Built on the airframe of Boeing’s Next-Generation commercial 737, the Indian Navy is now the proud owner of their sixth Poseidon P-8I delivered this week. Boeing flew their first Poseidon in 2009 and the United States Navy put it into service in 2013.
The new plane flew into Naval Air Station Rajali and joined the air fleet of five other P-8Is already being used by the Indian Navy. Two more deliveries in 2015 will complete the contract inked with Boeing and the Indian Navy back in 2009. The P-8I is the Indian Navy variant of the P-8A Poseidon that Boeing builds for the U.S. Navy.
In techno-speak, one of the differences in the U.S. Navy’s P8-A Poseidon and the Indian Navy’s P-8I is the Indian’s “variant features two major components that aren't fitted on the P-8A, a Telephonics APS-143 OceanEye aft radar and a magnetic anomaly detector.” According to a Boeing press release this week, “Boeing has been active in India for 70 years with its commercial airplanes providing the mainstay of India’s civil aviation sector.”
In recent years the Indian military has called upon Boeing Defense, Space & Security to help modernize the mission readiness of India. As with many U.S. manufacturing companies including Cummins Engine Company of Indiana, Boeing is committed to creating partnerships with local suppliers and forming business partnerships with Indian companies.
Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space, and security businesses with 56,000 employees worldwide. Boeing remains the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. The new MH-47G Chinook project was a $300 million contract for Boeing Defense. The Boeing Poseidon is assembled at the plant in Renton. Washington.
