Maritime Partol Aircraft for Indian Navy: Mehta

New Delhi, Dec 2 (UNI) Seeking to bolster its surveillance capabilities, the Indian Navy is in the process of finalising the selection of Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) equipped with modern gadgets.

Naval Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta told mediapersons here today that four aircraft, including the P3C Orion, Boeing and the tried-and-trusted Ilyushin, had been shortlisted.

Addressing the customary Navy Day-eve press conference-- his first since assuming office on November 1 last-- Adm Mehta said the MPA will significantly add to the Navy's overseas clout in protecting Indian economic interests.

As part of this effort, India was already in the process of finalising the Container Security Initiative (CSI) which entailed protecting maritime traffic from the Malacca Straits to Gulf of Hormuz.

The CSI, he said, would, involve the US Navy and the Japanese coast guards.

Adm Mehta said the Navy was also going in for rotary wing unmanned aerial vehicles for better surveillance of its maritime area.

He also called for upgrading the mine sweepers to detect sophisticated mines.

On the Scorpene submarine, he said the plate cutting of the first Scorpene to be built in the country will begin by mid next-month.

UNI YJ HS VV1820