India’s air force has issued a request for information for amphibious aircraft that it plans to deploy in the Andaman and Nicobar islands, near a disputed maritime border. Recently released, the request seeks the air force’s first amphibious aircraft capability.
“We want to see what is out there in the market,” the air force says. “We need these aircraft for the Andaman and Nicobar islands,” it adds, referring to India’s two groups of islands in the Andaman Sea.
The islands are near a disputed maritime border with Bangladesh, which late last year served notice to India and Myanmar to settle a dispute over maritime boundary claims before a UN arbitration tribunal. Bangladesh is keen to settle the dispute because it wants to explore for undersea oil and gas.
Possible contenders for the Indian air force’s requirement include the Bombardier 415 and Beriev Be-200, as well as the Dornier Seaplane. The latter company recently appointed India’s InterGlobe General Aviation as its local sales agent.

BY: flightglobal