in a first, Japan offers to sell aircraft to India
Published November 17, 2011
SOURCE: EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
In a sign of increasingly closer defence ties, Japan has for the first time offered to sell military equipment to India. While Tokyo has traditionally been wary of exporting military equipment to any part of the world, it has for the first time offered to sell multi-role amphibious aircraft that the Indian Navy needs for a variety of roles, including electronic warfare.
Sources said the matter was discussed during Defence Minister A K Antony’s visit to Japan last month and Tokyo expressed its keenness to share high-end military technology with India and even explore the possibility of joint development.
It is learnt that the Japanese government has granted permission to ShinMaywa Corporation to respond to a global request for information by the Indian Navy. Sources said the company has offered an aircraft named ShinMaywa SS 3 I in response to a Request for Information (RFI) issued by the Navy. Responses have also been received from Canada’s Bombardier and Russia’s Beriev company.
Japan has a strict policy on export of defence equipment and there is an unofficial ban on arms export despite the nation having a robust defence industry that caters for domestic needs. The ban, however, is being reconsidered with public statements in the past few months alluding to a modification in export policy. Tokyo is also considering opening up to joint ventures and joint developmental projects with other like-minded nations.
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