<p class="title">India on Tuesday handed over a second Dornier maritime patrol aircraft to Seychelles, fulfilling a commitment that the government had made two years ago.</p>.<p class="bodytext">External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her junior Gen V K Singh (rtd) handed over the aircraft's airworthiness certificate and a symbolic key to the visiting Seychelles President Danny Faure at a function here.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"To enhance the surveillance capability of Seychelles to tackle maritime threats, our prime minister had announced the gifting of a second Dornier aircraft during his landmark visit to Seychelles in March 2015. This is fulfillment of the commitment. It is a gift from India ahead of the National Day of Seychelles on June 29," Sushma said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">India gifted the first Dornier aircraft to the island republic in January 2013.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Two years later when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Seychelles, he announced gifting a second Do-228 aircraft, which is a popular platform for maritime surveillance jobs.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"This aircraft will give a quantum enhancement in maritime reconnaissance and contribute towards keeping the vast EEZ of Seychelles free from maritime threats," she said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The aircraft is equipped with 360 degrees surveillance radar, forward-looking infra-red system, satellite communication links, traffic collision and avoidance system and enhanced ground proximity warning system.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The cabin can accommodate 19 passengers in commuter configuration while the cockpit is designed for two crew members.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Hindustan Aeronautics Limited that manufactured the aircraft also provided hands-on training to the pilots and technical staff of Seychelles.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We are committed to extend full-fledged support to the teams involved with the maintenance and operations of the aircraft," said T Suvarna Raju, chairman and managing director of HAL.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Of late, the bilateral relations entered a turbulent phase due to Seychelles's reported reluctance in developing its Assumption Island as an Indian naval base.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But at a summit-level meeting between Modi and Faure on Monday, the two nations agreed to work on the naval base project signalling a forward movement on the stalled project.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“We agree to work together on the Assumption Island project keeping in mind each other's interest in this regard," Modi stated.</p>.<p class="bodytext">India and Seychelles also signed an agreement on sharing white shipping information.</p>
<p class="title">India on Tuesday handed over a second Dornier maritime patrol aircraft to Seychelles, fulfilling a commitment that the government had made two years ago.</p>.<p class="bodytext">External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her junior Gen V K Singh (rtd) handed over the aircraft's airworthiness certificate and a symbolic key to the visiting Seychelles President Danny Faure at a function here.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"To enhance the surveillance capability of Seychelles to tackle maritime threats, our prime minister had announced the gifting of a second Dornier aircraft during his landmark visit to Seychelles in March 2015. This is fulfillment of the commitment. It is a gift from India ahead of the National Day of Seychelles on June 29," Sushma said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">India gifted the first Dornier aircraft to the island republic in January 2013.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Two years later when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Seychelles, he announced gifting a second Do-228 aircraft, which is a popular platform for maritime surveillance jobs.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"This aircraft will give a quantum enhancement in maritime reconnaissance and contribute towards keeping the vast EEZ of Seychelles free from maritime threats," she said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The aircraft is equipped with 360 degrees surveillance radar, forward-looking infra-red system, satellite communication links, traffic collision and avoidance system and enhanced ground proximity warning system.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The cabin can accommodate 19 passengers in commuter configuration while the cockpit is designed for two crew members.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Hindustan Aeronautics Limited that manufactured the aircraft also provided hands-on training to the pilots and technical staff of Seychelles.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We are committed to extend full-fledged support to the teams involved with the maintenance and operations of the aircraft," said T Suvarna Raju, chairman and managing director of HAL.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Of late, the bilateral relations entered a turbulent phase due to Seychelles's reported reluctance in developing its Assumption Island as an Indian naval base.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But at a summit-level meeting between Modi and Faure on Monday, the two nations agreed to work on the naval base project signalling a forward movement on the stalled project.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“We agree to work together on the Assumption Island project keeping in mind each other's interest in this regard," Modi stated.</p>.<p class="bodytext">India and Seychelles also signed an agreement on sharing white shipping information.</p>
