State Department clears Indian deal for six more Poseidons
India wants six more P-8I maritime patrol aircraft. (Photo: Boeing)
India wants to brings its fleet of P-8Is up to 18 aircraft.
Boeing is poised to provide India with six additional P-8I Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, after the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress that the State Department approved the potential sale.
Together with sensors, other equipment and training services, the FMS package is worth an estimated $2.42 billion, the DSCA noted on 3 May.
Industrial offsets are likely to be required by the Indian government.
Aside from the six P-8Is to be operated by the Indian Navy, the deal includes eight Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Joint Tactical Radio System 5 (MIDS-JTRS 5) units; 42 AN/AAR-54 missile warning sensors; embedded GPS/INS sensors; and CFM56-7 commercial engines.
India also requested MX-20HD EO/IR systems; the AN/AAQ-2(V)l acoustic system; ARES-1000 commercial variant electronic support measures; AN/APR-39D radar warning receivers; and AN/ALE-47 countermeasures dispensers.
India previously bought eight P-8Is from Boeing in 2009 in a direct commercial sale, adding four more in 2016.
The State Department noted: ‘The first P-8I aircraft were delivered to the Indian Navy in 2013, providing interoperability and critical capabilities to coalition maritime operations. This proposed sale of an additional six P-8I aircraft will allow the Indian Navy to expand its maritime surveillance aircraft (MSA) capability for the next 30 years.’
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