Boeing Begins P-8I Flight Tests For Indian Navy

Boeing today announced that it has begun flight testing the P-8I aircraft for the Indian Navy. The official flight test program began on July 7 with the aircraft demonstrating its flight capabilities for nearly four hours. In 2009, India purchased eight long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft from Boeing. In the next few months, Boeing test pilots will put the P-8I, a Next-Generation 737-800 derivative, through its paces over a U.S. Navy test range west. "Today's flight is another on-time milestone for the program," said Leland Wight, Boeing P-8I program manager. "We'll start out testing the P-8I's mission system, which includes its sensors and communication systems. The team then will transition to 'stores' tests during which the P-8I will carry inert weapon shapes under its wings to demonstrate that the aircraft is capable of carrying all the weapons the Indian Navy will use during regular missions". The stores the P-8I will carry will have the identical shape and size of real weapons, including the Harpoon anti-ship missile, depth bombs and torpedoes. "This is an important milestone for the program and sets the stage for operational testing and weapons certification as we move closer to P-8I aircraft joining the Indian Navy," said Rear Adm. DM Sudan, assistant chief of Naval Staff (Air), Indian Navy. The P-8I features open system architecture, advanced sensor and display technologies, and a worldwide base of suppliers, parts and support equipment. The Indian Navy will receive the first aircraft in 2013.