In a new turn within its military procurement policy, India is reportedly close to resuming negotiations with the United States for the purchase of six new P-8I Poseidon aircraft —designated Neptune by the Indian Navy—, complementing and expanding its fleet of maritime patrol aircraft. The news comes from reports in New Delhi indicating the imminent arrival of a delegation of Pentagon officials and Boeing representatives between September 16 and 19, with the goal of resuming talks over a contract valued at USD 4 billion.
The revival of these discussions comes shortly after New Delhi suspended the negotiations in early August due to a sharp increase in costs, largely driven by the imposition of new tariffs by the United States. At that time, the decision had put on hold an agreement initially approved in 2021 for USD 2.42 billion under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, which included the acquisition of six additional P-8Is for the Indian Navy. The nearly 50% increase in the contract value had left the deal indefinitely suspended.
Currently, the Indian Navy operates a fleet of 12 P-8I aircraft, acquired in two batches: the first of eight, signed in 2009 and delivered between 2013 and 2015, and a second batch of four aircraft completed in 2021. Since then, these aircraft have formed the backbone of the country’s maritime surveillance and patrol capability, playing a key role in monitoring Chinese activity in the Indian Ocean and along the strategic routes of the Strait of Malacca.
Looking at the possibility of finalizing this deal, if a contract with Boeing moves forward, the six new aircraft would significantly strengthen the Indian Navy’s detection and anti-submarine warfare capabilities, consolidating its P-8I fleet as the second largest in the world, behind only the U.S. Navy. However, questions remain as to whether these units will maintain the same configuration as previous batches or whether they will integrate new capabilities, including improvements in sensors, electronic warfare systems, and weaponry that the platform has incorporated in recent years.
Lastly, it should be noted that India’s interest in the P-8I Poseidon is framed within an increasingly complex regional environment, marked by the expansion of China’s naval capabilities in the Pacific Ocean, along with the growing presence of nuclear-powered submarines of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). This has driven India to bolster its maritime patrol and control assets. On the other hand, the P-8I aircraft are also employed in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions over the Indian Ocean coastline, as well as serving as a communication platform in joint operations with strategic partners such as the United States, Japan, and Australia.
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