Article Posted on : - May 30, 2013

"US-2" is the new STOL search and rescue amphibian (amphibious aircraft) with significantly improved performance over its successor "US-1A". Photo: ShinMaywa.

TOKYO (PTI): Japan on Wednesday moved a step closer to signing a landmark agreement on the supply of amphibious planes to India, as the two sides decided to establish a Joint Working Group to explore the modality for the cooperation.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe issued a joint statement on Wednesday in which they laid down the course of co-operation over the US-2 amphibian aircraft.

They decided to establish a Joint Working Group to explore the modality for the cooperation on the US-2 amphibian aircraft.

It is the first time that Japan has offered such a step on the aircraft which has dual uses of landing on choppy waters and having long-range civilian and military applications.

The sale of the aircraft, when it happens, would be the first of a finished product made by Japan's homegrown defence industry since rules were imposed restricting the export of weapons systems and other equipment.

Japanese media quoting experts said the aircraft must be classed as for civilian use if it is to comply with Japan's 1967 self-imposed ban on arms exports, part of the post-World War II anti-militarist drive.

The US-2 which was developed by ShinMaywa Industries has a range of 4,700 kilometres and can land in seas with waves of up to three metres.

India and Japan welcomed the expanding bilateral defence ties and agreed to further cooperate on maritime issues to ensure freedom of navigation and unimpeded commerce.