India may revive plan to procure six more P-8I maritime patrol aircraft from U.S.

P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft. File Photo: Bhagya Prakash K./THE HINDU

“India is looking to revive the proposal to procure six more P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft from the U.S. and the issue is expected to figure in the talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump,” sources in the know said.

Other big-ticket deals in the pipeline with the U.S. that could figure in the talks are the co-production of General Electric F414 jet engines and Stryker infantry combat vehicles in India under technology transfer.

The Navy had projected a requirement for more P-8Is sometime ago but it was deferred for few years. The P-8I, which can hunt submarines lurking in the deep oceans, is the primary platform for the Indian Navy for long-range surveillance and has become particularly critical as the Chinese naval presence has significantly expanded in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

“India is keen to procure six additional P-8Is and preliminary discussions have commenced regarding pricing and other aspects, two sources in the know confirmed. There is a possibility that the intent to commence discussions could find mention among the outcomes of Mr. Modi’s visit,” the sources added.

India has contracted 12 P-8Is in two batches, eight under a $2.2-billion deal in 2009 and four more in 2016, under the optional clause in a deal worth over $1billion.

Subsequently, the Navy was keen on 10 more aircraft but that got truncated later and in November 2019, the Defence Acquisition Council approved the procurement of six aircraft. In May 2021, the U.S. State Department approved the possible sale of six additional P-8I aircraft and related equipment, a deal then estimated to cost $2.42 billion.

Contract for 31 MQ-9B

Complimenting the P-8Is will be the MQ-9B Sea Guardian High Altitude Long Endurance UAVs that the Navy will begin receiving from January 2029 onwards. Last October, India signed a nearly $3.5 bn contract for 31 MQ-9B — 15 Sea Guardians for the Indian Navy and 16 Sky Guardians, eight each for the Army and Air Force, under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme of the U.S. government.

The MQ-9B with their long endurance to stay up on the sky will reduce the stress on the manned P-8I platforms in keeping an eye over the IOR.

Another platform that compliments both the P-8I and MQ-9B in anti-submarine warfare is the 24 MH-60R multi-role helicopters from Lockheed Martin that the Navy is currently in the process of inducting.