India is considering the purchase of eight P-3 Orion maritime surveillance aircraft from the United States, a version which is currently being used by the Pakistan Navy, defence sources said on Tuesday.
The navy is strengthening its maritime reconnaissance fleet, which comprises of Russian-made TU-142 M and IL-38 aircraft.
The need for augmenting the fleet also arises following the mid-air crash of two IL-38 aircraft in October last year.
P-3C version of the Orion planes of the US Navy had participated in a search and rescue exercise with the Indian Navy, off Chennai on July 9 and 10, sources said.
New Delhi, according to sources, wants to buy P-3C version of the Orion, which is with the Pakistan Navy. But, they added, the Indian Navy might have to settle for the smaller 'B' version of the Orion as the 'C' version is not being sold by the US military.
Although the 'C' version is fitted with sophisticated surveillance equipment and capable of firing missiles, the sources said in case India went in for the P-3B Orion, there would be no compromise on the reconnaissance capability of the planes.
A US Navy team could visit India in the next couple of months to discuss the possibility of the sale of the surveillance aircraft.
