India approved a 158 billion-rupee ($2.5 billion) purchase of artillery, the first acquisition of large-caliber guns since the 1980s as Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks to modernize the armed forces.
The Defence Acquisition Council authorized 229 billion rupees of procurements yesterday, including the artillery, a government official told reporters in New Delhi, asking not to be identified citing rules. The meeting was the first since Manohar Parrikar became defense minister earlier in November.
