Source : Indian Defence Updates (IDU)
Indian Navy Boeing P-8I aircraft for surveillance and Anti-Submarine Warfare (File Photo) |
The Indian Navy had recently halted its plans to procure six additional P8I Long Range Maritime Surveillance and Anti Submarine Warfare aircraft but Boeing and Pentagon officials are still pursuing India to change its mind and place orders for six more aircraft that was in the pipeline.
Pentagon officials have said that India will eventually proceed to buy further 35 Boeing P8I aircraft given the ever increasing need for Maritime Domain Awareness over the vast Indian Ocean Region.
Boeing has also offered to supply Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft as a standalone platform for the DRDO’s own equivalent of P-8I aircraft or system, on which it can use Boeing 737 to mount locally developed Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft (MMMA) Suite.