Britain threatens to stop spares supply for navy aircraft

Britain Monday said it would have to stop supply of spares for Indian Navy's ageing Islander maritime aircraft, if New Delhi went ahead with supplying the aircraft to Myanmar.

"Britain is bound by European Union guidelines of no military dealings with Myanmar," the British High Commissioner Sir Michael Arthur said.

He said the bar on supply of spares would only pertain to Islander aircraft and not affect other frontline British platforms in use with the Indian Navy like Sea Harriers fighter and Sea King helicopters.

The high commissioner was replying to questions by newsmen during the Indo-UK Defense Partnership Summit held on the eve of DefenceExpo 06, which would see 300 British companies participating.

India had proposed to offer one islander aircraft to Myanmar for maritime reconnaissance during Naval Chief Admiral Arun Prakash's forthcoming visit to the country.

Asked about the recent controversy on the upgraded deep penetration strike aircraft Jaguar, and whether Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd had sought the consent of the original equipment manufacturer for making changes in the electronic and fuel lines of aircraft, British officials said the question should be posed to British Aerospace, the manufacturers.