Article Posted on : - Sep 11, 2014

Boeing's fifth P-8I maritime patrol aircraft takes off from Boeing Field in Seattle on its way to Naval Station Rajali in India. Photo: Boeing.

SEATTLE (BNS): Boeing delivered the fifth P-8I maritime patrol aircraft to India, on schedule, on Sept. 9 as part of a contract for eight aircraft to support the Indian Navy's maritime patrol requirements.

The aircraft arrived at Naval Air Station Rajali, after a flight from Seattle's Boeing Field, and joined the four previously delivered P-8Is, according to the company news release.

"The P-8I programme is progressing on schedule, and the aircraft are providing the capabilities to meet our maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare requirements," Vice Admiral RK Pattanaik, India Deputy Chief of Naval Staff was quoted as saying in the report.

Boeing is building India's aircraft through a contract awarded in 2009. 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.

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.