India May Spend Over $220 Bln to Buy Weapons in Next Decade - Reports

The Indian government may spend $223 billion by 2027 to acquire new weapon systems in order to increase the military preparedness of the country's Armed Forces, according to the NDTV broadcaster.

NEW DELHI (Sputnik) — Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar has ordered the military to assess the expected cost of military modernization in accordance with the Long Term Integrated Perspective Planning modernization roadmap for the period of 2012-2027.

India plans to procure 500 helicopters, over 200 warplanes, twelve submarines and other types of hardware by 2027, the television network said, citing sources in the Defense Ministry.

The ministry also intends to decrease the number of human resources by replacing them with modern systems to diminish the budget shortfall, according to the broadcaster.