The US-based aerospace and defense corporation, Boeing, is currently evaluating the prospect of securing a supplementary order from the Indian Navy for six P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft, according to statements made by company officials on Thursday.
Dan Gillian, Vice President of Mobility, Surveillance, and Bombers at Boeing Defense, Space and Security, stated, “We are engaged in ongoing discussions with the Indian Navy regarding their interest in acquiring additional P-8I aircraft. The motivation behind this interest stems from the exceptional performance of the existing 12 aircraft, which have collectively logged over 40,000 flight hours in the past decade.”
Currently, the Indian Navy operates a fleet of 12 P-8I aircraft, divided into two squadrons stationed at Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu and Goa.
India had procured these aircraft from the United States at a cost exceeding $3 billion, as part of two distinct agreements. These acquisitions were aimed at bolstering the navy’s capabilities in anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and enhancing its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities across vast maritime expanses.
The P-8I aircraft is a military adaptation of Boeing’s 737-800 commercial aircraft.
Gillian emphasized that the addition of more P-8I aircraft would significantly enhance the capabilities of the Indian naval fleet. During a media briefing focused on the achievements in the indigenization of manufacturing and maintenance for P-8I aircraft on a global scale, Boeing revealed that it had already contributed substantially to the Indian economy, generating an economic impact of $1.7 billion in support of the current P-8I aircraft fleet. The company anticipates that an additional order for these aircraft will result in investments of an additional $1.5 billion, concurrently creating opportunities for indigenization within India’s aerospace and defense sector by the year 2032.
Salil Gupte, President of Boeing India, affirmed the company’s commitment to advancing the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India). He stated, “Boeing remains committed to advancing the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision and aligning with the Indian Navy’s requirements for more P-8I aircraft. We are actively seeking to enhance engineering, manufacturing, and maintenance capabilities within India to benefit both Indian and global customers.”
