India Yet To Decide On Shinmaywa Amphibious Military Aircraft Procurement

India will not be closing the $1.6 billion Shinmaywa amphibious military aircraft deal during Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s expected visit to India this month.

Earlier today, Indian Chief of Naval Staff R.K Dhowan said in a press conference that the defense ministry is yet to finalize the joint production of the amphibious military aircraft.

It was earlier reported that that India would firm up an agreement during Abe’s visit later this month. The proposal to buy the aircraft had passed through Indian MoD's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) earlier but had been deferred.

Indian Navy had raised an initial requirement of 12 amphibious aircraft. Japan's ShinMaywa had offered to assemble the aircraft in collaboration with Pipvav shipyard of India as part of the ‘Make In India’ program.

The US 2 amphibious aircraft pitched by the company has applications for search and rescue, surveillance and intelligence gathering.