Sunday, June 18 2006 10:58 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: To bolster Navy's reconnaissance capabilities, India is to buy more IL-38 spy planes from Russia and the decks for the supply would be cleared during Naval Chief Admiral Arun Prakash's weeklong visit to Moscow starting tomorrow (June 19, 2006).



Navy plans to buy two more IL-38 maritime reconnaissance aircraft from the Russia to strengthen its depleted spy plane fleet hit by crashes of the IL-38 aircraft.



The new planes to be purchased would be the upgraded version of the aircraft fitted with advanced Sea Dragons suits.



The new aircraft are likely to be supplied by next year and would join Navy's already purchased new fleet of three IL-38 aircraft. Navy's plans to buy eight more advanced maritime reconnaissance aircraft and has already floated international tenders for it.



Three major companies US Lockheed Martin offering their upgraded version P3C orions, Boeing P8 jet and Russian Irkut company offering their IL-38 have responded to the Naval Request for Proposal (RFP).



Admiral Arun Prakash's visit, which follows the recent visit to Moscow by Air Chief S P Tyagi, was aimed to take 'stock and review' of the ongoing Indo-Russian armament programme including the progress of the upgradation and retrofitting of the aircraft carrier Admiral Groshkov and carrier-borne 16 Mig-29K fighters India has already contracted for, naval sources said.



Russia is scheduled to deliver the retrofitted Groshkov to Indian Navy by the middle of 2008, while the first of the Mig-29Ks are to be delivered by 2009.



During the visit, which will take Prakash to Russian submarine and warship dockyards, the Naval Chief will also discuss and finalise details for purchase of three more Russian Krivak class Stealth warships.

India has already purchased three of these advanced warships and during the conclusion of the earlier deal, an option had been kept open for purchasing three more warships. The Rs 1,800 crore deal has come up to the Cabinet Committee on Security for clearance.



The new stealth warships would be armed with the Indo-Russian ship-to-ship supersonic cruise missle Brahmos in place of the existing Russian Klub missiles.



Prakash's visit also assumes significance in the wake of reports of Indian Naval personnel undertaking specialized training in Russia in the running of Nuclear submarines. There have been reports that India is planning to lease two Russian Akula class nuclear submarines.