Tokyo: India and Japan are set to intensify defence cooperation. It is expected that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will discuss a possible purchase of US-2 amphibian planes from Japan during a summit meeting with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on Monday.
If India signs an agreement to to buy ShinMaywa aircraft, it will be the third nation in the world to have such amphibious aircraft after US and Japan.
ShinMaywa aircraft is one that can land on either land or water. There are two models of this aircraft -- US-1 and US-2. The Indian Navy is mulling to buy 15 units of US-2. It is expected that the Navy will station these aircraft in the Andaman and Nicobar islands.
The US-2 deal could result in a USD 1.65 billion tab for India.
The deal is significant for a variety of reasons.
On the surface, it's another indicator of burgeoning cooperation between India and Japan on security matters.
If India clinches the deal, it will become the first country to purchase defense equipment from Japan since the latter's self-imposed ban on defense exports began in 1967.
It should be noted that negotiations on the US-2 deal began in 2012. In 2013, the both nations decided to form a Joint Working Group to explore the modality for the cooperation. The matter was also figured during Abe's visit to India as a chief guest for the Republic Day function this year.
Characteristics of ShinMaywa aircraft (source wiki)
Crew: 11
Capacity: 20 passengers or 12 stretchers
Length: 33.46 m (109 ft 9 in)
Wingspan: 33.15 m (108 ft 9 in)
Height: 9.8 m (32 ft 2 in)
Wing area: 135.8m² (1,462 sq ft)
Empty weight: 25,630 kg (56,504 lb)
Loaded weight: 43,000 kg (94,797 lb) (water take-off)
Max. takeoff weight: 47,700 kg (105,160 lb) (land take-off)
Powerplant: 4 × Rolls-Royce AE 2100J turboprop, 3,424 kW (4,591 shp) each
Propellers: Dowty R414 6 bladed propeller, 1 per engine
Boundary layer enhancement provided by 1,015 kW (1,360 shp) LHTEC T800
Performance
Maximum speed: 560 km/h
Cruise speed: 480 km/h
Range: 4,700 km
Service ceiling: 7,195 m (23,606 ft)
Takeoff distance on ground at MTOW: 490 m (1,608 ft)
Landing distance on ground at MTOW: 1,500 m (4,921 ft)
Takeoff distance on water at Loaded weigh: 280m (919 ft)
Landing distance on water at Loaded weigh: 330m (1,083 ft)
