Indian Navy Receives Fifth Boeing P-8I Maritime Patrol Aircraft

American aircraft manufacturer Boeing has delivered the fifth maritime patrol aircraft to Indian Navy as per the schedule in order to meet its maritime patrol requirements.

The aircraft that arrived at Naval Air Station Rajali has joined the fleet of four previously delivered P-8Is, as per a media release from Boeing.

According to Vice-admiral RK Pattanaik, India Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, "The P-8I programme is progressing on schedule, and the aircraft are providing the capabilities to meet our maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare requirements."
He also said that the partnership between Boeing and India has been very professional till date.

"This is another important milestone for the programme, and we look forward to continuing our great relationship with India. We'll deliver one more P-8I before the end of the year, followed by two in 2015," said Dennis Swanson, Boeing Defence Space and Security (BDS) vice-president in India.

Boeing is building India's aircraft through a contract awarded in 2009. Based on the company's Next-Generation 737 commercial airplane, the P-8I is the Indian Navy variant of the P-8A Poseidon that Boeing builds for the US Navy.

"We appreciate that senior representatives of the Indian Navy were with us in Seattle to participate in delivery activities and watch the plane take off for Rajali. It's a great accomplishment for the entire team, and we're hard at work assembling and testing the next P-8I in line for delivery," said Mark Jordan, Boeing P-8 International programme manager.

The P-8I incorporates not only India-unique design features, but also Indian-built sub-systems that are tailored to meet the country's maritime patrol requirements, Boeing said. These aircrafts are built by a Boeing-led industry team that includes CFM International, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Spirit AeroSystems, BAE Systems and GE Aviation.
(Image: Boeing)