KANPUR (PTI): In a boost to its defence ties with Seychelles, India will gift a Dornier aircraft to that country to carry out surveillance against sea-borne terrorism and anti-piracy missions.
Indian Defence Minister A K Antony will present Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's Dornier DO-228 aircraft to Seychelles President James Michel on January 31.
Seychelles and HAL had signed a contract for two aircraft in February last year and promised to deliver the planes by 2014. However, HAL is handing over one of the aircraft a year in advance.
As part of the extensive co-operation between the two countries in the field of defence and security, especially anti-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean Region, India has provided defence equipment and gifted a naval patrol vessel to that country for better patrolling against Somali pirates.
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