called for an overhaul of existing military practices to “meet long-term strategic goals of India,” officials said.

“The prime minister said changes (in arms procurement policies) must be carried out to ensure their practical implementation,” a top commander attending the conclave said.

The prime minister also said the million-plus military must back India’s strategic ambitions in the Asian region, he added.

Singh’s comments coincided with the test firing of India’s nuclear-capable Agni-1 ballistic missile for the second time in less than a month.

The Agni-1 has a range of 700 kilometres, making it capable of striking most targets in rival and neighbouring Pakistan.

In August, India invited tenders to supply 126 fighter jets at an estimated cost of 10 billion dollars. It has also launched talks with Russia to buy an aircraft carrier and a nuclear submarine.

Commanders said they would have a fresh look at the military’s massive shopping list, a participant said. “Each deal has to be value for money and that’s what we are now going to look at,” a senior official said, asking not to be named.

Experts such as retired air marshal V.K. Bhatia estimate India’s technology-starved air force alone would need 50 billion dollars by 2017 to become a truly continental force.

India’s largest military supplier, Russia, is also involved in separate deals with New Delhi worth another $10 billion. They include the purchase of 16 Russian MiG-29 jets with an option to buy 30 more and the upgrading of India’s 67 existing MiG-29s.

Moscow has sold India $37 billion worth of military hardware since 1960.

US-based General Electric recently won orders worth $100 million to sell 24 engines for India’s locally built combat aircraft.—AFP