Indian ShinMaywa US-2 flying boats rapidly becoming reality.

[Stratofreighter]

The deal is expected to be concluded during the visit of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh which starts Monday.

Delhi is expected to purchase around 15 units of the US-2, used by Japan’s Self Defense Forces and developed by ShinMaywa Industries.

It costs around 99 million dollars per unit, has a range of 4,700 kilometres and can land in water with waves of up to three meters.

However, the aircraft must be used for civilian purposes to comply with Japan’s 1967 self-imposed ban on arms exports as part of its post-World War II anti-militarist efforts.

The ban was eased in 2011, allowing Japanese firms to bid for multinational weapons projects.

http://japandailypress.com/india-set-to ... es-2729544

http://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/1 ... d-military

During a four-day visit to Tokyo by Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, scheduled to start later yesterday, the two sides are set to firm up plans for Delhi to purchase the US-2, a domestically developed aircraft used by Japan's armed forces.