MoD approved in mid-June the procurement of 10 additional Boeing P-8I Neptune aircraft (similar to this one pictured above) for the IN for a total of USD 3 billion

India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has approved the procurement of 10 more Boeing P-8I Neptune long-range maritime multi-mission aircraft for the Indian Navy (IN) for a total of USD 3 billion.

Official sources told Jane’s on 24 June that the MoD’s Services Capital Acquisition Plan Categorisation Higher Committee endorsed in mid-June the import of the additional platforms via a direct commercial sale with Boeing, while the related weaponry, radar, and associated equipment are set to be acquired via the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.

The sources said that over the next few weeks the MoD’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), which is headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, would grant ‘acceptance of necessity’ (AoN) to fast-track the procurement of the aircraft and related equipment.