P-8I anti-submarine aircraft

• Indian Navy has received its 10th anti-submarine warfare and maritime patrol aircraft P-8I Poseidon from the US-based aerospace company Boeing.
• The aircraft is used for maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare.

About P-8I Poseidon Multimission Maritime Patrol Aircraft:

• It is a long-range, multimission maritime patrol aircraft offered by Boeing for the Indian Navy.
• P-8I replaced the ageing fleet of the Indian Navy’s Tupolev Tu-142 aircraft.
• It is based on Boeing's next-generation 737 commercial airplane
• P-8I aircraft is a variant of the P-8A Poseidon multimission maritime aircraft (MMA) operated by the US Navy.
• It was designed to protect the vast coastline and territorial waters of India.

• Areas of operation

1. The aircraft is used for maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare.
2. Indian Navy deploys its existing fleet of P-8I aircraft to keep track of movement of ships and submarines in the Indian Ocean Region
3. It has also been deployed to assist during disaster relief and humanitarian missions.

• It has surpassed 30,000 flight hours since it was inducted in 2013

Background of Contract:

• Ministry of Defence had initially signed a contract with Boeing for eight P-8I aircraft in 2009 for Indian Navy.
• The first P-8I aircraft was inducted into the Indian Navy in 2013.
• It later signed another contract for four additional P-8I aircraft in 2016.
• This is the second of the four additional P-8I aircraft contracted by India under an optional clause inked in 2016.
• India was Boeing's first international customer for this aircraft.

• In November 2019, the Defence Acquisition Council approved the procurement of six aircraft.
• The number was cut down from 10 to six due to budgetary constraints as also because the Navy was undertaking fleet rationalisation and deciding to go in for long endurance unmanned platforms.
• The six P-8Is will come installed with encrypted communication systems since India has now signed the foundational agreement Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) with the U.S.

Arakkonam centre

• Boeing along with India’s P-8I fleet has been involved in the training of Indian Navy flight crews, spare parts, ground support equipment and field service representative support.
• Boeing is completing construction of a 60,000 sq. ft. training support and data handling centre at INS Rajali, Arakkonam,
• It is also building a secondary maintenance training centre at the Naval Institute of Aeronautical Technology, Kochi
• The constructions are part of training and support package contract signed in 2019.
• This training would allow naval crew to increase mission proficiency in a shorter time
• It will also reduce on-aircraft training time, resulting in increased aircraft availability.