Four Boeing P8I surveillance aircraft are on schedule from July
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 16
The lot of four Boeing P8I maritime surveillance aircraft that will further widen the arc of Indian Navy operations, are expected to start arriving in phases as per contractual schedule commencing in July.
In the US the Defence manufacturing industry is part of the ‘essential works’ and work, so far, is on as per schedule, the Ministry of Defence has been informed. The Boeing is a US company.
“The contract stipulated supplies to commence from July 2020,” sources said adding, that so far everything is on schedule. Once the lockdown ends in India, matters will be known better. From April 20 onwards the forces will be start working with 50 per cent staff and then onwards the procurements cells will start functioning.
Indian Navy has been using the Boeing P8I planes since 2013 and now has fleet of eight, the four more are to be added over the next 18 months or so. The P8I is a long range maritime reconnaissance (LRMR) but carries Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and anti-ship strike abilities. The planes are used for patrolling the Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOC’s) extending east and west of peninsular India.
Two days ago, the US notified the possible sale of 10 Harpoon missiles and also 16 MK 54 Torpedoes to be fitted onto the P8I. The AGM-84L Harpoon Block air launched anti-ship missile would cost $92 million while the MK 54 anti-submarine torpedoes would cost $ 63 million—collectively Rs 1,160 crore.
Already in November last year, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the apex decision making body of the Ministry of Defence approved procurement of six more such planes, once all are in New Delhi will have fleet of 18. The Boeing P-8I is a derivative of the P-8A used by the United States Navy.
