Boeing P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance and antisubmarine warfare aircraft of the Indian Navy made its maiden landing at INS Dega airfield on July 17. Piloted by the Squadron Commander-designate, Commander H.S. Jhajj, Callsign IN 321 was welcomed to the fold by Vice Admiral Bimal Verma, Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command.

The aircraft that had arrived in India in May this year is the first of the eight Boeing P-8Is that have been procured under a contract signed in 2009. It is based at Indian Naval Air Station Rajali, Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu, and will operate under the administrative and operational control of the Eastern Naval Command.

P-8I aircraft is the Indian Naval variant of the P-8A Poseidon that Boeing has developed for the US Navy. The aircraft is equipped with both foreign as well as indigenous sensors for maritime reconnaissance, anti-submarine operations and for electronic intelligence missions. The aircraft is fully integrated with state-of-the-art sensors and highly potent anti-surface and anti-submarine weapons. The induction of these aircraft into the Indian Navy would greatly enhance India’s maritime surveillance capability in the Indian Ocean Region.