The
P-8I is part of a contract of eight awarded in 2009. The final two deliveries
are scheduled for 2015. “The P-8I’s arrival in India is another key milestone
for the program and marks our final delivery of the year,” said Dennis Swanson,
vice president, Boeing Defense, Space & Security in India. “The Indian Navy is
currently conducting missions with the first five aircraft, and this newest P-8I
will begin flight trials in the coming months.” 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 U.S. 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. The P-8I features open systems architecture,
advanced sensor and display technologies, and a worldwide base of suppliers, parts,
and support equipment. “We have a great partnership with India, which has
helped us keep the program on schedule and on budget,” said Mark Jordan, Boeing
P-8 International program manager. 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. Boeing has been active in India for 70 years with its commercial
airplanes providing the mainstay of India’s civil aviation sector. More recently
its military aircraft have started to play an important role in the modernization
and mission-readiness of India’s defense forces. Boeing is focused on delivering
value to its Indian customers with its advanced technologies and performance driven
aircraft underscored by life-cycle support services. Boeing is also committed
to creating sustainable value in the Indian aerospace sector - developing local
suppliers, pursuing business partnerships and shaping research and technical collaborations
with Indian companies and institutions. |