India to buy 4 more naval spy planes from US

India has signed a one-billion dollar deal with US defence and aerospace major Boeing for procuring four long-range maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft, Poseidon-8I. The acquisition will be enhancement of the Indian Navy as the country has been building up its naval surveillance capabilities. 

The contract is a follow-on order to eight P-81 planes worth 2.1 billion dollars, already bought by India in a direct deal with the firm. The contract



was inked during the on-going visit of the US Under Secretary for Defence on Acquisition Frank Kendall. 

It is seen as a sign of growing Indo-US defence ties. India had last year signed a contract with the US through Foreign Military Sales route for 22 Apache and 15 Chinook helicopters. Armed with deadly Harpoon missiles, lightweight torpedoes, rockets among others, the Navy is extensively using the P-8I to keep a strict vigil over the Indian Ocean.