Wednesday, December 21 2005 14:31 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Government has decided to ascertain the details of 155mm/52 calibre wheeled Self Propelled (SP) guns in the global market and Request for Information (RFI) has been issued for the same, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee today (Dec 21, 2005) said.

No definite timeframe has been fixed for procurement of the gun, Mukherjee said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

Replying to another question, he said the US has agreed in principle to sell a Landing Platform Dock (LPD) to India, which could provide Indian Navy enhanced amphibious capability, besides being deployed for disaster relief operations.

It can also function as a 'command and control platform' during mishaps at sea like offshore oil installation fires and maritime air accidents, he said and added that no no LPD of this capability has so far been constructed in India.

The Defence minister also informed the Upper House that contracts for the indigenous construction of six French Scorpene class submarines at Mazagaon Dock Limited, Mumbai were signed on 6th October 2005.

Space: There were 25 cases of violation of Indian airspace since December 2004, Mukherjee informed the House and said out of these 20 were from Pakistan, three from Bangladesh, while two were from Nepal.

Helicopters: Minister of State for Defence Production B K Handique said that Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has been trial evaluated by the Chilean Authorities.

HAL has supplied two ALH to the Royal Nepalese Army in 2004, he said.