The Indian Navy proposal to acquire 12 ShinMaywa US-2i amphibious aircraft has finally moved to the Defense Acquisitions Council, before the Indian PM’s visit to Japan.
Japan has set up an agency to manage international defense trade, especially the Indian Navy order for ShinMaywa US-2i amphibious aircraft, after the loss of the Australian submarine order.
The two defense agreements signed by India and Japan on Saturday will enable the faster processing of a deal for the sale of US-2i amphibious aircraft to India.
Tata Advanced Systems Limited is expected to deliver the first of eight airframes for the Dornier 228 NG to RUAG early next year from a facility in Hyderabad in a tie-up announced in June 2014.
Commander PD Roy (Retd) of ShinMaywa Industries explains what’s so special about this aircraft, which could be the first foreign sale of defense equipment by Japan since the end of the Second World War.