Britain Urges India to Scrap Aircraft Deal with Burma

Britain has requested India not to proceed with the planned sale of British-made BN-2 Islander aircraft to Burma.

Indian press reports said the request was made in a letter sent by the British High Commission in New Delhi to the Indian Foreign Ministry ahead of a visit to Rangoon last week by Indian Navy chief Arun Prakash.

The Foreign Ministry forwarded the letter to the Defense Ministry and Navy for “necessary action,” the reports said. They did not report on the nature of any action taken.

The BN-2 Islander is a twin-engine light aircraft used mostly for survey and reconnaissance work. Burma had told India it wanted to use the aircraft for maritime surveillance and aerial ambulance missions

The Indian reports said the Indian Navy feared that if the sale of British-made aircraft to Burma went ahead it could jeopardize deals for the supply to India of helicopter parts and 10 second-hand Royal Navy Sea Harriers. The Harriers are intended to replace India’s Goa-based fleet air arm aircraft.
    
During the Indian Navy Chief’s visit to Rangoon, the Burmese regime proposed the creation in Burma of bases where the Indian Navy could train Burmese military personnel and officials in weapons and sensors, engineering and offshore operations.