India is giving Seychelles an aircraft for anti-piracy mission

India will give a Dornier Do-228 aircraft as a gift to Seychelles to carry out anti-piracy mission surveillance, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.

The plane will be presented by Indian Defence Minister A K Antony to Seychelles President James Michel on Jan 31.

Seychelles and the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) had signed a contract in February last year for two Do-228 planes to be delivered to Sechelles by 2014.

The highly fuel-efficient and low maintenance aircraft is capable of flying for 5.5 hours up to 2,500 km and requires only 750-metre space for the runway.

Is is manufactured in India on licence from the German aircraft maker.

HAL general manager Kanpur D Balasubramaniyam said the company is planning to manufacture 10 Do-228s for South Africa, Vietnam, Afghanistan, the Philippines, Thailand and Ecuador in 2013 and 2014.

Another 30 aircraft will be produced for the Indian air force, navy and Defence Research and Development Organisation.

India has previously presented two Dornier aircraft to Mauritius.