VICTORIA, Australia — A Boeing official said negotiations are underway with India to convert options to buy four P-8I Neptune maritime intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance aircraft into firm orders.
India ordered eight P-8Is in 2009; six have been delivered.
"We're currently talking with them about executing those four options," said James Detwiler, Boeing's P-8 business development director for maritime systems, at the Australian International Airshow. "We understand there is an interest to get that done sooner rather than later."
Detwiler also said that manufacture of long-lead items for the first of eight P-8As for the Royal Australian Air Force was underway to support an early-2017 delivery.
Australia holds options to buy four more P-8As, which will be considered as part of the forthcoming Defence White Paper process and in conjunction with up to seven Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) unmanned maritime surveillance aircraft.
The transition from the current Lockheed Martin AP-3C Orion has begun; RAAF personnel are training with the US Navy at NAS Jacksonville in Florida.
"Seven aircrew arrived there in January this year, they have commenced their training and they will stay and become P-8 instructors with the US Navy," said RAAF Group Captain Roger McCutcheon, who directs the Australian P-8 transition office. "Three technicians will arrive in Jacksonville in mid-year to do the same thing and become instructors on the maintenance side of things and then tactical operations centre personnel will begin their training towards the end of this year."
The acquisition of the eight P-8As will cost the Australian taxpayer about $4 billion (US$2.15 billion), including infrastructure and facilities upgrades. The existing AP-3Cs are expected to be retired around 2019.
Nigel Pittaway is the Australia correspondent for Defense News.
