Article Posted on : - Oct 19, 2011

Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft

NEW DELHI (PTI): The Indian Navy has deployed a Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft in Maldives for carrying out anti-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean Region.

The aircraft is being sent from the Kochi-based Indian Naval Air Squadron 550 and will be stationed at Male for three weeks to keep a watch over the Exclusive Economic Zone of that country, Navy officials said here Tuesday.

The deployment of Indian surveillance aircraft in Maldives comes days after Defence Minister A K Antony said that the Navy was mandated to be a net security provider for island nations in the Indian Ocean Region.

Earlier this year, during Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed visit here, the two countries had discussed ways to intensify anti-piracy cooperation and decided to scale up bilateral trade and investment.

India has also deployed a Dornier aircraft along with a few choppers in the Seychelles to carry out the fight against sea pirates, who have been operating far away from the coast of Somalia.