Boeing makes its first FMS sale to India:
Boeing Co., the second-largest U.S. defense company, agreed to sell eight P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine planes to India’s navy, marking the company’s first military sale to the country.
The P-8I is a variant of the P-8A Poseidon that Boeing is developing for the U.S. Navy and India is the first international customer for the aircraft, the Chicago-based company said today in a statement. Boeing declined to provide the contract’s value at the request of India.
The Economic Times of India reported yesterday that the order is valued at about $2.1 billion, without identifying the source of its information. The planes can be used to hunt submarines, perform search-and-rescue missions, find targets and operate long-range surveillance.
Subject to Congressional approval, of course.
Heh,
Be interesting to see whether the Indian navy gets there’s before we do. Maybe they could be the RAG for our guys? Since we seem to be outsourcing most stuff these days anyway, it might make sense.
Heck, we could easily resolve all our tech issues quickly since the IT call centers are over there anyway… sheeesh…
That’s $2.1 Billion for the guys in my backyard!
You know the saying, “if it’s not Boeing, we’re not going!”
One of the largest contracts the Indians have put out in a while, more than they’re paying for their new (old) carrier from the Russians. Nice to have an in into that market and may grow into selling them some Rhinos and other toys.
but no h/t…
Claudio –
Rhinos – as in Phantoms?!? I doubt it!
Is the Rhino nickname given to a more recent combat aircraft – I’ve only ever heard the Phantom II called a Rhino.
Larry,
The SuperHornets (F/A-18E/F) have picked up the nickname “Rhino” in the fleet, as a nod to their Phantom forebears and because of their size relative to the Bugs.