India likely to put on hold purchase of Japanese plane

[dadeechi]

This is a reaction to the Japanese cold shoulder to India's request to sell the Soryu-class submarines.


India likely to put on hold purchase of Japanese plane
Sale of 15 US-2i (Utility Seaplane Mark 2) amphibious aircraft from ShinMaywa Industries, Japan, to India is unlikely to materialise soon as the Indian Navy...
By: Huma Siddiqui | New Delhi | Published: April 16, 2016 6:02 AM
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Sale of 15 US-2i (Utility Seaplane Mark 2) amphibious aircraft from ShinMaywa Industries, Japan, to India is unlikely to materialise soon as the Indian Navy, the end user, finds it overpriced and not of immediate requirement.

Both the countries recently inked an agreement to facilitate export of the amphibious search-and-rescue (SAR) aircraft to India. The deal is estimated at $1.65 billion.

Japanese defense minister Nakatani is expected to visit India early next month and discuss with defence minister Manohar Parrikar as well as senior Navy officers the status of the sale plan, which has been in the pipeline for the past few years.

The visit coincides with the expected meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council under Parrikar. According to sources, US-2i is on the agenda of the meeting.

Sources in the ministry of defence (MoD) told FE, “ Right now, the US-2i is not the immediate requirement of the Indian Navy which is the end user. Also, after several round of discussions between two sides, costs are not in line with what the Navy anticipated.”

“While there have been visits by Indian Naval officials to the facilities where the amphibious aircraft is being produced, it seems that Japan too is weighing its decision to export the aircraft to India without violating its self-imposed defence export restrictions,” sources said.

Even if the acquisition gets through, it will be aimed at preventing leak of Japan’s technology – not allowing India from transferring the equipment or technology to a third-party without Japan’s consent.

Both the countries had once discussed the possibility of India being permitted to assemble the aircraft indigenously, giving it access to Japanese military technology. In fact, Japan has also offered to set up a manufacturing base in India under the ‘Make In India’ plan.

Since Tokyo eased its nearly half-a-century ban on defence equipment exports in April 2014, Japan and India have accelerated talks over India’s possible purchase of US-2i amphibious aircraft.

The deal is significant for a variety of reasons. On the surface, it’s another indicator of burgeoning cooperation between India and Japan on security matters. The deal is doubly significant in the context of India’s relations with Japan because once India clinches the deal, it will become the first country to purchase defense equipment from Japan since the latter’s self-imposed ban on defence exports began in 1967.

The deal is important for Japanese Prime minister Shinzo Abe as it would open up Japan’s defense industry to additional contracts with foreign partners.

According to Japanese officials, the proposed sale of US-2i amphibious, fixed-wing aircraft would not infringe upon Japan’s self-imposed ban on arms exports because the aircraft to be given to India will be unarmed and can be used for civilian purposes.

The plane could be used for firefighting or as a kind of amphibious hospital and costs around $110 million per unit. The plan is to deliver two aircraft and then assemble the rest with an Indian partner

http://www.financialexpress.com/art...ut-on-hold-purchase-of-japanese-plane/237560/

 

[Ankit Kumar 002]

Yes its not a necessity now.
The shopping list of important things for navy goes like
1. Submarines.
2. Naval Multirole Helicopters
3. Multirole frigates.

 

[sathya]

This is a reaction to the Japanese cold shoulder to India's request to sell the Soryu-class submarines.

Added heading is you personal frustration for us not getting soryu ?

 

[dadeechi]

Added heading is you personal frustration for us not getting soryu ?

Of course India is frustrated by the lack of an positive response from Japan on the soryu.

As I said couple days ago, one thing that Modi differentiates himself is that he is a genuine trier. The last thing anyone can accuse him is of not giving it a try.

1) He gave incentives on nuclear liability to push the nuclear deal

2) He cancelled MMRCA RFP to allow DA to tieup with Reliance instead of HAL and close the RAFALE deal.

3) He is signing LSA in return for ToT on fighter jets and engines

4) He pushed US-2is for Soryus

If countries cannot close deals under Modi's leadership then tough luck for them under others.

 

[Ankit Kumar 002]

Of course India is frustrated by the lack of an positive response from Japan on the soryu.

As I said couple days ago, oTypes hing that Modi differentiates himself is that he is a genuine trier. The last thing anyone can accuse him is of not giving it a try.

1) He gave incentives on nuclear liability to push the nuclear deal

2) He cancelled MMRCA RFP to allow DA to tieup with Reliance instead of HAL and close the RAFALE deal.

3) He is signing LSA in return for ToT on fighter jets and engines

4) He pushed US-2is for Soryus

If countries cannot close deals under Modi's leadership then tough luck for them under others.

Actually I am happy that this happened. Not because Soryu was bad, but just because it was too costly.
~1 Billion USD will get us SSNs.

Upgraded Scorpenes or Upgraded Type 214s should work fine for us.

 

[shree835]

US2i is not in priority of INDIAN NAVY now.

 

[sathya]

US2i is not in priority of INDIAN NAVY now.

Yeah, submarines are..
But no chance to get Soryu before US2, even japanese have difficulty to export soryu before US2

Now that Barracuda Is in the scene...

 

[sankranti]

1. Its too bloody expensive and not worth the cost.

2. Its engine are made in the USA anyway.

3. Only 4 aircraft's have been built till date.

4. Of that 4, one has ended up like this last year,

It would be ludicrous to buy such an unproven aircraft at such high expense.

 

[Ankit Kumar 002]

1. Its too bloody expensive and not worth the cost.

2. Its egame e are made in the USA anyway.

3. Only 4 aircraft's have been built till date.

4. Of that 4, one has ended up like this last year,

It would be ludicrous to buy such an unproven aircraft at such high expense.

If really amphibious needs are there,then why not open a tender. If I am not wrong let in the Russians in the game,they too have such solutions.

But only 4 have been made, that's news to me. Well that's a ridiculously small number for it high price.