Boeing receives P-8I equipment from Bharat Electronics
By IANSThursday, December 23, 2010
NEW DELHI - Boeing has received from Bharat Electronics Ltd a critical sensor equipment for identifying friendly and enemy planes that will be fitted in P-8I maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft being produced by the US aerospace major for the Indian Navy.
The Indian defence PSU delivered the Indian-designed Identification Friend or Foe Interrogator - a battle management system - last week. It will be installed by Boeing during P-8I’s final assembly at its facility in Washington, the aerospace major said in a statement.
“This delivery is another positive step in our industrial participation effort with India,” said Vivek Lall, vice president, Boeing Defense, Space and Security India.
Boeing will deliver the first of eight P-8I aircraft to India by early 2013 — 48 months after the original contract signing in January 2009.
India is the first international customer for the P-8 aircraft of Boeing. The P-8I is a variant of the P-8A Poseidon that Boeing designed and is building for the US Navy.
“In addition to supplying an essential technology for the Indian navy, Boeing’s partnership with BEL also supports the government of India’s industrial objectives,” Lall said.
Indian indigenous technology and equipment for P-8I also include BEL’s Data Link II communications system, Avantel’s mobile satellite system and the Electronic Corporation of India Limited’s (ECIL) speech secrecy system.
