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Bangalore, September 14: The US has offered to sell eight P-3C Orion naval reconnaissance aircraft to India and New Delhi is examining the proposal, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Arun Prakash said today. The US has offered to modernise eight old P-3C Orion planes and supply to India, he told reporters here. "We are examining that offer," the Naval Chief said. Admiral Prakash said India needs some maritime reconnaissance aircraft as "we lost a few and some have retired." "So, we are looking out for a replacement. This (the US offer) is one of the candidates." Russia has also...

NEW DELHI, MARCH 23: At his meeting with top US officials later this week, Navy Chief Admiral Arun Prakash is set to send across a strong message on the P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft offer. Accompanied by his military advisor, Capt A.K. Chawla, Adm Prakash is likely to tell US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld that while the Indian Navy is serious about acquiring a fleet of 10 P-3C Orions, what is necessary is a compromise between the Pentagon’s constraints and the Indian Government’s demands. The Pentagon has not confirmed whether Adm Prakash will meet Rumsfeld, but the Navy Chief...