In a boost to India’s maritime defense, the Indian Navy Tuesday (March 29) will commission the P-8I aircraft. This will be its second long-range maritime reconnaissance air squadron that will conduct surveillance in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) amid Chinese aggression in the region.
The air squadron 316 will be commissioned at the INS Hansa naval air station in Dabolim Goa, in the presence of Chief of Naval Staff R Hari Kumar, navy officials said.
The Indian Navy Air Squadron (INAS) 316 will operate the Boeing P-8I multi-role long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft because of China’s increasing interference in the IOR.
The P-8I is a long-range surveillance aircraft that is also equipped with air-to-ship missiles and torpedoes. The Indian Navy has named it’s INAS 316 the ‘The Condors’ which is one of the largest flying birds in the world.
The Navy had acquired the first batch of eight P-8I aircraft in 2013 and stationed it at INS Rajali in Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu.
“The INAS 316 will operate the second batch of four additional P-8I aircraft, adding teeth to the armour of the Indian Navy, to deter, detect and destroy any threat to the nation in the Indian Ocean Region,” said an official.
Last month, Boeing delivered the 12th Poseidon-8I maritime patrol aircraft to India making it the largest operator of this premier surveillance aircraft in Asia.
The P-8I is a superior maritime surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft with excellent operational readiness and a proven track record.
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