In a first, Japan offers to sell aircraft to India

In a first, Japan offers to sell aircraft to India

Thu Nov 17 2011 | New Delhi

In a sign of increasingly closer defence ties, Japan has for the first time offered to sell military equipment to India. While Tokyo has traditionally been wary of exporting military equipment to any part of the world, it has for the first time offered to sell multi-role amphibious aircraft that the Indian Navy needs for a variety of roles, including electronic warfare.

Sources said the matter was discussed during Defence Minister A K Antony’s visit to Japan last month and Tokyo expressed its keenness to share high-end military technology with India and even explore the possibility of joint development.

While the offer has been appreciated by India, which has identified key areas where defence technology can be shared, it has been conveyed that the amphibious aircraft would need to take part in competitive trials as per the procurement process. Unlike the US and Russia, where several defence deals have been signed without a global competition, India does not have any mechanism for direct government-government sales with Japan.

It is learnt that the Japanese government has granted permission to ShinMaywa Corporation to respond to a global request for information by the Indian Navy. Sources said the company has offered an aircraft named ShinMaywa SS 3 I in response to a Request for Information (RFI) issued by the Navy. Responses have also been received from Canada’s Bombardier and Russia’s Beriev company.

Japan has a strict policy on export of defence equipment and there is an unofficial ban on arms export despite the nation having a robust defence industry that caters for domestic needs. The ban, however, is being reconsidered with public statements in the past few months alluding to a modification in export policy. Tokyo is also considering opening up to joint ventures and joint developmental projects with other like-minded nations.

While co-development would be a step in the future, the offer of an amphibian plane is being seen as a sign of close military ties between the nations.

In a first, Japan offers to sell aircraft to India - Indian Express

ShinMaywa SS 3 I

I wonder if we ever had a seaplane in our inventory.

japan is know for quality and less for innvoation. this plane will be with usa tech( hoping) and with japanese quality, i hope India gets few for its elite marine force

Should join hands with them with their 5th gen or invite them on our AMCA.. a combo of Japan-Israel-Indian technology would fund and speed up the project.

A K Antony’s visit to Japan last month and Tokyo expressed its keenness to share high-end military technology with India and even explore the possibility of joint development. -----> for me it sounds like .....

Innovation is one of the hallmarks of Japanese industry. It may as well be synonymous with them.

Woot!!!!!!!!

not innovation but integrating the developed tech into their products. asimo might be in your mind when you posted. not the right guess dude. japs are for making things more usable, the developed techs are better integrated and modified with the flavor of quality to give it to world. americans loses market more readily then they capture it with the help of innovation.
japs are not innovator, yes they make innovation more user friendly. a geeky jap is all set to make world better and not making world

The Walkman was not innovative ?
Their companies like Sony, Cannon Honda are one of the most innovative in the world !

btw 'Jap' is apparently a racial slur (we're not aware of it)

have u decided to go against me in every post. take a science journal and compare the research coming out of japan and usa. you will get your answer. im not saying that japs dont research but the point is that the new technology or something like completely new form of tech is not from japan but from usa. honda, canon and sony. they use already developed technology and their innovation is restricted to making new models of their products in which they integrate these techs. you can say they re-invent wheel too

This will be our first time.

Then they make some really high quality wheels. I wouldn't mind a PS 3, don't have one.

yes they do. that i stated in my post.

Japaneses are decades ahead of us as far as innovation is concerned. We must have technological ties with their educational and defense institutions for our benefit. There's no shame in learning.