India has signed a billion-dollar deal with Boeing to buy four maritime surveillance planes, defence and aviation sources said Wednesday, as it looks to counter China in the Indian Ocean. 
 
The deal for four P-8I aircraft follows India&#39;s earlier purchase of eight of the planes from the American aerospace giant in 2009. 
 
&quot;The deal has been signed. The delivery dates are being worked out,&quot; a defence ministry source told AFP, adding that the deal was worth more than a billion dollars. 
 
India has already deployed its original eight long-range P-8I aircraft to track submarine movements in the Indian Ocean. 
 
The navy is looking to beef up its fleet to strengthen its capabilities against submarines and surface ships. 
 
&quot;India has a vast maritime border and these planes are meant for long-range surveillance,&quot; a Boeing official told AFP, adding that a clause in the earlier agreement provided for New Delhi to purchase four more planes. 
 
&quot;The navy will likely deploy them in the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal to counter Chinese influence in the seas,&quot; the official said. 
 
India, the world&#39;s number one defence importer, is in the midst of a multi-billion dollar upgrade of its Soviet-era military hardware. 
 
The country has signed several big-ticket defence deals since Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s Bharatiya Janata Party stormed to power in 2014. 
 
Other deals have been mired in bureaucratic wrangles, however, notably the agreement to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from France&#39;s Dassault Aviation which has been pending since 2012. 
 
Modi&#39;s government has raised the limit on foreign investment in the defence sector and encouraged tie-ups between foreign and local companies. 
 
Modi has also called for the manufacturing of defence equipment locally and cut down reliance on expensive imports. 
 
(AFP) 
&nbsp;

The P-8I Poseidons will help India bolster its navy as New Delhi tries to check China's presence in the Indian Ocean

India has signed a billion-dollar deal with Boeing to buy four maritime surveillance planes, defence and aviation sources said Wednesday, as it looks to counter China in the Indian Ocean. The deal for four P-8I aircraft follows India's earlier purchase of eight of the planes from the American aerospace giant in 2009. "The deal has been signed. The delivery dates are being worked out," a defence ministry source told AFP, adding that the deal was worth more than a billion dollars. India has already deployed its original eight long-range P-8I aircraft to track submarine movements in the Indian Ocean. The navy is looking to beef up its fleet to strengthen its capabilities against submarines and surface ships. "India has a vast maritime border and these planes are meant for long-range surveillance," a Boeing official told AFP, adding that a clause in the earlier agreement provided for New Delhi to purchase four more planes. "The navy will likely deploy them in the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal to counter Chinese influence in the seas," the official said. India, the world's number one defence importer, is in the midst of a multi-billion dollar upgrade of its Soviet-era military hardware. The country has signed several big-ticket defence deals since Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party stormed to power in 2014. Other deals have been mired in bureaucratic wrangles, however, notably the agreement to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from France's Dassault Aviation which has been pending since 2012. Modi's government has raised the limit on foreign investment in the defence sector and encouraged tie-ups between foreign and local companies. Modi has also called for the manufacturing of defence equipment locally and cut down reliance on expensive imports. (AFP)

India orders 4 more maritime spy planes from Boeing worth $1 billion

The massive hunt for an Indian Air Force plane that went missing in stormy monsoon weather over the Bay of Bengal on Friday, July 22 with 29 people on board has dragged into the fourth day. The Indian Air Force Chief Marshal Arup Raha has only come out with a statement now. Air Force and Navy officials said the search was continuing but no signs of any wreckage had so far been found. 
 
&quot;It is very unfortunate that we have not been able to trace the missing aircraft and the personnel on board. It is a very difficult moment for all of us and we share the concerns of the distraught family members. IAF authorities are in constant touch with the family members of the missing personnel and they are being regularly updated about the efforts being made to trace the missing aircraft and personnel,&quot; said Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha.&nbsp; 
 
Rescuers have failed to pick up any emergency transmitter signals from the plane, an official said on Monday. 
 
