India inks $2.1-bn deal to buy 8 naval patrol aircraft

Rather than taking the US up on its offer of chartering two P-3C Orion reconnaissance aircraft, eight of which have been sold to Pakistan, India today closed a deal with US aircraft manufacturer Boeing to buy eight naval patrol aircraft. The P-81 long-range maritime reconnaissance (LRMR) aircraft will cost $2.1 billion and will arrive in four years.

The absence of effective maritime reconnaissance has been cited as one reason for the ease with which the Mumbai terrorist attacks were mounted. Although negotiations to buy naval patrol craft have been on for some years, and they will arrive in India much later, the purchase is being seen as one visible way of beefing up coastal security.

The aircraft — anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare planes — will replace eight outdated Russian-made Tupolev-142M aircraft. The LRMR planes, developed on the Boeing 737 commercial aircraft, will be customised for Indian Navy’s requirement. The P-81 aircraft will have sophisticated radars that will help the Navy intensify reconnaissance, especially secret marine investigations, over a wide area of 600 nautical miles. “The deal has been signed and the delivery of the P-8I should start in four years’ time,” said Defence Ministry spokesman Sitanshu Kar.

Boeing plans to make inroads into the South Asian defence market and has already submitted bid for a contract to supply India 126 multi-role fighter jets, potentially worth more than $10 billion.

Last July, Boeing said it would bid for defence projects in India worth up to $20 billion over the next 10 years.

In addition, the Boeing P-81 long-range maritime reconnaissance (LRMR) aircraft will have Harpoon missiles, depth bombers and torpedoes.