Date:07/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/07/stories/2009010754081400.htm

National

India signs naval reconnaissance deal with U.S.

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: India has formalised a mega deal with the U.S. for the supply of eight long-range naval reconnaissance aircraft. Defence Ministry sources said here on Monday that the agreement was signed on January 1 and the delivery of the planes was expected to begin in phases from 2012.

Maritime domain awareness

The signing of the deal will fill a vital gap in India’s maritime domain awareness and will be followed by another deal for medium range maritime reconnaissance (MRMR) planes.

The long-range reconnaissance planes fly long distances and transmit details of all activities taking place on the high seas. With India’s Russian origin maritime surveillance planes ageing, it had become imperative for the Navy to seek replacements. The signing of the deal makes the U.S. favourites for the MRMR since the Europeans have already bowed out of the tenders.

India could place an order for additional P8i reconnaissance aircraft being made by the U.S. civil-military major Boeing. The P8i maritime surveillance aircraft is based on the chassis of its civilian 737 aircraft. It will replace the existing fleet of Russian Il-38 aircraft.

Setback to Russia

This would be the second major setback to Russia, which had a near monopoly in the supply of such planes. The United States had breached the Russian hold over military transport planes by winning a multi-billion dollar contract for all-weather troop lift aircraft.

While the maritime reconnaissance planes deal seem to be following the script, sources said these aircraft would be gradually equipped with missiles that could destroy hostile naval assets, including submarines.

With the signing of this deal, the U.S. has bagged the third big-ticket order, including the AN/TPQ-37 weapons-locating radars and six Hercules C-130J transport aircraft.

Harpoon missiles

It had earlier announced the decision to sell two dozen anti-ship Harpoon missiles to India. This deal, worth over $170 million was made public by Defence Minister A.K. Antony during his visit to the U.S. last September.