Rajan Bargotra, a senior coastguard official, said the absence of signals from an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) made the operation very difficult. 
 
&quot;It is important to know why ELT has not worked as it could have helped narrow down the location of the plane,&quot; Bargotra told reporters. 
The ELT device is meant to start transmitting the plane&#39;s location the moment it touches water or in the event of a crash. 
 
Difficulties have been compounded by stormy monsoon weather in the Bay of Bengal. 
 
Families of the military personnel on board of the missing plane have been anxiously waiting for any news. 
 
&quot;He left on Wednesday. I also went up to the road to drop him. I made him sit in the auto. He told me he was going for 20 days and that it could extend by two more days,&quot; said wife of Chinnarao, an employee of Naval Armament Depot, who was on board of the plane. 
 
&quot;Events like these are painful reminders of the inherent risks which our brave personnel face in the execution of our daily missions. A thorough enquiry will be conducted to ascertain exactly what led to this unfortunate event. The IAF remains committed to provide the best possible equipment and training to our personnel so that they can execute their assigned missions professionally. &nbsp;Our prayers and thoughts are there with the missing personnel and their families and no effort will be spared to locate them,&rdquo; informed Raha.&nbsp; 
 
Sixteen ships, a submarine and six aircraft are searching for the plane that disappeared on a routine re-supply flight to remote islands in the Bay of Bengal on Friday. 
 
AN-32 aircraft was on a scheduled courier sortie from Tambaram, Chennai to Port Blair when it went missing. The aircraft had departed Tambaram at 0830 AM on July 22 with 6 crew and 23 personnel.&nbsp; 
 
Radar contact with the aircraft was lost when the aircraft was east of Chennai at an approximate distance of 270 km. Since then there has been no contact with the aircraft.&nbsp; 
 
(Reuters) 
&nbsp;

Air Chief Marshal Raha said ?It is very unfortunate that we have not been able to trace the missing aircraft and the personnel on board."

The massive hunt for an Indian Air Force plane that went missing in stormy monsoon weather over the Bay of Bengal on Friday, July 22 with 29 people on board has dragged into the fourth day. The Indian Air Force Chief Marshal Arup Raha has only come out with a statement now. Air Force and Navy officials said the search was continuing but no signs of any wreckage had so far been found. "It is very unfortunate that we have not been able to trace the missing aircraft and the personnel on board. It is a very difficult moment for all of us and we share the concerns of the distraught family members. IAF authorities are in constant touch with the family members of the missing personnel and they are being regularly updated about the efforts being made to trace the missing aircraft and personnel," said Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha. Rescuers have failed to pick up any emergency transmitter signals from the plane, an official said on Monday. Rajan Bargotra, a senior coastguard official, said the absence of signals from an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) made the operation very difficult. "It is important to know why ELT has not worked as it could have helped narrow down the location of the plane," Bargotra told reporters. The ELT device is meant to start transmitting the plane's location the moment it touches water or in the event of a crash. Difficulties have been compounded by stormy monsoon weather in the Bay of Bengal. Families of the military personnel on board of the missing plane have been anxiously waiting for any news. "He left on Wednesday. I also went up to the road to drop him. I made him sit in the auto. He told me he was going for 20 days and that it could extend by two more days," said wife of Chinnarao, an employee of Naval Armament Depot, who was on board of the plane. "Events like these are painful reminders of the inherent risks which our brave personnel face in the execution of our daily missions. A thorough enquiry will be conducted to ascertain exactly what led to this unfortunate event. The IAF remains committed to provide the best possible equipment and training to our personnel so that they can execute their assigned missions professionally. Our prayers and thoughts are there with the missing personnel and their families and no effort will be spared to locate them,” informed Raha. Sixteen ships, a submarine and six aircraft are searching for the plane that disappeared on a routine re-supply flight to remote islands in the Bay of Bengal on Friday. AN-32 aircraft was on a scheduled courier sortie from Tambaram, Chennai to Port Blair when it went missing. The aircraft had departed Tambaram at 0830 AM on July 22 with 6 crew and 23 personnel. Radar contact with the aircraft was lost when the aircraft was east of Chennai at an approximate distance of 270 km. Since then there has been no contact with the aircraft. (Reuters)

