Congressional nod needed for Boeing sale to India

Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at 5:01 am

Boeing is confident that the US Congress would ratify the largest-ever defence deal it signed with India for the sale of eight P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-maritime warfare aircraft to the Indian Navy, a top company official said on Tuesday (January 6).

Exuding confidence that the Congress would give its nod to this mega deal worth USD 2.1 billion the largest ever Indian defense deal with an US company, the official said that the state-of-the-art aircraft would help the Indian Navy patrol its long coast line and maritime boundary effectively.

“The sale is conditional upon Congressional notification,” Robert Feldmann, P8A Poseidon vice president and programme manager, Boeing told reporters during a teleconference. “We are confident that Congressional notification would occur and we then would go forward with the whole programme,” he said in response to a question.

Boeing would be applying for the Congressional ratification this year, he said. Without elaborating further, he said the company would also have to deal with any additional requirements from the State Department. The contract between Boeing and Ministry of Defense was signed January 1. Procurement of state-of-the-art long- range maritime reconnaissance and anti-maritime warfare aircraft would help the Indian Navy patrol its long coast line and maritime boundary very effectively.

India is the first international customer for the P-8. Boeing will deliver the first P-8I within 48 months of the contract signing, and the remaining seven by 2015, he said. The airplane looks like Boeing 737. It is a true multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) that features greater flexibility and a broader range of capabilities than MPAs currently in service. The P-8I is a variant of the P-8A Poseidon that Boeing is developing for the US Navy.

Responding to questions, Feldmann hoped that the Indian Navy would place more orders for such aircrafts in the future. It has taken more than two years for Boeing to bag the mega deal. The proposal was first submitted to the Indian Government by Boeing some two years ago. As a result of the entire process, he said: “We now have much better understanding of (the Indian) defense procurement.”

“This aircraft will provide outstanding capabilities tailored to India’s unique maritime-patrol requirements,” Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) said. The P-8I is a “true multi-mission maritime” patrol aircraft (MPA) that features greater flexibility and a broader range of capabilities than MPAs currently in service.

“Throughout the negotiations, both sides worked diligently to give India the most advanced anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare aircraft in the world today,” said Vivek Lall, Boeing IDS vice-president and India country head. “The result of these efforts will bring the Indian navy advanced technology that is unmatched in maritime reconnaissance aircraft and the reach and capability it needs to defend India’s vast coastline and maritime waters.”

The P-8I can operate effectively over land or water while performing anti-submarine warfare missions; search and rescue; maritime interdiction; and long-range intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance, Boeing said in a press release. The P-8I will provide India with speed, reliability, persistence and room for growth to satisfy the country’s requirements now and well into the future, it added.

(With inputs from agencies)

( This post is from an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by APakistanNews.Com.)

Congressional nod needed for Boeing sale to India

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