New Delhi: In a significant boost to India’s maritime security, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for procuring six additional Boeing P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft from the United States.
This move comes shortly after the recent India-US trade deal, marking a key step in strengthening bilateral defence ties.
The Indian Navy already operates a fleet of 12 P-8I aircraft — nicknamed “Hunters”— deployed at INS Rajali in Tamil Nadu and INS Hansa in Goa.
These platforms have been pivotal in monitoring vast expanses of the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, and Bay of Bengal for over a decade, ever since the initial eight were acquired in 2009, followed by four more in 2019.
The P-8I, a formidable asset derived from the Boeing 737, flies at altitudes up to 40,000 feet and excels in detecting submerged submarines hundreds of feet deep. Equipped with advanced avionics, such as sonobuoys, torpedoes, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, and cruise missiles, it can track, hunt, and, if required, neutralise threats. Its endurance exceeds 8,000 km, making it ideal for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), search-and-rescue, and anti-piracy missions.
Strategically, the additional aircraft will enhance India’s capability to counter submarine activities by China and Pakistan in the region, bolstering long-range ASW, maritime domain awareness, and strike potential amid evolving Indo-Pacific challenges.
This procurement forms part of a broader defence package worth ₹3.6 lakh crore cleared by the DAC, which also includes 114 Rafale jets, missiles, and Army upgrades. The deal underscores India’s push for enhanced naval deterrence under Atmanirbhar Bharat while deepening strategic cooperation with the US.