Posted on 09/20/2011 8:55:27 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
PICTURE: India's first 737-based P-8I nears flight debut
By Craig Hoyle
Boeing is close to conducting the first flight of a 737-800-based P-8I maritime patrol aircraft for the Indian navy, with its first example having emerged at the manufacturer’s Renton Field assembly site in Washington.
Photographed by AirSpace user Brandon Farris earlier this month, the aircraft has already been painted in Indian markings and assigned the registration IN320. It is the first of eight P-8Is on order as replacements for the navy’s current Tupolev Tu-142 turboprops. The aircraft was last pictured as it entered final assembly in June.
© Brandon Farris
Derived from the P-8A Poseidon now in development testing for the US Navy, India’s next-generation maritime surveillance aircraft will enter use from early 2013, dubbed Neptunes.
India’s examples will differ from the USN’s aircraft through the addition of an aft-mounted radar, which once combined with other sensors will afford the Neptune a 360° surveillance capability against airborne targets. The aircraft’s distinctive tail boom which will house the sensor is clearly visible.
Another key piece of equipment for the P-8I will be its Raytheon Mk54 lightweight torpedoes. New Delhi signed an $86 million deal in June for an initial 32 of the weapons.
Boeing performed the first flight of a production P-8A for the USN from Renton Field in July. India is the first and so for lone export buyer for the 737 derivative. Test and acceptance activities will be performed from Boeing’s Seattle Field site in Washington.
A wise choice. 737s and their spares are common as dirt
compared to the lower production run specialist military types. Flying qualities of the type are known to a T and
there are a large pool of experienced aircrew.
Enjoy them with our compliments!
India probably paid for it in cash from surplus foreign currency reserves.
ping
I like India, they are one of the few allies in Asia that we really have besides Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippians, and Australia.
Yap. You got it!
most people dont notice that the P-8s have the Boeing developed raked tip ( first on the 767-400 ), not the ubiquitus winglet as on the 737NGs, et al, in the commercial fleet.
this gives the Navy superior performance and operating characteristics.
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