India all set for $1.3 bn worth defence deal with Japan

 

Lastly it was in 2013, that India and Japan discussed over US-2i aircraft including technology transfer and license production. Besides the negotiation, the JWG was also directed by the Indian and Japanese governments to hold responsibility of developing Indian aircraft industry through the latest deal.
In a direct government-government deal without any contenders along, India is all set for a defence deal with Japan, in view of strengthening its naval power in Asia-Pacific region.
According to an Indian Defence News report, India would soon   acquire a massive ShinMaywa US-2i amphibious aircraft from Japan as part of their expanding bilateral strategic partnership.
In this regard, the Defence Acquisitions Council (DAC) chaired by the Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, is expected to propose empowerment of the Joint Working Group (JWG) to negotiate the purchase of around $1.3 billion for at least 12-stretcher capacitated US-2i aircraft.
It is on ‘Acceptance on Necessity’ that the Indian Navy is stepping ahead for US-2i aircraft and may also require additional five such planes on board, say the defence sources.
Lastly it was in 2013, that India and Japan discussed over US-2i aircraft including technology transfer and license production. Besides the negotiation, the JWG was also directed by the Indian and Japanese governments to hold responsibility of developing Indian aircraft industry through the latest deal.
Prior to this, the Indian government in January 2015, had also asked the Japanese administration to consider fielding its Soryu-class submarines for the Rs 50,000 crore worth project to build six stealth submarines in India, for which France, Russia and Germany are the other contenders.
Australia also expressed its willingness to replace its ageing Collins-class vessels with Soryu-class submarines.
As an unique aircraft that has been basically designed for air-sea search and rescue operations, the US-2i aircraft is capable of transporting 30 combat-soldiers at a time to the hot zones and can also land heavy equipments to the warships even on high seas.
The deployment of this aircraft will definitely strengthen India’s naval power in critical regions like Andaman and Nicobar Islands, say the defence sources.
Besides this, India already has Indian Naval Ship Baaz at Campbell Bay on Great Nicobar Island, which only provides India with a commanding presence in the Bay of Bengal, but also serves as peeper into East and South East Asia.
Things seems to be going good for Indo-Japan defence cooperation post the Japanese government lifted its
five-decade-old arms export ban, which holds a strategic importance for both the countries in combating the challenges from China.
 
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