Why is it in the news?
The Defence Procurement Board cleared a proposal to acquire six additional Boeing P-8I aircraft from the US.
Category: Defence
Important Points:
● Deal pursued under India–US Inter-Governmental Agreement framework
● Processed under Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020
● No offsets clause under IGA route
● P-8I is long-range maritime patrol aircraft
● Designed for ASW, Anti-Surface Warfare, ISR and Search & Rescue
● Indian Navy operates 12 P-8I aircraft
● Stationed at INS Rajali (INAS 312) and INS Hansa (INAS 316)
● Other US procurements include Excalibur projectiles and Javelin missiles