Defence Minister A K Antony today cautioned the three Services chiefs to be transparent in the process of weapon trials and procurement as he cleared proposals worth around 6,000 crore rupees for the Armed Forces. At the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) meeting, the Ministry cleared proposals for procurement of 3,000 Light Support Vehicles (LSVs) for the Army at a cost of 1,500 crore rupees and Special Operations Vessels (SOVs) for the Marine
Commandos of the Navy at a cost of 1,700 crore rupees.

The meeting also cleared proposals for purchase of Search and Rescue (SAR) equipment for IAF choppers at a cost of 1,000 crore rupees, 3,000 Hand-held Thermal Imagers for the Army at 800 crore Rupeess and a Cadet Training Ship for the Navy at 480 crore rupees which will be built by private sector ABG Shipyard.

The DAC, which is the top decision-making body of the Defence Ministry, also cleared an IAF proposal to procure two Dornier surveillance and transport aircraft from the HAL.