The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has approved the procurement of a training solution for the Indian Navy’s P-8I aircraft for a sum of Rs19.49bn ($307.82m).
The new training solution will be acquired from Boeing, accompanied by a ten-year comprehensive maintenance service agreement.
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It will represent the third global P-8I reconnaissance aircraft training facility to be developed by the company at the Indian naval air base INS Rajali in Tamil Nadu, reported Livemint.
Indian Navy spokesman captain D K Sharma was quoted by Jane’s as saying: “This [simulator] will help train the Indian Navy personnel at low cost, saving precious machine hours on P-8Is, which will consequently be available for more frequent deployment.”
The training solution will be able to precisely simulate P-8I aircraft and mission systems, in addition to enabling the Indian Navy to train and realistically rehearse for sophisticated missions involving the fighter jet.
Boeing’s P-8I aircraft is capable of carrying out long-range anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare missions, as well as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in support of broad area, maritime and littoral operations.
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By GlobalDataThe aircraft’s communications and sensor suite includes locally built equipment developed by defence public sector undertakings (PSUs) and private producers.
The first P-8I jet was originally inducted into service with the Indian Navy in 2013.
A total of eight aircraft based at INS Rajali have been fully integrated into the navy’s operations to date.
The MoD awarded a follow-on order to Boeing for four additional P-8I aircraft in 2016.
Delivery of the aircraft is currently slated to begin in 2020.
The procurement of the P-8I training solution forms part of the MoD’s Rs24.19bn ($382.05m) deal, which also includes the acquisition of a low-intensity conflict electronic warfare system (LICEWS) from Bharat Electronics for use by the Indian Army.
