India Expected to Finalize Purchase of Six More P-8I Maritime Surveillance Aircraft Soon Amid China's Growing Presence in IOR

India is reportedly close to finalizing a deal with the United States for the purchase of six additional Boeing P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft. This move comes as India seeks to bolster its maritime capabilities in the face of China's increasing naval presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

The deal, which has been under consideration for nearly four years, has faced delays due to cost concerns and budgetary constraints. However, the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) is now expected to approve the acquisition, recognizing the strategic importance of these aircraft in safeguarding India's maritime interests.

The P-8I, a variant of the US Navy's P-8A Poseidon, is a long-range, multi-mission aircraft designed for anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. The Indian Navy currently operates 12 P-8I aircraft, which have become a crucial asset for maritime surveillance and reconnaissance operations in the IOR.

The need for additional P-8I aircraft has been amplified by the retirement of India's aging fleet of Soviet-era Ilyushin Il-38 maritime patrol aircraft. This has left the P-8I as the sole platform for long-range maritime surveillance, placing increased demands on the existing fleet.

The acquisition of six more P-8I aircraft will significantly enhance India's ability to monitor the vast expanse of the IOR, where maritime threats, including the growing presence of Chinese naval assets, are on the rise. The P-8I's advanced sensors and capabilities make it ideally suited for detecting and tracking submarines and surface vessels, providing India with a critical edge in maintaining maritime domain awareness.

The deal is also seen as a significant step in strengthening India-US defence ties. The US has been actively promoting defence cooperation with India, viewing it as a key partner in countering China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region. The sale of P-8I aircraft is part of a broader US strategy to deepen defence industrial cooperation with India, including co-production deals and technology transfers.

While the final cost of the deal is yet to be determined, it is estimated to be around $2.42 billion. Despite the high cost, the Indian government views the acquisition of these aircraft as a necessary investment in its national security, particularly in light of the evolving geopolitical dynamics in the IOR.

The addition of six more P-8I aircraft will undoubtedly strengthen India's maritime surveillance capabilities and contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the strategically vital Indian Ocean Region.

 

[Somebody]

Very important until we get more SUBS.

 

[sanket]

Better deal buying P-8 I rather than buying F-35 Fighter jet & make US happy ,stryker too should b avoided , it is Submarine Hunter killer cheaper it will faster addition in short time rather new Subs Addition.

 

[Rinku Pandey]

Thank god US has applied pressure otherwise MOD/GOI would never have approved it. Now IS should apply pressure for fighter jets too so that IAF strength increases to 42 squadrons. F35s, F15 ..

 

[Rinku Pandey]

Very important until we get more SUBS.

Subs are required but wars are not fought only by subs.

 

[Puneet]

Can go for more Romeo Helicopters as well

 

[GMR]

Pressure or not, these will significantly increase our capability in IOR, looking at naughty Chinis. Maybe the Pressure was blessing in disguise.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

Go for 2 more but don't buy Strykers and Javelins.

 

[Aayush Pratap]

Writing amid US pressure and the Indian Navy has long expressed a requirement for a total of 18 P8-I birds is a bit of an oxymoron. Who writes this drivel?

 

[Somnath Sinhababu]

Better deal buying P-8 I rather than buying F-35 Fighter jet & make US happy ,stryker too should b avoided , it is Submarine Hunter killer cheaper it will faster addition in short time rather new Subs Addition.

You cannot compare P8I with F35...I agree with you on the Striker, but India needs F35. India cannot sit quietly when China and Turkey will provide 5th-gen jets to Pakistan. Our AMCA program will not become a reality before 2040. It's a hard fact.

 

[Somnath Sinhababu]

India should avoid the striker and go for extra P8I, Chinook, and extra Apache and MH60R as well. India should start talks with the US regarding F35 also. We need it as soon as possible. And for God's sake, I request our PM, please increase our defence budget. India needs a 100 billion dollar defence budget. Increase export of indigenous arms too, be it Brahmos, Artillery, Akash, Pinaka etc. If India can conclude a deal with gulf countries then India can gain billions. UAE could be the potential customer.

 

[Anant]

Can go for more Romeo Helicopters as well

Agreed. A further 36 would allow for a full replacement of the Sea King fleet, as well as augment the ASW helicopter fleet given the Navy's growth in number of platforms. Moreover, this would then allow for some more time to develop the ASW variant of the DBMRH.

