Why in News?
On March 27, 2026, the Ministry of Defence signed a ₹413 crore contract with Boeing India Defence Private Limited for "depot-level inspection" of the P-8I fleet.
About
- Boost to Aatmanirbhar Bharat: This agreement falls under the 'Buy Indian' category with 100% indigenous content, allowing the aircraft to be serviced entirely within India at domestic Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities.
- Participation in Exercise Sea Dragon: The Indian Navy deployed a P-8I to Guam for the two-week Exercise Sea Dragon 2026 (starting March 16), joining Quad partners and New Zealand for advanced anti-submarine warfare (ASW) drills.
- Procurement of 6 Additional Units: In February 2026, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) granted formal clearance (AoN) for the acquisition of six additional P-8Is from the US, which will eventually bring India's total fleet to 18 aircraft.
- ADC-150 Trials: Successful in-flight release trials of the indigenous ADC-150 (Air Droppable Container) were completed from a P-8I off the coast of Goa between February 21 and March 1, 2026
Key Features
- Role: A long-range, multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft used for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Anti-Surface Warfare, and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR).
- Platform: Based on the commercial Boeing 737-800 airframe but heavily modified with military sensors and weapon systems.
- Current Fleet: The Indian Navy currently operates 12 P-8I aircraft, primarily stationed at INS Rajali (Tamil Nadu) and INS Hansa (Goa).
- Specifications:
- Maximum Speed: 907 km/h.
- Service Ceiling: 12,496 metres (41,000 feet).
- Range: Over 1,200 nautical miles, plus 4 hours of "loiter time" on station.
- Armament: Equipped with an internal weapons bay and under-wing hardpoints for Harpoon Block-II missiles, MK-54 lightweight torpedoes, and depth charges.
- Sensors: Features the Raytheon APY-10 surveillance radar and a Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD) specifically requested by India for hunting submerged submarines.
- Strategic Importance: Known as the Navy's "eyes in the sky," it is critical for monitoring Chinese naval presence and submarine movements in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
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