Boeing Envisions Expanding P-8I Poseidon Maritime Patrol Planes to 18 Units

Boeing is actively pursuing the sale of an additional eight P-8I Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to India by leveraging the significant progress made in the aircraft's domestic production and ongoing maintenance.

India's naval fleet in the Indo-Pacific region currently benefits from the operation of twelve P-8Is. Boeing emphasized that it has already made a substantial economic contribution, amounting to $1.7 billion, to support the existing P-8I fleet serving the Indian Navy.

Furthermore, Boeing envisions that expanding the P-8I fleet to a total of 18 aircraft will result in increased investments, estimated at approximately $1.5 billion. This expansion also promises to create further opportunities for indigenous manufacturing within India's aerospace and defense sector, with a target timeline set for 2032.

Since its introduction in 2013, the P-8I aircraft, built on the 737 Next Generation platform, has seamlessly integrated into the Indian Navy's operational framework. It has achieved an impressive milestone of over 40,000 flight hours with consistently high mission readiness rates.

Boeing has played a pivotal role in establishing advanced training facilities, including the Ashok Roy Training Simulator Complex at INS Rajali. Additionally, the recently inaugurated Kochi training complex, featuring a simulator for P-8I aircrew and technical teams, reduces on-aircraft training time, enhances mission proficiency, and ensures greater aircraft availability for the Indian Navy.