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Context:

Recently, India is planning to revive the proposal to buy 6 more P-8I maritime patrol aircraft from the US.

And this was discussed between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump in February 2025.

Details:

Along with this, they also discussed integrating US origin defense items in India’s inventory.

These US origin defense items : C‑130J Super Hercules, C‑17 Globemaster III, P‑8I Poseidon aircraft, CH‑47F Chinooks, MH‑60R Seahawks & AH‑64E Apaches, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, M777 howitzers, & MQ‑9B.

What is P-81 aircraft?

The P-8I aircraft is a long-range surveillance & anti-submarine warfare to counter increasing Chinese naval presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

Key Facts of P-8I

• Manufacturer: Boeing U.S. aerospace company
• User: Indian Navy
• Variant: P-8I Poseidon (based on the U.S. Navy's P-8A Poseidon)
• Replacement: It replaced Tu-142 aircraft ( Indian Navy’s aging Tupolev )

P-8I Capabilities

• Missions: Anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (AsuW), intelligence, maritime patrol, surveillance, and reconnaissance
• Threat Detection: Advanced sensors and weapons systems enable detection and response to various threats, including submarines, surface vessels, and environmental challenges

P-8I Specifications

• Dimensions: Length: 39.47 m, Wingspan: 37.64 m, Height: 12.83 m
• Weight: Maximum take-off total weight of 85,139 kg
• Crew: 9 crew members

Performance:

• Maximum speed: 789 km/h
• Maximum altitude: 12,496 m
• Maximum range: Over 2,222 km with a time on station of 4 hours
  

Procurement Plans

• India has already purchased 12 P-8Is 2 times. (8 in 2009 & 4 in 2016).
• The Defence Acquisition Council approved the procurement of 6 additional aircraft in November 2019.
• The S. State Department approved the sale in May 2021 at $2.42 billion.

Complementary Systems

MQ-9B Sea Guardian UAVs:

• India signed a $3.5 billion contract for 31 MQ-9B UAVs, including 15 Sea Guardians for the Navy and 16 Sky Guardians for the Army and Air Force.
• Delivery Timeline: The Navy will start receiving these UAVs from January 2029.
• Operational Role: These UAVs will complement the P-8Is by providing long-endurance surveillance, reducing the stress on manned platforms.

MH-60R Multi-Role Helicopters:

• The Navy is also inducting 24 MH-60R helicopters from Lockheed Martin.
• These helicopters will support anti-submarine warfare, complementing both the P-8I aircraft and MQ-9B UAVs.

Source :

Thehindu