Tuesday, March 29 2005 21:56 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Close on the heels of the US offer to sell F-16 or F-18 warplanes, India today (Mar 29, 2005) announced its decision to buy 11 Dornier aircraft from Germany and hold price negotiations for purchase of 12 French-made Mirage 2005 fighters from Qatar.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, also cleared induction of nine off-shore patrol vessels for the Navy, purchase of one C-303 submarine-fired torpedo decoy system from Italy and upgradation of 14 aircraft carrier-based British-made Sea Harriers planes.

The CCS also approved time and cost revision for manufacture of intermediate jet trainer by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited at a cost Rs 467 crore as against 1997 price of Rs 180 crore, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters.

He said the CCS authorised the Defence Ministry to carry out price negotiations for 12 used Mirage 2005 warplanes from Qatar, which have 80 to 85 per cent of their operational life intact.