India clears $3.5B P-8I aircraft deal

India is proceeding with a major defense procurement to purchase six additional Boeing P-8I Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, brushing aside significant cost escalations. The deal, cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council, is now valued at over $3.5 billion, a sharp increase from the 2009 purchase of eight aircraft for roughly $2.1 billion. The Indian Navy considers the P-8I, a customized variant with indigenous systems, the backbone of its anti-submarine warfare and Indian Ocean surveillance capabilities. This acquisition will expand India's operational fleet of P-8Is to 18 aircraft.