Defence and strategic ties between India and Japan will come up for discussion during Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s visit to Tokyo for two days starting March 30. It will be the first foreign visit by a Defence Minister since 2013 when then incumbent AK Antony visited Russia. Parrikar’s visit comes in the backdrop of Japan pushing hard for sale of its amphibious plane to the Indian Navy. The deal is worth over Rs10,000 crore for 12 planes and the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by Parrikar is yet to take a decision about procuring these planes. Incidentally, India is first country to which Japan has offered to sell a military aircraft since World War-II.
Moreover, Japan may also bid for a Rs50,000 crore deal for building six submarines under the ‘Make In India’ policy. India is likely to invite Japan to take part in this project wherein these diesel powered conventional submarines will be built in the Indian shipyards. The thrust of Parrikar’s visit will be increasing defence cooperation and pushing the Government’s Make in India initiative, officials said here on Wednesday adding the Minister’s likely visit to South Korea will also see focus on strengthening the Indian defence industry through joint ventures with Korean firms.