China has started assembling the world’s largest sea plane which it plans to deploy in the disputed South China Sea. China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Co is developing the aircraft, which has received 17 domestic orders for what will be the world’s largest sea plane. Powered by four turboprop engines, it will be the world’s largest amphibious aircraft, surpassing Japan’s ShinMaywa US-2 and Russia’s Beriev Be-20. The Chinese plane will have a maximum takeoff weight of 53.5 tons and an operational range of about 4,500 kilometers.
India plans to buy Japanese sea planes to counter-balance Chinese Navy’ growing might in blue waters.
Let's Learn Something About our Indian Navy
- Indian Navy is the only Navy in the world to have submarine launched supersonic cruise missiles.
- The President of India serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy.
- The seventeenth century Maratha warrior lord “Chhatrapati Shivaji Raje Bhosale” is acknowledged as the Father of Indian Navy.
- December 7 is celebrated as Navy Day.
- INS Vikrant: Majestic-class carrier, (ex-HMS Hercules) was the first aircraft carrier of India, in service from 1961 to 1997 and is currently a museum ship docked at Mumbai.
- India’s INS-ARIHANT is the first indigenously build nuclear powered submarine in India.
- INS Vikrant: A 40,000 ton Vikrant class carrier is being built at Cochin Shipyard and is expected to enter service in 2017.
