Britain hopeful of resuming copter spares supply

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, DEC. 12. Stopping short of a categorical assurance, Britain today said it was hopeful of reopening the supply of critical spare parts for the Sea King helicopters with India.

At a press conference this evening, the visiting British Defence Secretary, Mr. Geoffrey Hoon, said he was hopeful that these parts, which are manufactured in the U.S., could be transferred for the India Sea King fleet soon. His statement assumes importance in the light of the existing U.S. laws which proscribe the supply of spares to India on account of the post- Pokhran sanctions.

Mr. Hoon said Britain had taken up the matter with the U.S. administration. The U.S. has said a final decision would have to depend on the decision taken by the U.S. Congress. Mr. Hoon, however, was optimistic that the sanctions on these spares would be lifted by the end of the on-going Congressional session in the U.S.

According to Mr. Hoon, India was yet to take a decision on British offer for the supply of 66 Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers. Twenty two of these planes can be assembled in India. The possibilities of co-production and joint marketing also remained open, but would have to await commercial negotiations between he Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the British Aerospace which manufactures this plane.

Mr. Hoon praised the HAL which ``had the world class infrastructure in the aviation field''. Britain was also looking at the India's Advanced Light helicopter project with renewed interest, he observed.

In his discussions with the External Affairs Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh, the two sides decided that Indo-British defence ties should evolve beyond a buyer-seller relationship. They also discussed the possibilities of expanding their cooperation in the conduct of peace-keeping under the U.N. flag. Mr. Hoon also praised the Indian ceasefire initiative in Jammu and Kashmir.

On defence ties with Pakistan, Mr. Hoon said the prevailing conditions in Pakistan restricted cooperation to the supply of spare parts for British equipment which had been sold to Islamabad in the past.

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