Defence Minister A K Antony has said that the government attaches highest priority to coastal defence, including the island territories, and asked the Navy to expedite acquiring assets and implementing security measures approved after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. <br/><br/>He was addressing the Navy Commanders at their four-day bi-annual conference in New Delhi. Mr Antony said the government is equipping both Navy and the Coast Guard for coastal surveillance and patrol both in terms of assets and manpower. <br/><br/>He said after the Mumbai attacks, the government had entrusted the overall responsibility of coastal security to the Navy and had approved acquisition of ships, boats, aircraft and helicopters under fast track. <br/><br/>This he said is apart from creating a radar network along the 7,500-km-long coastline and raising of the Sagar Prahari Bal by the Navy as a specialist force for the purpose.