P-8I Multimission Maritime Patrol Aircraft, India

P-8I is a long-range, multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft being manufactured by Boeing for the indian Navy. It replaced the ageing evanesce of the indian Navy ’ s Tupolev Tu-142 aircraft .
The P-8I aircraft is a discrepancy of the P-8A Poseidon multimission maritime aircraft ( MMA ) operated by the US Navy .
It was designed to protect the coastline and territorial waters of India. It can conduct anti-submarine war ( ASW ), anti-surface war ( AsuW ), intelligence, nautical patrol, and surveillance and reconnaissance missions .

Orders and deliveries of Boeing’s aircraft

In January 2009, Boeing was selected by the indian Government to supply eight P-8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft to the indian Navy. The sign besides included an choice for four extra aircraft. The indian Navy was the first export customer for the aircraft .
The inaugural escape of the first P-8I aircraft was made in September 2011. The official trajectory examination program of the first aircraft began in July 2012, and the irregular P-8I aircraft performed its first flight in the same calendar month .
The first P-8I was delivered to the amerind Navy in December 2012. The remaining aircraft were delivered between 2013 and 2015 .
India ’ s Cabinet Committee on Security ( CCS ) approved the acquisition of the four extra P-8I aircraft from Boeing in mid-2016 .
In November 2019, the Defence Acquisition Council provided its approval for the procurement of another six extra P-8I aircraft for the indian Navy.

The indian Navy took manner of speaking of the ninth patrol aircraft in November 2020. The tenth and 11th aircraft were delivered to the amerind Navy in July and October 2021, respectively .

P-8I aircraft design and construction

The P-8I is based on the Boeing Next-Generation 737-800. The forward section of the under-fuselage houses an internal weapons bay. The wings are fitted with hardpoints for carrying air-to-surface missiles .
The aircraft has a length of 39.47m, wingspan of 37.64m and height of 12.83m. The utmost take-off arrant weight unit of the P-8I is 85,139kg .
The P-8I aircraft are produced by a Boeing-led industry team, comprising CFM International, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Spirit AeroSystems, BAE Systems and GE Aviation. The aircraft are built at Boeing ’ randomness production facility in Renton, Washington, US
The fuselage is built by Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita, Kansas, and shipped to Renton for lying and concluding assembly. Flight test is conducted from the Boeing Field in Seattle, Washington. The concluding design review was concluded in July 2010, and product of the P-8I began in December 2010. The final assembly of the first aircraft was completed in August 2011 .

P-8I cockpit, avionics and weapons

The P-8I is manned by nine crew members. The cockpit is integrated with basal flight display, multifunction displays, identification of acquaintance or foe ( IFF ), and flight and stores management systems .
The aircraft is equipped with a CAE AN/ASQ-508A magnetic anomaly detection ( MAD ) system, APS-143C ( V ) 3 multimode radar and ball-shaped version of the Raytheon APY-10 surveillance radar .
The APY-10 radar provides precise information in all-weather, day and night missions. The P-8I besides integrates BEL Data Link II communication system, Avantel mobile satellite system and a actor’s line privacy system from Electronics Corporation of India ( ECIL ) .
The inner weapons bay can family Mark 54 torpedoes, depth charges and free-fall bomb calorimeter. The under-wing hardpoints can be armed with air-to-surface missiles .
In December 2010, India requested a sale of AGM-84L Harpoon Block II anti-ship missiles and consociate equipment to equip its P-8I aircraft. The Harpoon Block II carries a 226kg blast / fragmentation warhead. It can be fired against down and ocean targets .

Countermeasures of the Indian Navy P-8I aircraft

The countermeasures are provided by the directional infrared countermeasures ( DIRCM ) system and the electronic defend measures ( ESM ) system supplied by Northrop Grumman. The DIRCM can protect the aircraft from incoming infrared-guided missiles .

Engines and performance

The P-8I aircraft is powered by two CFM56-7 engines supplied by CFM International, a joint venture between Snecma Moteurs and GE Electric. Each engine provides a take-off throw of 27,300lb. The engines are equipped with a new-generation wax agency digital engine control ( FADEC ) organization.

The P-8I aircraft can fly at a maximum amphetamine of 789km/h and can reach a maximal elevation of 12,496m. The aircraft has a utmost range of 2,222km with four hours on station .

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