The Indian Navy is mulling acquisition of nine amphibious aircraft to keep an aerial tab on the Andaman, Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands off the Bay of Bengal, a senior official said. The Navy has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for such aircraft, to be used for maritime surveillance on the islands. The Indian Navy has been acquiring sophisticated surveillance equipment, particularly following the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008, which officials said had exposed loopholes in the country’s maritime surveillance.
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