India: Maritime Security - IAF Looks to Sea Planes

In a another move related to pursuing its maritime security, India is looking at acquiring some sea planes:

For the first time, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is planning to purchase amphibious aircraft which it intends to deploy at the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago.

Bombardier 415

A request for information for the aircraft which can take off from both land and sea has been floated by the IAF. Contenders in the fray are Canadian Bombardier 415 and Russian Beriev Be-200 as well as the Dornier Sea Plane.

Beriev Be-200

“It is for the first time the IAF is planning to have an amphibious capability. This is because of the changing dynamics of security demands around the isles,” a senior IAF official said.

Dornier Seastar

Andaman and Nicobar is the only tri-service command of the Indian armed forces. The aircraft will boost the forces’ capability to keep an eye on the maritime boundary around the islands, most of which are uninhabited.

“IAF intends to buy six of these aircraft for maritime reconnaissance and search and rescue ops,” the official added.

As per the IAF’s qualitative requirements, the aircraft should have a short take off capability and a range of 800 nautical miles.