IAF plane search day 4: No signs of any wreckage

Two days after an Indian Air Force plane went missing, Indian Navy has sought the help of space agency, a senior navy official said today.&nbsp; 
 
The plane carrying 29, including 21 military personnel, six crew members and civilians, went missing in the Bay of Bengal on Friday. 
 
The AN-32 was on its way to Port Blair, the capital of India&#39;s Andaman and Nicobar islands, when it disappeared from radar. 
 
The Vice-Admiral of Eastern Naval command, HC Bisht, said Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)&#39;s help has been sought in locating the plane. 
 
&quot;Continuous search is going on by large number of ships. We are augmenting the search effort by larger number of ships, aircraft, helicopters, coast guard ships, air force aircraft, all these are contributing to the search effort and search effort is increasing. In addition, we are also asking for ISRO&#39;s help for satellite imaging of that area so that we have at least some information,&quot; said Bisht in the southern city of Visakhapatnam after meeting family members of Bhupath Singh, an employee of the Naval Armament Depot who was aboard the missing plane. 
 
Meanwhile, family members of missing people are keeping their fingers crossed. 
 
In northern Allahabad city, aircraftman Laxmi Kant Tripathi&#39;s family was inconsolable. 
 
&quot;He called up and said that he will leave for Andaman at around 8 pm-8:30 pm (GMT 1430-1500 hours) and then call up but I never received any call after that,&quot; said crying mother of Laxmi Kant, Meena Tripathi. 
 
&quot;Till now we have received no information. Yesterday some officials came and told us that as soon as they receive any information, they&#39;ll inform us. We are waiting but still no information has been received,&quot; said father of missing aircraftman, Narendra Nath Tripathi. 
 
Sixteen ships, six planes and a submarine have been pressed into search for the aircraft in one of India&#39;s largest search and rescue operations in recent years. 
 
Military officials said the weather had been rough in the Bay of Bengal over the last two days because of the monsoon season, hindering search operations. 
 
The AN-32 is a workhorse of the air force, chosen for its ability to operate from short runways. 
 
The air force has 101 of the AN-32s that entered service in 1984 and have gone through mid-life upgrades and life extensions since then. 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp;

Indian Space Research Organisation will help in satellite imaging to boost the search effort

Two days after an Indian Air Force plane went missing, Indian Navy has sought the help of space agency, a senior navy official said today. The plane carrying 29, including 21 military personnel, six crew members and civilians, went missing in the Bay of Bengal on Friday. The AN-32 was on its way to Port Blair, the capital of India's Andaman and Nicobar islands, when it disappeared from radar. The Vice-Admiral of Eastern Naval command, HC Bisht, said Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)'s help has been sought in locating the plane. "Continuous search is going on by large number of ships. We are augmenting the search effort by larger number of ships, aircraft, helicopters, coast guard ships, air force aircraft, all these are contributing to the search effort and search effort is increasing. In addition, we are also asking for ISRO's help for satellite imaging of that area so that we have at least some information," said Bisht in the southern city of Visakhapatnam after meeting family members of Bhupath Singh, an employee of the Naval Armament Depot who was aboard the missing plane. Meanwhile, family members of missing people are keeping their fingers crossed. In northern Allahabad city, aircraftman Laxmi Kant Tripathi's family was inconsolable. "He called up and said that he will leave for Andaman at around 8 pm-8:30 pm (GMT 1430-1500 hours) and then call up but I never received any call after that," said crying mother of Laxmi Kant, Meena Tripathi. "Till now we have received no information. Yesterday some officials came and told us that as soon as they receive any information, they'll inform us. We are waiting but still no information has been received," said father of missing aircraftman, Narendra Nath Tripathi. Sixteen ships, six planes and a submarine have been pressed into search for the aircraft in one of India's largest search and rescue operations in recent years. Military officials said the weather had been rough in the Bay of Bengal over the last two days because of the monsoon season, hindering search operations. The AN-32 is a workhorse of the air force, chosen for its ability to operate from short runways. The air force has 101 of the AN-32s that entered service in 1984 and have gone through mid-life upgrades and life extensions since then. (Reuters)

