karatecatman Guest
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Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 12:10 pm Post subject: India to get 6 Super Hercules, options of another 6 |
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India is close to concluding a contract with the US for acquiring six C-130J Super Hercules transport planes, the first deal between the two countries for military aircraft, defence sources said.
The deal, once approved by the US Congress and New Delhi, will be a one-off contract between the governments of the two countries under Washington’s Foreign Military Sales programme.
There will also be an option for six additional Hercules aircraft manufactured by aviation major Lockheed Martin, the sources said. The sale is expected to be finalised in the next few months, they said. The Super Hercules aircraft, which can carry a payload of 20 tonnes, are likely to be used for operations by Special Forces and strategic airlifts, the sources said. The Indian Air Force is currently upgrading its fleet of about 80 Russian-made An-32 medium-lift cargo planes as well as 25-30 Il-76 heavy-lift jets.
Lockheed Martin is also in the race to sell India 126 multi-role combat jets and has offered the P-3C Orion reconnaisance aircraft to the Indian Navy.
But this is unlikely as Russai may bag part of the deal when Putin is here on Republic Day, say the UNI report. |
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