India close to buying Japan-made military aircraft in $1.65 billion deal

A Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces US-2 search-and-rescue amphibian plane, manufactured by ShinMaywa Industries Ltd, is seen in this updated file handout photo released by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces and obtained by Reuters on November 4, 2013. REUTERS/Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force/Handout via Reuters/Files

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India is set to become the first country since World War Two to buy a military aircraft from Japan, helping Prime Minister Shinzo Abe end a ban on weapons exports that has kept his country's defence contractors out of foreign markets.

The two countries are in broad agreement on a deal for the ShinMaywa Industries amphibious aircraft, which could amount to as much as $1.65 billion (996.85 million pounds), Indian officials said on Tuesday.