Indian Navy seeks space agency's help to locate missing air force plane

After serving two naval forces for as many as 58 years, India&#39;s second aircraft carrier Indian Naval Ship (INS) Viraat is getting relegated to a piece of history. For this, she will sail for a final time, powered by her own boilers, from Mumbai to Kochi. 
 
As per the schedule, Viraat will embark on its final journey on July 23&nbsp;when it leaves for southern India and reach Kochi on July 27,&nbsp;where it will be berthed with the Southern Naval Command, said a naval officer. 
 
There are plans to decommission it later this year, possibly in November. Thereafter, the fate of the 226.5-metre-long warship is unknown. Although the ministry of defence has called for proposals from several coastal states to convert this maritime heritage into a tourism pad, it is yet to freeze the proposal. 
 
As per a rough estimate, around Rs 400 crore (60 miilion Dollars approximately) &nbsp;will be required to give a new life to INS Viraat. It was bought from the United Kingdom and commissioned by India in May 1987. Before that it was known as HMS Hermes with the Royal Navy and had served in its fleet for 25 years, from November 1959 to April 1984. 
 
A precursor to INS Viraat&#39;s final leg of life was de-induction of its aircraft fleet of Sea Harriers. On May 6, this year, the Sea Harriers fighter aircraft flew for the last time from the flying deck of INS Viraat. Two days later, on May 8 the fleet was given a farewell at INS Hansa in Goa. 
 
Sea Harriers flew into the Indian Navy in 1983 after Sea Hawk fighters were phased out in 1978. Sea Harriers were an integral part of INS Viraat as well as the earlier INS Vikrant. 
 
Due to Mumbai&#39;s strategic importance, INS Viraat was part of sword arm of the Indian Navy &ndash; the Western Naval Command. 
 
Maharashtra government had failed to convert the opportunity to save India&#39;s first aircraft carrier INS Vikrant into a museum and part of tourist circuit. Finally, in November 2014, the dismantling of the ship had commenced and one of the automobile companies bought its iron to mould motorcycles. 
 
Nation&#39;s third aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya, was bought from Russia and commissioned into Indian Navy in November 2013. It will serve the nation for another two decades. Meanwhile, construction is underway for a new aircraft carrier, which will be titled INS Vikrant. The vessel is being made at Cochin Shipyard and is expected to get commissioned in 2018. 
 
LIFE AS HMS HERMES (ROYAL NAVY) 
 
LAUNCHED : February 1953 
 
COMMISSIONED : November 1959 
 
DECOMMISSIONED : April 1984 
 
SERVED ROYAL NAVY : Over 24 Years 
 
LIFE AS INS VIRAAT (INDIAN NAVY) 
COMMISSIONED : May 1987 
 
DECOMMISSIONED : Later in 2016 
 
SERVING INDIAN NAVY : Over 29 Years 
&nbsp;

