Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

US offers eight P-3C Orion surveillance aircraft to India

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

New Delhi, Sept 14, IRNA
India-USA
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, reports Press Trust of India (PTI).

The US has offered to modernize eight old P-3C Orion planes and supply to India, he told reporters in the southern Indian city of Bangalore.

"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 patrolling 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.

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