India to spend INR 260 bln on naval ships and aircrafts

08.10.2010 Indian defense procurements committee endorsed appropriation of INR 260 bln ($5.9 bln) to purchase four assault landing ships and four patrol aircrafts. According to Deccan Herald, the question is Boeing P-8I aircrafts; ships are to be bought under international tender with technology transfer to India.

INR 160 bln will be appropriated for landing ships. It is planned to construct them at one of India's shipyards under license. Once they are commissioned, India would have 5 ships of this class in the inventory. In 2007 India purchased the secondhand Austin class landing ship USS Trenton. In Indian Navy the ship was renamed into INS Jalashwa.

The rest INR 100 bln will be spent on four Boeing P-8I Poseidon patrol aircrafts in addition to eight such airplanes already bought in 2009. By increasing number of patrol aircrafts, India plans to extend its surveillance potential over coastline and decommission obsolete Soviet-made aircrafts Tu-142M and Il-38SD. New patrol aircrafts will be used for search and destruction of enemy submarines, and for search-and-rescue operations.

It should be noted that the decision to buy warships and airplanes will be considered by the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) of the Government of India. However, it will unlikely introduce any changes to the military plans. Previously, this procurement program had been approved by Indian defense ministry and its appropriate organizations.