There are plans to decommission it later this year, possibly in November

After serving two naval forces for as many as 58 years, India's second aircraft carrier Indian Naval Ship (INS) Viraat is getting relegated to a piece of history. For this, she will sail for a final time, powered by her own boilers, from Mumbai to Kochi. As per the schedule, Viraat will embark on its final journey on July 23 when it leaves for southern India and reach Kochi on July 27, where it will be berthed with the Southern Naval Command, said a naval officer. There are plans to decommission it later this year, possibly in November. Thereafter, the fate of the 226.5-metre-long warship is unknown. Although the ministry of defence has called for proposals from several coastal states to convert this maritime heritage into a tourism pad, it is yet to freeze the proposal. As per a rough estimate, around Rs 400 crore (60 miilion Dollars approximately) will be required to give a new life to INS Viraat. It was bought from the United Kingdom and commissioned by India in May 1987. Before that it was known as HMS Hermes with the Royal Navy and had served in its fleet for 25 years, from November 1959 to April 1984. A precursor to INS Viraat's final leg of life was de-induction of its aircraft fleet of Sea Harriers. On May 6, this year, the Sea Harriers fighter aircraft flew for the last time from the flying deck of INS Viraat. Two days later, on May 8 the fleet was given a farewell at INS Hansa in Goa. Sea Harriers flew into the Indian Navy in 1983 after Sea Hawk fighters were phased out in 1978. Sea Harriers were an integral part of INS Viraat as well as the earlier INS Vikrant. Due to Mumbai's strategic importance, INS Viraat was part of sword arm of the Indian Navy – the Western Naval Command. Maharashtra government had failed to convert the opportunity to save India's first aircraft carrier INS Vikrant into a museum and part of tourist circuit. Finally, in November 2014, the dismantling of the ship had commenced and one of the automobile companies bought its iron to mould motorcycles. Nation's third aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya, was bought from Russia and commissioned into Indian Navy in November 2013. It will serve the nation for another two decades. Meanwhile, construction is underway for a new aircraft carrier, which will be titled INS Vikrant. The vessel is being made at Cochin Shipyard and is expected to get commissioned in 2018. LIFE AS HMS HERMES (ROYAL NAVY) LAUNCHED : February 1953 COMMISSIONED : November 1959 DECOMMISSIONED : April 1984 SERVED ROYAL NAVY : Over 24 Years LIFE AS INS VIRAAT (INDIAN NAVY) COMMISSIONED : May 1987 DECOMMISSIONED : Later in 2016 SERVING INDIAN NAVY : Over 29 Years

Ahoy! After serving for 58 years, India's aircraft carrier INS Viraat to go for its last sail

A Chinese observation ship shadowed the powerful US aircraft carrier, John C. Stennis, in the Western Pacific today, a Japanese official said, joining warships from Japan and India in drills close to waters Beijing considers its backyard.&nbsp; 
 
The show of American naval power comes as Japan and the United States worry Beijing will look to extend its influence into the Western Pacific with submarines and surface vessels as it pushes its territorial claims in the neighbouring South China Sea. A Chinese navy reconnaissance vessel was spotted by a Japanese patrol plane around 3:30 a.m. local time off the southwestern prefacture of Kagoshima today, deputy chief cabinet secretary Hiroshige Seko said.&nbsp; 
 
Only last week, Japan had summoned the Chinese ambassador to express concern after a Chinese navy ship sailed close to what Japan considers its territorial waters in the East China Sea for the first time, increasing tensions over the disputed area. 
 
Beijing views access to the Pacific as vital both as a supply line to the rest of the world&#39;s oceans and for the projection of its naval power. 
 
The 100,000 ton Stennis, which carries F-18 fighter jets, joined nine other naval ships including a Japanese helicopter carrier and Indian frigates in seas off the Japanese Okinawan island chain. Sub-hunting patrol planes launched from bases in Japan are also participating in the joint annual exercise dubbed Malabar. 
 
The Stennis, which has been followed by the Chinese ship since patrolling in the South China Sea, will sail apart from the other ships, acting as a &quot;decoy&quot; to draw it away from the eight-day naval exercise, a Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force officer said, declining to be identified because he was not authorized to talk to the media. 
 
Blocking China&#39;s unfettered access to the Western Pacific are the 200 islands stretching from Japan&#39;s main islands through the East China Sea to within 100 kilometres of Taiwan. Japan is fortifying those islands with radar stations and anti-ship missile batteries. 
 
