Boeing delivered the sixth P-8I maritime patrol aircraft to India, on schedule, on November 24, arriving at the Naval Air Station Rajali to join five others being used by the Indian Navy. 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 programme 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 US Navy.

The P-8I incorporates not only Indiaunique design features, but also Indianbuilt 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 programme 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 nextgeneration 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.