Oct 12, 2010

India Extends Requirement of US Defence Equipment

            The Defence Minister Shri AK Antony visited Washington on September 27 – 28 on an invitation from his counterpart Mr. Robert Gates. A high-level delegation including the Defence Secretary Shri Pradeep Kumar, Lt General Bikram Singh, Vice Admiral DK Joshi and Air Marshal AK Gogoi accompanied the Minister.

India is also continuously increasing inventory of US platforms. New Delhi is likely to order four P-8I Poseidon long-range maritime patrol aircraft to add to the eight already contracted under the $2.1 billion deal which will be taken up for approval in the meeting of the defence acquisitions council, headed by A K Antony, on October 8. ''The new P-8Is will cost the same as each of the eight ordered in January 2009, without any cost escalation. There will also be similar offsets requirements. In the original $2.1-billion contract, the offsets were valued over $600 million,'' said a source

India and the US are also expected to sign a deal for acquisition of 10 C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft by the Indian Air Force for $3.5 billion, during US President Barack Obama's planned visit to India in November 2010. The induction of 6 C 130 J and later the 10 C 17 Globemaster transport aircraft will increase Indian strategic lift capability to a considerable extent and would be a major advantage in conventional as well as non conventional scenarios providing the country some traction in moving personnel and stores over vast distances in quick time and land on under prepared surfaces as well. This capacity will come in handy particularly in disaster relief and would be seen as a big asset once these aircraft are inducted in the IAF for multifarious purposes in today’s environment and not just for conventional operations.

OCT 2010