By joining the drill Japan is deepening alliances it hopes will help counter growing Chinese power. Tensions between Beijing and Tokyo recently jumped after a Chinese warship for the first time sailed within 24 miles (38 km) of contested islands in the East China Sea. 
 
The outcrops known as the Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyu in China lie 220 km (137 miles) northeast of Taiwan. 
 
Wary of China&#39;s more assertive maritime role in the region, the US Navy&#39;s Third Fleet plans to send more ships to East Asia to work alongside the Japan-based Seventh Fleet, a US official said on Tuesday. 
 
For India, the gathering is a chance to put on a show of force close to China&#39;s eastern seaboard and signal its displeasure at increased Chinese naval activity in the Indian Ocean. India sent its naval contingent of four ships on a tour through the South China Sea with stops in the Philippines and Vietnam on their way to the exercise. 
(Reuters)

The joint US, Japanese and Indian naval exercise comes at a time when Beijing tries to extend its influence far away from its shores

A Chinese observation ship shadowed the powerful US aircraft carrier, John C. Stennis, in the Western Pacific today, a Japanese official said, joining warships from Japan and India in drills close to waters Beijing considers its backyard. The show of American naval power comes as Japan and the United States worry Beijing will look to extend its influence into the Western Pacific with submarines and surface vessels as it pushes its territorial claims in the neighbouring South China Sea. A Chinese navy reconnaissance vessel was spotted by a Japanese patrol plane around 3:30 a.m. local time off the southwestern prefacture of Kagoshima today, deputy chief cabinet secretary Hiroshige Seko said. Only last week, Japan had summoned the Chinese ambassador to express concern after a Chinese navy ship sailed close to what Japan considers its territorial waters in the East China Sea for the first time, increasing tensions over the disputed area. Beijing views access to the Pacific as vital both as a supply line to the rest of the world's oceans and for the projection of its naval power. The 100,000 ton Stennis, which carries F-18 fighter jets, joined nine other naval ships including a Japanese helicopter carrier and Indian frigates in seas off the Japanese Okinawan island chain. Sub-hunting patrol planes launched from bases in Japan are also participating in the joint annual exercise dubbed Malabar. The Stennis, which has been followed by the Chinese ship since patrolling in the South China Sea, will sail apart from the other ships, acting as a "decoy" to draw it away from the eight-day naval exercise, a Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force officer said, declining to be identified because he was not authorized to talk to the media. Blocking China's unfettered access to the Western Pacific are the 200 islands stretching from Japan's main islands through the East China Sea to within 100 kilometres of Taiwan. Japan is fortifying those islands with radar stations and anti-ship missile batteries. By joining the drill Japan is deepening alliances it hopes will help counter growing Chinese power. Tensions between Beijing and Tokyo recently jumped after a Chinese warship for the first time sailed within 24 miles (38 km) of contested islands in the East China Sea. The outcrops known as the Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyu in China lie 220 km (137 miles) northeast of Taiwan. Wary of China's more assertive maritime role in the region, the US Navy's Third Fleet plans to send more ships to East Asia to work alongside the Japan-based Seventh Fleet, a US official said on Tuesday. For India, the gathering is a chance to put on a show of force close to China's eastern seaboard and signal its displeasure at increased Chinese naval activity in the Indian Ocean. India sent its naval contingent of four ships on a tour through the South China Sea with stops in the Philippines and Vietnam on their way to the exercise. (Reuters)

Chinese spy ship shadows US, Japanese, Indian naval drill in the Western Pacific

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India orders 4 more maritime spy planes from Boeing worth $1 billion

IAF plane search day 4: No signs of any wreckage

Indian Navy seeks space agency's help to locate missing air force plane

Ahoy! After serving for 58 years, India's aircraft carrier INS Viraat to go for its last sail

Chinese spy ship shadows US, Japanese, Indian naval drill in the Western Pacific