Second Boeing P-8I Aircraft Delivered To India

The Indian Navy has received a new P-8I aircraft from Boeing – the second of eight long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft delivered under a 2009 contract.

The first P-8I aircraft – based on the US Navy’s P-8A Poseidon – was delivered to India in May, and recently completed testing its weapons capabilities, including successfully firing a Boeing Harpoon missile at a target and dropping a torpedo. This latest delivered aircraft is scheduled to begin flight trials in the coming months.

Leland Wight, P-8I program manager, Boeing said, ‘With two aircraft at Naval Station Rajali now, the Indian Navy will get a good feel for the P-8I's interoperability with other aircraft. Acceptance trials on the first aircraft are progressing well and its availability for testing has been excellent, in large part due to Boeing’s worldwide 737 support capabilities.’

The P-8I features open system architecture and advanced sensor and display technologies. The aircraft are built by a Boeing-led industry team that includes CFM International, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Spirit AeroSystems, BAE Systems and GE Aviation.