By IANS,
New Delhi: India Monday agreed to give three aircraft to the Seychelles for maritime surveillance in the Indian Ocean region that is plagued by threats of increasing piracy in and around the Gulf of Aden.
Defence Minister A.K. Antony, who is on a two-day trip to the archipelago nation, made the promise of the three aircraft during his meeting with Seychelles President James Alix Michel, a defence spokesperson said here.
“On a specific request from the Seychelles, Antony agreed to provide, at the earliest, one new Dornier and two Chetak helicopters from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for maritime surveillance,” the spokesperson said.
Although the normal delivery time is 18 to 24 months for the helicopters, Antony assured that India will try “to supply the aircraft in 15 months”.
“During this period, India will provide an in-service Dornier aircraft to carry out maritime surveillance (in the region),” the spokesperson said.
Antony is in the Seychelles on a two-day trip that began Sunday for talks on strengthening India’s strategic ties in the southern Indian Ocean.
The trip comes close on heels of the visit by External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna earlier this month.
In June, President Michel was in India to discuss security issues, including the maritime security situation in the Indian Ocean region, particularly in the context of the spread of piracy in and around the Gulf of Aden.