Boeing delivered second P-8I Aircraft to India

Boeing on 15 November 2012 delivered its second P-8I aircraft to Indian Navy at the INS Rajali Air Base in Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu. This will boost up the long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare capabilities of the Indian Navy. It will also raise its surveillance capabilities that extend from Gulf of Aden on the West to Malacca Straits on the East.

The second aircraft will begin its flight trials in coming months. Eight P-8I aircraft is being developed by Boeing for India. It is 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 has developed for the U.S. Navy.

The first P-8I aircrafts was delivered to India in May 2013. The first P-8I recently completed testing its weapons capabilities, including successfully firing a Boeing Harpoon missile at a target and dropping a torpedo.
 
About P-8I

The P-8I is a long range anti submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft capable of broad-area, maritime and littoral operations.

This military derivative of the Next-Generation 737-800 combines superior performance and reliability with an advanced mission system that ensures maximum interoperability in the future battle space.

The Indian navy is the first international customer for the P-8. Boeing signed a contract on 1 January 2009, to deliver eight long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft to the Indian navy.

About Boeing

Boeing is the world's leading aerospace company and the largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft combined. Additionally, Boeing designs and manufactures rotorcraft, electronic and defense systems, missiles, satellites, launch vehicles and advanced information and communication systems. As a major service provider to NASA, Boeing is the prime contractor for the International Space Station. The company also provides numerous military and commercial airline support services. Boeing provides products and support services to customers in 150 countries and is one of the largest U.S. exporters in terms of sales.