Six reconnaissance aircraft to be bought for Navy

The Defence Ministry has given clearance for Request for Proposals (RFPs) which will be issued any time now, official sources said here today.     

The induction will be done in a phased manner after the order is executed in one or two years, sources said. The six MRMR aircraft will replace the Navy's Islanders (BN-21A) from Britten Norman that are being used for coastal surveillance for many decades.     

At present, the Navy operates about 12 of them but they are on the verge of being phased out. Once inducted, the MRMR aircraft will be mainly used in reconnaissance role to strengthen the Navy's intelligence and surveillance capablities.     

The need for the MRMR aircraft will further arise in future when the Navy's fleet of Dornier-228 aircraft is phased out. Most of Indian Navy's Islanders were phased out some years ago. Some were given to Myanmar for its coastal surveillance.     

The Indian Coast Guard also requires six MRMR aircraft. Coast Guard sources say their requirement will be met through a separate RFP.