India approves purchase of 10 more P-8I Neptune maritime patrol aircraft

A P-8I Neptune of the Indian Navy. Photo c/o Boeing.

The Indian Navy (IN) is expected to receive another batch of Boeing P-8I Neptune long range maritime patrol aircraft after the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) approved the procurement of 10 units for US$3 billion.

Reports from Jane's Defence Weekly confirmed that the acquisition of the platform would be made via Direct Commercial Sale (DCS) with Boeing, while weapons, sensors and associated equipment would be acquired through US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.

The P-8I Neptune is the Indian Navy version of the P-8A Poseidon used by the US Navy and several other countries. It features an Telephonics APS-143 OceanEye aft radar and a Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD) which are not present on standard P-8A aircraft. 

It also uses data links and other equipment from India's Bharat Electronic Ltd (BEL).

The IN has been operating eight (8) P-8I Neptune since 2013, and would not have any issues accepting the aircraft. These aircraft are used to patrol the vast Indian Ocean, while being deployed outside its normal area of operations in several occassions.



[1] Jane's Defence Weekly
[2] Deccan Herald