Article Posted on : - Nov 25, 2014

P-8I in flight. A Boeing photo

NEW DELHI (PTI): The Indian Navy is likely to order four more P-81 long-range maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft from American firm Boeing which delivered the sixth plane on Monday as part of an eight-aircraft contract worth over Rs 12,000 crore.

The sixth aircraft landed at INS Rajali in Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu at about 4 PM on Monday.

The eight-aircraft deal was signed in 2009 and as per the agreement, three each were to be delivered in 2013 and 2014 and two in 2015.

"The delivery schedule has been on time," a navy source said, adding that the force might go in for the option clause in the contract under which it can order four more.

The P-8I, based on the Boeing next-generation 737 commercial airplane, is a variant of the P-8A Poseidon that the US Navy uses.

India was Boeing's first international customer for this aircraft.

The aircraft features open system architecture, advanced sensors and display technologies.

It is equipped with foreign and indigenous sensors for maritime reconnaissance, anti-submarine operations and electronic intelligence missions.

It is integrated with latest sensors and anti-surface and anti-submarine weapons.