Mumbai: Defence Minister George Fernandes on July 26 hoped that Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) would endorse his ministry's decision to acquire Advance Jet Trainers (AJT).

"The decision to acquire AJT has been taken by the Defence Ministry…It has been referred to CCS and it is likely to be approved," Fernandes told reporters.

The Defence Minister was speaking to reporters after he was honoured as "Konkana Bhargava" by Jaya Shreekrishna Parisara Premi Samiti in suburban Kurla. Fernandes, who spoke in chaste Kannada, won hearts of the people gathered to hear him on the occasion.

He stated that the country needed AJTs for last two decades, but refused to disclose from which country they would be procured.

The Defence Ministry was studying conditions around air bases in a bid to reduce accidents occurred due to birds striking aircraft, he said.

Speaking on MiG crashes, Fernandes said, "MiG fleet in Indian Air Force (IAF) is the largest one. Apart from India, many countries are using MiG series, so there is no need to have a concern about it.

"If at all there is a situation where Air Force needs to get into action, then MiG will lead the IAF," he added.

Stating that relations between India and China were improving following the recent visit of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to China, Fernandes said, "There is nothing new in China's claim that Arunachal Pradesh is not an integral part of India."

He refused to comment on the proposal of Congress-led Opposition lifting ban on him in the Parliament.

PTI