Indian Navy's P-8I aircraft completes first flight

Indian Navy's P-8I aircraft completes first flight

Indian Navy's first P-8I aircraft being built by Boeing-led industry team has completed its initial flight.

The P-8I is the Indian Navy variant of the P-8A Poseidon that Boeing is developing for the US Navy.

The aircraft on Wednesday took off from Renton Field at 12:02 p.m. Pacific Time and landed two hours and 31 minutes later at Boeing Field in Seattle, Boeing said in a statement.

During the flight, Boeing test pilots performed airborne systems checks including engine accelerations and decelerations and autopilot flight modes, and took the P-8I to a maximum altitude of 41,000 feet prior to landing.

In the coming weeks Boeing will begin mission systems installation and checkout work on the aircraft at a company facility near Boeing Field.

Boeing said in order to efficiently design and build P-8 aircraft, the team is using a first-in-industry, in-line production process that draws on the company's Next-Generation 737 production system.

The P-8I is the first of eight long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft Boeing is building for India as part of a contract awarded in January 2009. An option for four additional P-8I aircraft was included in the original contract.

The aircraft features open system architecture, advanced sensor and display technologies, and a worldwide base of suppliers, parts and support equipment.

"The P-8I program is progressing well and we are looking forward to this potent platform joining the Indian Navy as part of its fleet," said Rear Adm. DM Sudan, assistant chief of Naval Staff (Air), Indian Navy.

"The P-8I will provide India with the necessary speed and reliability to satisfy the Indian Navy's maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare requirements," said Dinesh Keskar, Boeing India president.

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