DTN News: Boeing Books 9 Orders, 737s For India Navy

DTN News: Boeing Books 9 Orders, 737s For India Navy

*Source: DTN News / Defense Media (NSI News Source Info) SEATTLE, USA - September 18, 2009: The Boeing Co. added nine new orders to its commercial airplanes backlog this week, including a request from India's Navy for 737s.

The Government of India has selected The Boeing Company to provide eight P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft to the Indian navy. The P-8I is a variant of the P-8A Poseidon that Boeing is developing for the U.S. Navy. India is the first international customer for the P-8. Boeing will deliver the first P-8I within 48 months of the contract signing, and the remaining seven by 2015. "The men and women of The Boeing Company are pleased that India has selected the P-8I," said Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems (IDS). "This aircraft will provide outstanding capabilities tailored to India's unique maritime-patrol requirements." The P-8I is a true multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) that features greater flexibility and a broader range of capabilities than MPAs currently in service. The P-8I can operate effectively over land or water while performing anti-submarine warfare missions; search and rescue; maritime interdiction; and long-range intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance. The P-8I provides India with speed, reliability, persistence and room for growth to satisfy the country's requirements now and well into the future. The aircraft features an open system architecture, advanced sensor and display technologies, and a worldwide base of suppliers, parts and support equipment.

India's Navy had announced in January that it would buy eight P8 long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft (a derivative of the 737) from Boeing. The orders were just added to Boeing's books this week.

Boeing also added an order for a 737 from an unidentified customer, according to the company's Orders and Deliveries Web page.The requests bring Boeing's net order total to 79. The company has won 170 gross orders but has received 91 order cancellations this year.