Bangalore: Leading American aircraft manufacturer Boeing today said the first delivery of P-8I maritime reconnaisance aircraft designed specifically for the Indian Navy would take place within 48 months since the agreement was signed in January this year.
"The first aircraft has to be delivered within 48 months after signing the agreement in January", Rick Buck, Programme Manager International Programme, Airbase Anti-Submarine Warfare, ISR, told the media here.
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The last delivery of the aircraft would take place in 2015, he added.
The P-8I has advanced multi-mission capability in anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence surveillance and reconnaisance. It offers speed range advantage with a cruise speed of 445 knots and patrol speed of 230 knots, said Rick. Talking about the P-8 MRA, he said it was competing to bag an order for six aircraft required by India. An evaluation team would evaluate the aircraft, he said.
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The maritime reconnnaissance aircraft would provide the Indian Navy with advanced maritime patrol capability, anti-surface warfare and secondary mission capability.
"The P8I-P8 MRA combine would have help India lead tthe world in maritime domain awareness and supremacy", said Rick.
On the modifications made in PI8 for India, he said Boeing ensured suitable modifcation as per customer requirments. For India, the focus was on affordability, reliability and capability, he said.
Special: Aero India Show 2009
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