The Indian Navy has received the first Identification of Friend or Foe (IFF-1410) transponder from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) in support of its Boeing P-8I Poseidon long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft.
The IFF-1410 will be installed onboard the Indian Navy’s P-8I Poseidon aircraft.
The navy has successfully completed an initial test flight of the first P-8I aircraft off the company’s facility in Seattle, US, and validated its flying qualities and handling characteristics.
Press Trust of India (PTI) quoted HAL’s deputy general manager (HR) D V S Raju as saying that, in addition to Jaguar aircraft’s Darin III upgrade programme, the transponder was also undergoing production for HAL’s subsonic intermediate jet trainer aircraft, the HJT-36 Sitara.
In January 2009, the Indian Navy placed orders with Boeing for the delivery of eight P-8I Poseidon aircraft, worth $2.1bn, intended to replace its ageing fleet of Tupolev Tu-142M maritime surveillance turboprop aircraft.
The P-8I aircraft is due to undergo test flights over a US Navy test range, west of Neah Bay, Washington, and a joint US/Canadian test range in the Strait of Georgia.
The first Poseidon aircraft is expected to be operational with the Indian Navy in 2013, while the second P-8I aircraft is due to perform its first flight in the near future.
Based on Boeing’s 737-800 aircraft, the P-8I the aircraft features open system architecture, a worldwide base of suppliers, parts and support equipment, as well as advanced sensor and display technologies.
The Boeing-led team for the design and development of the P-8I aircraft includes CFM International, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Spirit AeroSystems, BAE Systems and GE Aviation.
Image: Boeing-built P-8I aircraft will replace the Indian Navy’s ageing Tupolev Tu-142M. Photo: courtesy of the Boeing Company.
