Reviewing the Indian Navy's Boeing P8I

[mkb95]

Days ago Boeing delivers the last P 8I to Indian Navy that sums total eight of ordered Planes. In first phase Indian Navy ordered eight modified P 8I along with weapon packages and support systems for $2.1 billion. Indian Navy used the P 8 I very extensively in earlier days and impressed with the performance and sortie rates. Navy also asks the DAC to buy another four P 8I in this five year plan and another 12 in next five year plan. The total expecting orders is 16 more.
Indian Navy currently operates eight upgraded Tu 142 MKE (Tu 142 is a export variant of Tu 95 Bear ) for long range maritime mission and another five upgraded Il 38 SD for medium range maritime missions. Indian Navy initially planned to replace those noisy turboprops by inducting P8I. however they will remain in service upto 2025 due to the mid life upgrades. Indian Navy also plans to integrate the Brahmos air launched missiles into the Tu 142 in future by replacing the Kh 35 AShM.
The Modernized Tu 142 features the Israeli Elta 2022 Maritime surveillance radar. The Radar is capable to take SAR images of sea surface. The Radar is capable to detect low visible periscopes and very small size attack boats, even in the height of some 39,000 feet. The onboard magnetometer MMS-106 Ladoga can detectsubmergedsubmarines with it's small magnetic characteristics. However these days the magnetic detector is obsolete due to the evolved submarine's hull magnetic signatures.
The P 8I carry's Raytheon AN/APY 10 Maritime surveillance radar, which can perform the same above missions like periscope detection and other maritime detection. However the actual range and target detection capabilities remains classified. The APY 10 radar fitted in the nose cone of the Plane same like fighter jets with radar in it's radome. The AN APY 10 radar is the only system of its type to provide ultra-high resolution imaging modes for maritime and overland operations, delivering uncompromising performance in each and every operational environment.




The Plane carriers five stations onboard, each hosts separate management systems for seamless search missions. The P 8 not only a ASW plane. It can also act as a airborne control center too, by directing fighter jets and assisting cruise missile in terminal guidance. The P 8 also have countermeasure suites like Chaff and flare to spoof IR guided and Radar guided missiles, also equipped with state of art electronic attack suite. The name and info about the EA suite remains classified. However it's not meant that the P 8I can't be shot downed by enemy fighter jets.

Indian Navy Ilyushin 38 SD
In comparison with the American P8 A the Indian P8 comes with a exported variant of AN APY 10 radar. Compared to the P 3 C Orion the P 8I is three times powerful when detect submarines and surface targets. The American P8A comes with a secondary radar in retrofit options. Some of the American P8 A uses the APS 143 Ocean Eye AFT radar for Target search and surveillance options. Some reports also mentions the Indian Navy too gets the exported variant of Ocean eye.
Another System used in the P8 is the MAD - Magnetic anomaly detector boom. The MAD boom used to detect the Submarines magnetic activities. However this method is obsolete in ASW warfare since newer Submarines has zero magnetic signatures. Most of the American P8 A also doesn't flew with the MAD boom, while it can be retrofitted if needed in any mission. Indian Navy don't have the MAD boom or never requested.
Another major system in the P8 A is the Sonobuoys. The Sonobuoys is the only system which can detect deep submerged submarines. The exact information about the Sonobuoys are highly classified. The Sonobuoys can detect the Submarines acoustic signatures and transmit the data to the P8 through a secured data link, Sonobuoys also guide the air dropped torpedo's to hit the Target accurately.

AN APY 10 Radar
The P8 A also act as a maritime bomber. By dropping Torpedo's mines and launching missiles. The P8 A can drop heavyweight torpedo even flying at the altitude of some 30,000 feet, if the Sonobuoys detects any submarines. The P8 I also lays mines across the sea line to trap enemy submarines inside protected zones. Each P8 A can carry four Harpoon anti shipping missiles for surface warfare.
India removed some US made IFF transponders and satellite communication from eavesdropping. The BEL made IFF transponder used for Friend and Foe detection used in the Indian variants. The Satellite communication system and data transmission links also made by Indian state owned BEL.




Indian Navy used the P8I ASW plane to locate the lost MH 370 Flight. also assisted the Coast guard to locating the lost Dornier plane. However the main mission of the P8 is to observe and patrol bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean for possible Chinese underwater threats the reason why P8 I deployed near Chennai.
source- Life of Soldiers: Reviewing the Indian Navy's Boeing P8I