Indian Navy set to get Boeing P-8i Poseidons

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: Renton (Washington State),May 15 Indian Navy will soon have an edge in the Indian Ocean once it inks $2.2 billion deal for eight maritime patrol planes from Boeing.The agreement is expected to be signed soon.

The Boeing P-8i Poseidons long-range maritime reconnaissance (LRMR)patrol aircraft will enable the Indian Navy to operate a platform almost simultaneously with the USNavy.

Richard Buck,Boeing's international programme manager for P8,said that India would be able to leverage on the substantial investment made in the P8 by the US Navy.

A lot of issues relating to the P-8i for the Indian Navy are still in the process of being sorted out,said Buck.

So far,the company officials claim that $4 billion had already been spent on the development of the aircraft.The uniqueness of the programme is that it is not being negotiated under the US foreign military sales (FMS)programme but as adirectcommercial agreement between Boeing and the Indian Navy.

Responding to a question, Buck said,"Under the request for proposal (RFP)received, the first aircraft has to be delivered within 48 months of the contract being signed and the remaining within an eight-year time frame."

Buck said,"We are offering next generation technology that will keep the plane in service till 2050at the least.Beit in an anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare,intelligence gathering,surveillance or reconnaissance roles,the P8I combines superior performance and proven reliability againstanyotheraircraftflying today."