A high-level team from the United States Department of Defense has arrived in New Delhi to restart negotiations on India’s proposed acquisition of six Boeing P-8I maritime patrol aircraft, a deal valued at nearly $3 billion. The discussions are expected to breathe new life into a project that had stalled after the earlier offer lapsed.
The Indian Navy already operates 12 P-8I aircraft, inducted in two phases-eight ordered in 2009 and four in 2016. The aircraft have since become a vital part of India’s maritime security architecture, deployed extensively during operations in the Indian Ocean Region as well as for surveillance along the Himalayan front. With advanced radars, sonobuoys, live surveillance feeds, and anti-submarine Harpoon missiles, the P-8I is regarded as one of the most capable platforms in detecting underwater threats.
In 2021, the US approved India’s request to buy six more P-8Is under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route for around $2.4 billion. However, with the validity of that proposal expiring, Washington is now preparing to present a fresh quotation. The renewed talks coincide with efforts to ease recent trade frictions between New Delhi and Washington, signaling a possible thaw in relations.
Beyond the aircraft procurement, the deal could bring long-term benefits to India’s defence sector. Boeing has proposed investments worth $1.5 billion in local manufacturing, repair, and maintenance facilities tied to the P-8I programme. This aligns closely with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision, aimed at achieving greater self-reliance in defence production by 2032.
Strategic analysts view the move as critical for bolstering India’s surveillance reach in the Indo-Pacific, especially amid rising challenges in the region’s maritime domain.
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