 

[desigandu]

Good, let us buy and get these 6-12 P8Is quickly! These are very potent platforms and we don’t have anything close even in the near future!

 

[Anant]

Writing amid US pressure and the Indian Navy has long expressed a requirement for a total of 18 P8-I birds is a bit of an oxymoron. Who writes this drivel?

Um, the Navy has had a requirement for 18-20 LRMPAs for years now. Only 12 were cleared initially, so that shortfall has always remained.

Moreover, there is a definite argument to be made that the recent focus the additional aircraft (which were originally put on hold by the MoD) have received is, in part, due to Trump taking office again.

 

[Aayush Pratap]

Um, the Navy has had a requirement for 18-20 LRMPAs for years now. Only 12 were cleared initially, so that shortfall has always remained.

Moreover, there is a definite argument to be made that the recent focus the additional aircraft (which were originally put on hold by the MoD) have received is, in part, due to Trump taking office again.

You can make all the arguments you want but the fact that IN has been wanting those additional platforms for a long time has nothing to do with Trump assuming office. What kinda logic is that?

 

[Enforcer]

Can go for more Romeo Helicopters as well

Dude there will be more orders. We have growing number of ships and Sea King is being retired. There's gonna be huge order of MH60.

 

[Bhishma]

This is a good deal. Win-win for both. These are the kind of investments we should make, so that neither party feels cheated.

 

[Enforcer]

Go for 2 more but don't buy Strykers and Javelins.

I think Tata WHAP will be sufficient, but Javelins are amazing. I want full ToT production of Javelin in India. NAG is too big to be carried by an individual soldier.

 

[Bhishma]

Very important until we get more SUBS.

Subs are primarily for attacking surface fleet. For ASW, we need platforms like these. Getting more subs does not invalidate the need for ASW platforms.

 

[Anant]

You can make all the arguments you want but the fact that IN has been wanting those additional platforms for a long time has nothing to do with Trump assuming office. What kinda logic is that?

And I never said the two were related. All I am saying is that the MoD's sudden push to green-light the aircraft has something to do with Trump's return.

Need I remind you that just last year, they were trying to foist a few extra C295 MRMPAs (besides the ones that were cleared) on the Navy instead of the P-8Is?

 

[The Presence]

I think Tata WHAP will be sufficient, but Javelins are amazing. I want full ToT production of Javelin in India. NAG is too big to be carried by an individual soldier.

Brother, Javelin failed to perform in Ladakh. For individual soldiers, we have developed MPATGM.

The US is shoving Striker & Javelin down our throat for the F-414 ToT, as simple as that, sadly.

 

[Enforcer]

Brother, Javelin failed to perform in Ladakh. For individual soldiers, we have developed MPATGM.

The US is shoving Striker & Javelin down our throat for the F-414 ToT, as simple as that, sadly.

Javelin failed because the test missiles were old, apparently. All missiles have expiration dates, and the army wants a retrial. I wish them luck. MPATGM has only been seen firing from a stand instead of a soldier. I don't know what is going on with that missile, also with them best of luck.

I don't want India to waste money on Striker.

 

[The Presence]

Javelin failed because the test missiles were old, apparently. All missiles have expiration dates, and the army wants a retrial. I wish them luck. MPATGM has only been seen firing from a stand instead of a soldier. I don't know what is going on with that missile, also with them best of luck.

I don't want India to waste money on Striker.

Majority of the system is already developed, so elimination of the tripod shouldn't take long.

In the meantime we have existing infra and training for Spikes.

 

[Enforcer]

Majority of the system is already developed, so elimination of the tripod shouldn't take long.

In the meantime we have existing infra and training for Spikes.

I have no problem with Spike also. All I want is to have a backup proven system for soldiers so they don't lose their lives. I care about the individuals more than the weapon system. I really care about indigenous systems too, but we need backup weapons in case our weapons fail. That's it.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

I think Tata WHAP will be sufficient, but Javelins are amazing. I want full ToT production of Javelin in India. NAG is too big to be carried by an individual soldier.

It may have certain shortcomings now. But its future variants will turn out to be better. If you start producing Javelins, our future R&D and innovation will die. We have seen such scenarios in Marut, Arjun, and rifles. How many more times should we repeat the same story?