FIRST PHOTOS: Indian Navy’s Boeing P-8I Completes 1st Flight


Boeing statement: The first P-8I aircraft for the Indian Navy completed its initial flight on September 28, taking off from Renton Field at 12:02 p.m. Pacific time and landing two hours and 31 minutes later at Boeing Field in Seattle.

During the flight, Boeing test pilots performed airborne systems checks including engine accelerations and decelerations and autopilot flight modes, and took the P-8I to a maximum altitude of 41,000 feet prior to landing. In the coming weeks Boeing will begin mission systems installation and checkout work on the aircraft at a company facility near Boeing Field.

“The P-8I program is progressing well and we are looking forward to this potent platform joining the Indian Navy as part of its fleet,” said Rear Adm. DM Sudan, assistant chief of Naval Staff (Air), Indian Navy.

“The P-8I will provide India with the necessary speed and reliability to satisfy the Indian Navy’s maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare requirements,” said Dinesh Keskar, Boeing India president.

Based on the Boeing Next-Generation 737 commercial airplane, the P-8I is the Indian Navy variant of the P-8A Poseidon that Boeing is developing for the U.S. Navy. In order to efficiently design and build P-8 aircraft, 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.

“Flying the first P-8 for an international customer is a key milestone for our entire team,” said Leland Wight, Boeing P-8I program manager. “We have transitioned to P-8I production, and remain on track to deliver the first aircraft to the Indian Navy in 2013.”

The P-8I is the first of eight long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft Boeing is building for India as part of a contract awarded in January 2009. An option for four additional P-8I aircraft was included in the original contract.

The aircraft features open system architecture, advanced sensor and display technologies, and a worldwide base of suppliers, parts and support equipment. The P-8I is built by a Boeing-led industry team that includes CFM International, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Spirit AeroSystems, BAE Systems and GE Aviation.

Photos / Boeing

17 thoughts on “FIRST PHOTOS: Indian Navy’s Boeing P-8I Completes 1st Flight”

  1. nice job sir for fantastic pics .P 8i is far better than pakistan's p 3c .this gonna boost navy's anti submarine capability.btw when it gonna delivered to india?

    jai hind,

  2. Needs a paint job … with better fonts… Its like a kid scribbled there..Needs a paint job … with better fonts… Its like a kid scribbled there..

  3. Wonderful! IN should also go for RQ-4 Global Hawk that will bring IN a unmatched power of Manned and Unmanned reconnaissance and anti-submarine combination………

    I am excites to see this submarine hunter in Indian navy…

  4. Indian poseidon is going to spread dangerous poison across indian ocean ,so enemies of IN beware of sending submarines else get poisoned death.

  5. Also upgrade the P-8I so that it can be a awacs platform for the IN. A true force multiplier. Indian navy needs to research in UCSV Unmanned Combat Submersible Vehicle, instead building or purchase french or russian crap. enough of buy other peoples stuff can't we make our own???

  6. For Anon 10:51 AM

    Why do noobs come to this blog an run their mouth off on matters they cant dream of understanding…?

    The maintenance and spares for P8is could just disappear like "POOF" if and when india conducts its next nuke test or ICBM test .. while the knowledge and experience gained with our LCA and Kaveri
    will stay with us.

    there is a sea of difference.

  7. This P-8I is meant to be homed at Arakkonam (the ARK marking on the tail) near Chennai rather than at Dabolim Goa (whose aircraft get marked as with DAB text).

    This means that this P-8I is meant for the eastern and southern seas. It is possible that future P-8Is are homed at Dabolim to look at the western seas – watch the text on the tails!

  8. This acquisition makes a very critical and substantial warfighting capability of Indian Navy hostage to whims of US congress. With the next nuke/missile test or hostility on the border or any event not conformal to US policy goals, they will simply cut the spares. These planes will become useless hangar queens when they are needed the most to fly ASW patrols.

    The IN had a similar experience with Sea Kings after Pokhran II, but they havent learnt their lessons. The Seakings were tactical and utility assets and these are strategic ones, so this is like a double whammy.

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