Boeing Delivers 4th P-8I Maritime Patrol Plane To India

By Saraswathi Muniappan NEW DELHI (India), May 24 (Bernama) -- Boeing has delivered the fourth P-8I maritime patrol aircraft to India on schedule, fulfilling the first half of a contract for eight aircraft. The aircraft departed from Boeing Field in Seattle and arrived on May 21 at Naval Air Station Rajali, where it joined three P-8Is currently undergoing operational evaluation, it said in a statement. "This marks an important milestone -- the halfway point for P-8I deliveries to India. "The programme's success the past year is really a testament to the great work between Boeing, the Indian Navy and industry," said Boeing Defence, Space & Security (BDS) vice president in India, Dennis Swanson. 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 Indian Navy is putting the first three P-8Is through their paces operationally, and the P-8I delivered today will begin flight trials in the coming months," said Boeing P-8I programme manager Leland Wight. The P-8I incorporates not only India-unique design features, but also India-built subsystems that are tailored to the country's maritime patrol requirements. In order to efficiently design and build the P-8I and the P-8A, the Boeing-led team is using a first-in-industry, in-line production process that draws on the company’s Next-Generation 737 production system. The P-8I features open system architecture, advanced sensor and display technologies, and a worldwide base of suppliers, parts and support equipment. P-8I aircraft are built by a Boeing-led industry team that includes CFM International, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Spirit AeroSystems, BAE Systems and GE Aviation. Boeing offers India a broad spectrum of defence, space and security solutions that are relevant to India's current and future military and humanitarian needs. A unit of The Boeing Co, BDS is one of the world's largest defence, space and security businesses specialising in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. --BERNAMA