The US has offered to sell eight P-3C Orion naval reconnaissance aircraft to India and New Delhi is examining the proposal, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Arun Prakash said today.
The US has offered to modernise eight old P-3C Orion planes and supply to India, he told reporters here.
"We are examining that offer," the Naval Chief said.
Admiral Prakash said India needs some maritime reconnaissance aircraft as "we lost a few and some have retired." "So, we are looking out for a replacement. This (the US offer) is one of the candidates." Russia has also offered to sell naval reconnaissance aircraft to India, said the Naval chief who earlier inaugurated the 46th annual conference of the Indian Society of Aerospace Medicine here.
Pakistan has recently taken delivery of eight P-3C Orion patrol aircraft from the US. The planes, worth up to USD 970 million, were provided free of cost.
Orions, manufactured by US defence firm Lockheed Martin, are long-range maritime patrol aircraft with an endurance of 18 hours, reports said.
On the Scorpene submarines deal with France, the Naval chief said once India starts producing submarines, "our force level will be adequate to meet any threat." He said India will build six submarines at Mazgaon dock in Mumbai under license from the French.
"From the date the contract is signed which should be very shortly, the first submarine should be out in five or six years," Admiral Prakash said.
"After the first production of six submarines is over, we will design and produce our own submarines," he said.
"We are required to have certain force level of submarines which were slowly running down because they were getting old and being decommissioned," he added Admiral Prakash said China is helping Pakistan to build a commercial port but it's not a cause for concern for New Delhi "at this moment." Asked if he anticipated "much more than that" (Chinese going beyond helping Pakistan in port building), he said "We are watching. We will see what happens in the future. We are prepared for any future developments. At this moment, there is no cause for concern or alarm to us." The Naval Chief said he was unaware of any move by Beijing to set up a naval intelligence unit in Pakistan or a naval base in that country.
He said about Rs 300 crore has already been invested in designing and developing naval version of the Light Combat Aircraft. Once it receives certification, expected in 2011 or 2012, it will fly from "both of our aircraft carriers.
India is considering a rival bid from Russia to sell naval surveillance and anti-submarine airplanes, even as it examines a United States offer of eight P3-C Orions, the country's naval chief said Wednesday.
Admiral Arun Prakash did not disclose which Russian model aircraft is being considered, but India's current maritime surveillance fleet comprises three Ilyushin-38s and eight Tupolev-142s, both Russian-made. He said the navy has not set a timeframe to decide on buying the naval planes, but that the negotiations are advancing.
"It is going take some time before we decide, " Prakash told reporters in Bangalore, on the fringes of an aviation seminar. "We will buy the one that offers the right price and meets our needs."
The US proposal was disclosed in February by defense contractor Lockheed Martin, which manufactures the Orion. It also won the necessary export license for the deal from the US government.
India has increasingly moved to the West to buy the military equipment it needs, after decades of dependence on the erstwhile Soviet Union. However, the latest statement underscores that India doesn't want to give up the Russian option.
The C-130J military transport aircraft, F-16 fighters and F/A-18 Hornet multipurpose aircraft are among US-made warplanes being considered by India. The US has also offered to sell its Patriot Advance Capability 3 missile system and E-2 Hawkeye airborne early warning system to India.
The P3-C is a variant of the P3-Orion, the United States' primary aircraft for anti-submarine warfare. It is also used by the air forces of Australia, New Zealand and Norway.
Some Sources have said Russia is Offering it's TU-22M Backfire against the Americans P3-C Orion........ So now for American F/A 18 Super Hornet Offer we have the Russian Offer of latest Mig-35 Aircraft ( Mirage 2000/5 and Gripen are also the contenders) and for P3-C Orions We have the Supersonic TU-22M Backfire offer lets see who wins the deals .......... Competation Brings about the best
dudes there is nothing to get so hyper about this, USA gave 8 P-3C Orions to pakistan for free
its not something which the US doesn't offer anyone else and is only offering them to India
dudes there is nothing to get so hyper about this, USA gave 8 P-3C Orions to pakistan for free
its not something which the US doesn't offer anyone else and is only offering them to India
Hyper ........... lol i am not hyper .......... was a bit Surprised myself by that wow :lol:
It's just a very notisable thing that USA has strated to bid for almost every Millitary tender in India ........ be it the 126 MMRC or the AWAC or Naval Aircraft.
phoenix_aim54 said:
whatever you do, just don't buy russian crappy planes plz... lol
Indian Millitary Purchases are generally made through Floating Global tenders ......... everybody can give in their Offeres ....... whichever Offer Suits our requirements will be selected .
