Navy gets sixth P-8I maritime patrol plane, may order four more

[Abingdonboy]

Is 12 p8i enough for the entire Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean region?

What's the intended replacement for Russian aircrafts?

Nope, which is why I said the IN and Boeing have both stipulated a need for 24-30 P-8Is for the IN to cover all these areas and perhaps supported by an unknown number of MQ-4C Triton UAVs.

The P-8Is are the replacements for the Russian MPA (Tu-142 and Il-38SD) but 2022 they will both be gone.

 

[Abingdonboy]

Triton can be operated from P-8I as well,making it vastly superior platform..plus,Drones can't perform all the roles of P-8I.

The Triton UAS is intended as a compliment to the P-8 not a substitute.

 

[GR!FF!N]

The Triton UAS is intended as a compliment to the P-8 not a substitute.

yup,and thats what I stated.

 

[kaykay]

Is 12 p8i enough for the entire Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean region?

What's the intended replacement for Russian aircrafts?

No. India navy have a requirement of around 24 such aircrafts so expect 24 P-8Is in long term or even more. For the time being 12 P-8Is along with 8 Tu142s and 5 IL-38s seems to be a very potent fleet in the region.

 

[kaykay]

The Triton UAS is intended as a compliment to the P-8 not a substitute.

Even a handful of these say 8 tritons will be very useful for Indian navy.

 

[sathya]

We ll have make a new deal for next 12 aircrafts , probably updated version in next decade, just before retiring Russian aircrafts..

So the current deal for additional four will be the last until 2020 I think..