India Deploys P-8I Submarine-Hunting Surveillance Aircraft to Seychelles

The Indian Navy has dispatched the P-8I Neptune, to Seychelles for aerial surveillance of the island nation’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) for the firs time.
The aircraft has been deployed since March 20 to conduct surveillance flights until March 23.
thediplomat

India Deploys P-8I Sub-Killer Planes to Counter Chinese Subs

India has deployed two of its most advanced maritime patrol/anti-submarine warfare aircraft, the Poseidon 8I, at a military base in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, located in the Indian Ocean, The Times of India reports.
The deployment comes as a response to repeated forays of Chinese conventional and nuclear submarines into the Indian Ocean, according to Indian defense officials who spoke to The Times of India on the condition of anonymity.
The two aircraft are just about to complete their two week deployment at India’s farthest military outpost, 1,200 kilometers (745 miles) away from the Indian mainland.
In addition, the India has also deployed drones at the island.
thediplomat

First Live Firing of a Harpoon missile from an Indian Air Force Fighter

The Indian Air Force launched an anti-ship Harpoon missile from a fighter plane for the first time at a pre-designated target in the Arabian Sea last week. The missile, was launched on May 22 from a Jaguar maritime strike fighter that flew 200 nautical miles off the west coast to carry out the mission.
The fighter belonged to the IAF’s maritime strike squadron.
An official confirmed it was the “first live firing” of the Harpoon from a warplane in India after integration by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
The navy tested the Harpoon last year when a Boeing P-8I long range maritime reconnaissance aircraft launched the subsonic missile to take out a ‘target’ in the Bay of Bengal.
India has bought a package of 24 Harpoon Block II missiles for its navy and another 22 for the IAF.
India is also looking at arming its Shishumar class submarines with the all-weather Harpoon missiles.
hindustantimes

India to Purchase Harpoon Missiles

The Indian MoDs Defence Acquisition Council has cleared the purchase of another 22 Harpoon anti-ship missile.
This was in the pipeline as a foreign military sales deal with the department of defence of the USA.
The missiles will be integrated with the Sihsumar class submarines.
Indian navy had earlier procured 26 such missiles for itself to be fitted on P81 surveillance aircrafts for. Another 26 were brought by the Indian Air Force.
defenseworld

Indian Navy Will Exercise Options Clause for Four P-8I

At present, Boeing has a contract to supply eight P-8Is, six of which have been delivered on schedule beginning May 2013 and the last two should be in India by mid-2015. There is an option clause for another four aircraft in the existing contract and the navy chief's remarks indicate that this will be exercised, in the first half of 2015.
ndtv.com

India's fifth P-8 arrives for duty

The Indian Navy on 9 September received a fifth Boeing P-8I, filling out on time more than half of its planned fleet of maritime patrol aircraft.
The aircraft flew from Boeing Field in Seattle, Washington, to Naval Air Station Rajali in India, which plans to buy at least eight of the aircraft, which the nation designated P-8Is.
flightglobal

Boeing Delivers 3rd P-8I to India

The third Boeing P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft for the Indian Navy arrived today in India, on schedule.
The aircraft departed Boeing Field in Seattle for Naval Station Rajali, where it joined two P-8Is currently undergoing flight trials and testing. The first P-8I arrived in India in May.
The P-8I is one of eight aircraft Boeing is building for the Indian Navy as part of a contract awarded in 2009. 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 P-8I incorporates not only India-unique design features, but also India-built subsystems that are tailored to the country’s maritime patrol requirements.
boeing

Boeing Delivers 2nd P-8I Maritime Patrol Aircraft to India

Boeing delivered the second P-8I aircraft to India.
Boeing is building eight P-8I aircraft for India and delivered the first in-country in May. 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.
While the aircraft delivered today will begin flight trials in the coming months, the first P-8I recently completed testing its weapons capabilities, including successfully firing a Boeing Harpoon missile at a target and dropping a torpedo.
boeing

Indian Navy P8I deployed to Andamans islands

India's latest maritime surveillance aircraft, P8I, has landed at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, signalling the Navy's plan to increasingly use the islands to keep an eye on the three crucial sea lanes used by China to ferry its cargo.
deccanherald

First Boeing P-8I Joins Indian Navy

Indian Naval Aviation received a major fillip with the arrival of the first of eight Boeing P-8I Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance and Anti Submarine Warfare aircraft at Naval Air Station Rajali, Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu today, 15 may 13.
livefist

First Indian Navy P-8I Lands At Home Base Arakkonam Today

The first of eight P-8Is (Tail No. IN 320) will land shortly before noon today at the INS Rajali naval air station in Arakkonam.
livefist

Indian Navy gets its most sophisticated system yet in P8-I maritime aircraft

The Boeing P8-I long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft (LRMRA) which the Indian Navy got lat month is the most sophisticated weapon system in its inventory yet.

The aircraft, which is now being used for training by Indian naval personnel in coordination with the US Navy in the US, has the latest radars, electronic warfare systems, and weapons to kill hostile submarines, several of which lurk underwater in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal around the Indian coast.

Built on the body of a civilian Boeing 737-800 jetliner with the wings of a 737-900, the P8-I is actually an attack aircraft, capable of discriminating between friendly and hostile vessels far away and then hit them with desired priority and lethality.

Its key capability though is to detect and delete hostile submarines, as also small boats in shallow waters which pose the most serious threat to Indian naval assets.

India has purchased eight P8-Is from the US Navy under the US government's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme and the government has cleared four more for which there was an option. Another 12 P8-Is, or similar aircraft, should be acquired later.

The $2.1 billion-plus deal for aircraft covers onboard offensive and defensive systems and training. Weapons like the Boeing Harpoon Block II missiles, sonobuoys, Raytheon's Mk 54 torpedoes, some freefall weapons cost additional.

The P8-I is a derivative of the US Navy's P8-A multi-mission maritime aircraft (MMA) developed at the cost of billions of dollars. The first P8-A was delivered to it in March 2012, and so far, it has received five of the 117 ordered aircraft.

The Indian Navy is the first foreign customer and not much apart in time.

twocircles

India receives first P-8I Neptune aircraft

Boeing has delivered the Indian navy's first 737-based P-8I Neptune maritime patrol and anti-submarine aircraft in Seattle.

"India will receive this aircraft and two more of its eight contracted P-8Is in 2013," says Boeing. "The programme is progressing on schedule as Boeing assembles the fourth and fifth P-8Is."

The P-8I will eventually replace the Tupolev Tu-142 aircraft in India's service.

India is obtaining eight P-8Is under a $3.9 billion deal signed in January 2009. The P-8I is a variant of the P-8A Poseidon, which will replace the Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion operated by the US Navy

flightglobal By:GREG WALDRON