Boeing to set up P-8I anti-sub aircraft training unit in TN

Boeing will set up a training facility for its P-8I warfare aircraft at the naval air station INS Rajali, near Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu.

The 60,000-sq ft facility for P-8I Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance Anti-Submarine Warfare aircraft will be commissioned by March 2021. The India training facility will be the second for Boeing globally, the first one being in Australia.

In addition, as part of the contract, a dedicated Maintenance Simulator would also be commissioned at the Naval Institute of Aeronautical Technology (NIAT). The P-8I Training Solution, along with 10-year comprehensive maintenance service, will be brought from Boeing for ₹1,949.32 crore.

The order was cleared by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday.

“Towards training of the P8I pilots, observers, ordnance and technical personnel, a contract has been signed with Boeing, USA for procurement of training simulator for P8I aircraft, along with construction of a 60,000-sq ft civil facility (training, support and data handling centre) and an on-site comprehensive annual maintenance contract for a period of 10 years,” said a statement issued by the Indian Navy.

After completion of the 10-year period, the training facility will be run by the Navy, sources told BusinessLine .

The first P-8I aircraft was inducted in Indian Navy in 2013 and as of date, eight aircraft, based at INS Rajali, have been fully integrated into Indian Naval operations. In 2016, the Defence Ministry placed a follow-on order for four additional P-8I, the delivery of which will begin in 2020. The training solution accurately simulates P-8I aircraft and mission systems. It will help the Navy train and realistically rehearse for sophisticated missions involving P-8I aircraft, at a fraction of the cost of live aircraft training, according to the Defence Ministry.

“We will continue to partner with the Indian Navy, the first and largest international customer of the P-81, as they utilise their fleet for long-range intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and anti-submarine missions,” said Pratyush Kumar, President, Boeing India.

The training centre will have capacity to train additional crew as the Indian Navy accepts delivery of four new aircraft. Boeing will also be responsible for maintaining the simulators. It also plans to use several local partners to support hardware and software requirements, and for supporting maintenance of simulators.

Boeing provided factory training to five aircrew and 68 maintenance technicians as part of the original P-8I aircraft contract.

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