New Delhi: India and United States are finalising an agreement for rescue of Indian Submarines in distress by the US forces, Naval Chief Admiral Arun Prakash said in New Delhi today (Nov 30, 2004) but indicated that New Delhi might review its move to buy American P3C Naval spy planes if Washington went ahead with similar sale to Pakistan.

"We are close to finalising an agreement with the US Navy for rescue of Indian submarines in case of distress," he said describing the move as an "interim measure" till Navy acquired its own Deep Sea Rescue Vehicles, for which companies had been short-listed.

A similar agreement was in the offing when US imposed sanctions on India after the Pokhran nuclear blasts in May 1998.

The Naval Chief said India was also close to finalising the deal for purchase of six French Scorpene class submarines and commencement of production of its indigenous Aircraft Carrier.

While, admitting that India was "low" in numbers of the maritime reconnaissance aircraft, Prakash said, "We are, therefore, currently on the look out for a long range maritime patrol aircraft".

The US military aircraft manufacturer Lockheed-Martin and Pentagon officials have been negotiating for the sale of P3C Orions.

"We could review any purchases of these aircraft, if Washington goes ahead with sales of these Naval spy planes to Pakistan", the Naval Chief replied when asked by reporters while giving a review of the Force on the eve of Naval week starting tomorrow (Dec 1, 2004).