Indian Navy Recieves 6th Boeing Patrol Aircraft

Indian Navy received the sixth Boeing P-81 maritime patrol aircraft on schedule.

The aircraft arrived at the Naval Air Station in Rajali to join five others being used by the Navy. Rest two deliveries which is part of a contract of eight awarded in 2009 are scheduled for 2015.

The P-8I features open systems architecture, advanced sensor and display technologies, and a worldwide base of suppliers, parts, and support equipment, a company release said.

Based on the company’s Next-Generation 737 commercial airplane, the P-8I is the Indian Navy variant of the P—8A Poseidon that Boeing builds for the US Navy.

The P-8I incorporates not only India-unique design features, but also Indian-built sub-systems that are tailored to meet the country’s maritime patrol requirements.

In order to efficiently design and build the P-8I and the P-8A, the Boeing-led team is using a first-in-industry, in-line production process that draws on the company’s Next-Generation 737 production system.

P-8I aircraft are built by a Boeing-led industry team that includes CFM International, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Spirit AeroSystems, BAE Systems and GE Aviation.