India has setup a process for six more long-range Poseidon-8I aircraft from the US, while a plan is also underway for fast-track procurement of six Predator-B armed drones amidst the ongoing military confrontation with China.
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India is extensively using the naval P-8I patrol planes, which are packed with radars and electro-optic sensors as well as armed with Harpoon Block-II missiles and MK-54 lightweight torpedoes, for surveillance missions over the Indian Ocean as well as eastern Ladakh.
The Navy had inducted eight Boeing-manufactured P-8I aircraft under a $2.1 billion deal inked in 2009, while the next four will be delivered from this December onwards under another $1.1 billion contract signed in 2016.
The “letter of request” for six more P-8Is for around $1.8 billion has now been issued to the US for the government-to-government deal under Pentagon’s foreign military sales (FMS) programme. The contract should be inked by early next year.
Poseidon-8I aircraft
It is a military aircraft developed and produced by Boeing Defense, Space & Security, modified from the 737-800ERX.
It is being operated in the anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASUW), and shipping interdiction roles.
It is armed with torpedoes, Harpoon anti-ship missiles and other weapons, and is able to drop and monitor sonobuoys, as well as operate in conjunction with other assets, including the Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton maritime surveillance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
The P-8 is operated by the United States Navy, the Indian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and the UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF).
