The Indian Navy has expressed interest in purchasing six of these aircraft as part of an Indo-Japan government deal. The six planes will be delivered between 2017 and 2022, and six more will be delivered later. The move by the company is likely in response to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s plan to make India a manufacturing hub through the “Make in India” campaign. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has pledged to support India in its endeavor, and the move by ShinMaywa Industries is the first concrete step by a Japanese firm in this direction.
“The deal when inked will have a 30 per cent offset clause. Under this offset clause, ShinMaywa wants to set up a plant in India to cater to the global market since the demand for the aircraft is high,” Indian defense sources said.
Japan operates seven of these crafts for maritime rescue, and has utilized them over 900 times for this purpose. The Indian Navy is looking to utilize these crafts that can land and takeoff from water and land, to monitor coastal waters and India’s numerous island chains.
This interest from a Japanese firm is part of a larger effort between India and Japan to come closer, in an effort to counter China’s rising presence in Asia. Despite having a long history of cultural relations, both countries have been mostly negligent of each other’s presence since World War 2. That has changed in the last two years. India and Japan have signed defense and infrastructure deals during visits from both Prime Ministers to each other’s countries.
India and Japan are also looking to support each other militarily. Japan can help India technologically, while India can provide training support to Japan, which is gradually moving out of military isolationism under Shinzo Abe. India will be conducting an International Fleet Review from February 4-8, to which both Japan and China have been invited. Fifty countries, 100 ships, 24 foreign warships and 4,000 sailors will be part of the exercise, the second in Indian history. Observers see it as a move by India to showcase its readiness and capabilities, both to potential enemies and allies. It is also being seen as a move to present India as a source country for defense equipment.
Admiral Tomohisa Takei, Chief of Staff, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force is aboard the JS Matsuyuki, a 3000-ton Hatsuyuki-class destroyer, which is participating in the review.
