According to the Hindustan Times, New Delhi expects to buy six more aircraft of this type from Washington in 2022.
India will receive four American Poseidon P-8I multi-purpose anti-submarine and reconnaissance aircraft in 2021 and expects to purchase six more of this type from the U.S. in 2022. This was reported in the Hindustan Times on Tuesday.
Deliveries of four Poseidon planes were authorized late last year by the Indian Defense Purchasing Council, the value of the contract for their purchase is $1.1 billion. India plans to purchase six more U.S. anti-submarine aircraft and soon begin negotiations on their purchase.
The planned sale of the requested weapons will take place through the American program of intergovernmental foreign military sales Foreign Military Sales (FMS). India’s total defense purchases from the United States so far have amounted to $17 billion.
The contract with the U.S. to supply four Poseidon aircraft was signed long before the beginning of the Indo-Chinese conflict in eastern Ladakh, Hindustan Times said. According to military sources, India used Poseidon for reconnaissance flights over the line of de facto control, where the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) units were concentrated.
Between 2012 and 2015, India received eight Poseidon American planes that are in service with the 312th Squadron of Indian Navy.