Article Posted on : - Jul 19, 2014

NEW DELHI (PTI): A proposal to procure 56 transport aircraft as replacement for AVRO aircraft through 'Buy & Make' route has been accorded approval by the Defence Acquisition Council, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley has told the Lok Sabha.

40 of these aircraft will be manufactured in India by an Indian production agency from the private sector and the agency will be chosen by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), he said in reply to a question.

The Council had taken the decision in a meeting on July 23, 2012.

The bid submission date has been extended up to August 28 this year, he said.

In another reply, he said the government is aware of Chinese participation in Indian Ocean Region (IOR) in development projects like ports as well as in anti-piracy operations and deep sea mining.

Government keeps a constant watch on all developments concerning national security and economic interests and takes necessary measures to safeguard them, in accordance with the prevailing security situation and strategic considerations, he said.