Port Blair, Aug. 6: The Boeing P8I, a Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance Anti-Submarine Warfare (LRMR/ASW) aircraft of the Indian Navy, made its maiden landing at the INS Utkrosh airfield on Tuesday, 06 Aug 13.

Piloted by the Squadron Commander (Designate), Commander HS Jhajj, the aircraft was welcomed to the islands by the Commander-in-chief, Andaman & Nicobar Command Air Marshal PK Roy, AVSM, VM, VSM, ADC. The event was attended by senior officers of the Unified Command. It is the first of the series of aircraft that are been procured under contract signed in 2009 and is based on the Boeing 737-800 platform. The Aircraft is based at INS Rajali, Arakkonam.

The P8I is the Indian Naval variant of the P8A ‘Poseidon’ aircraft that Boeing has developed for the US Navy. India is first international customer of this Aircraft. The Aircraft is equipped with both foreign as well indigenous sensors for maritime reconnaissance, anti submarine operation and electronic intelligence mission. The Aircraft is fully integrated with state of the art sensors and highly potent anti-surface and anti-submarine weapons.

The induction of these aircraft into the Indian Navy has provided quantum leap to India’s Maritime surveillance capabilities in the Indian Ocean region and enhanced the Navy’s strategic reach.