Maritime Patrol Aircraft : P-8I Neptune, Dornier-228 : News & Discussions

US Defence Industry in Panic as India Pauses P-8I Aircraft Deal?​

Published Aug 7, 2025 at 4:10 PM IST​

India has paused its $3.6 billion deal for six Boeing P-8I Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, following a 50% price increase and U.S. tariffs on Indian exports. This strategic move supports India’s "Make in India" policy and its goal of achieving defense self-reliance, with the Navy now exploring local alternatives to strengthen maritime surveillance in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

The P-8I is a key asset for anti-submarine warfare, reconnaissance, and monitoring, with 12 already in active service. The deal, approved in 2021, was delayed over pricing and budget concerns. India’s decision reflects a shift in priorities—balancing ties with the U.S. and fostering domestic innovation like the DRDO’s NASM-MR. The Navy aims to maintain vigilance with its current fleet while considering homegrown, cost-effective solutions to meet regional challenges.


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Source: Republic World
 

US Defence Industry in Panic as India Pauses P-8I Aircraft Deal?​

Published Aug 7, 2025 at 4:10 PM IST​

India has paused its $3.6 billion deal for six Boeing P-8I Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, following a 50% price increase and U.S. tariffs on Indian exports. This strategic move supports India’s "Make in India" policy and its goal of achieving defense self-reliance, with the Navy now exploring local alternatives to strengthen maritime surveillance in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

The P-8I is a key asset for anti-submarine warfare, reconnaissance, and monitoring, with 12 already in active service. The deal, approved in 2021, was delayed over pricing and budget concerns. India’s decision reflects a shift in priorities—balancing ties with the U.S. and fostering domestic innovation like the DRDO’s NASM-MR. The Navy aims to maintain vigilance with its current fleet while considering homegrown, cost-effective solutions to meet regional challenges.


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Source: Republic World

I don't think we have paused due to Trump or tariff, we have paused because of cost rise as our babus waited too long.

Unlike the useless Javelins or Strykers, P8I is a system with no alternatives and a capacity we need.
 
I don't think we have paused due to Trump or tariff, we have paused because of cost rise as our babus waited too long.

Unlike the useless Javelins or Strykers, P8I is a system with no alternatives and a capacity we need.
We need fleets comprising minimum 6 P8 or equivalent aircraft on south western & north western bases, and additional such fleets in Andaman & west Bengal. I beleive there is a room for procuring another 24 minimum P8 for us.

Hope MOD will not repeat the same mistake that they had done with C17 procurement. The entire Gajraj could have been replaced by that marvelous C17,now a missed opertunity and that gonna replaced by less capable aircraft.

And my understanding is that Javalin is a local production unit for export & domestic use, we should not back of from Javelin project, it will generate revenue and job for pretty long time. Stryker, yeas we don't want that in current avatar.
Now they will pause till the line is closed. Same as they did with the GE F404
I fear that may happen.
 
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US Defence Industry in Panic as India Pauses P-8I Aircraft Deal?​

Published Aug 7, 2025 at 4:10 PM IST​

India has paused its $3.6 billion deal for six Boeing P-8I Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, following a 50% price increase and U.S. tariffs on Indian exports. This strategic move supports India’s "Make in India" policy and its goal of achieving defense self-reliance, with the Navy now exploring local alternatives to strengthen maritime surveillance in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

The P-8I is a key asset for anti-submarine warfare, reconnaissance, and monitoring, with 12 already in active service. The deal, approved in 2021, was delayed over pricing and budget concerns. India’s decision reflects a shift in priorities—balancing ties with the U.S. and fostering domestic innovation like the DRDO’s NASM-MR. The Navy aims to maintain vigilance with its current fleet while considering homegrown, cost-effective solutions to meet regional challenges.


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Source: Republic World
Fake news without any sources.
I don't think we have paused due to Trump or tariff, we have paused because of cost rise as our babus waited too long.
Babus forgetting file is not a pause but natural state.
 
We need fleets comprising minimum 6 P8 or equivalent aircraft on south western & north western bases, and additional such fleets in Andaman & west Bengal. I beleive there is a room for procuring another 24 minimum P8 for us.

Hope MOD will not repeat the same mistake that they had done with C17 procurement. The entire Gajraj could have been replaced by that marvelous C17,now a missed opertunity and that gonna replaced by less capable aircraft.

And my understanding is that Javalin is a local production unit for export & domestic use, we should not back of from Javelin project, it will generate revenue and job for pretty long time. Stryker, yeas we don't want that in current avatar.

I fear that may happen.
yeah very smart idea to buy expensive show pieces , americans will be laughing their *censored* off.
 
Detailed Info on Dornier 228 Upgrade project

The project is called SHYEN
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Do 228 Upgrade Program Brochure from Aero India 2025
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KEY FEATURES

SHYEN is an integrated sensor suite consisting of Maritime Patrol Radar. Electronic Support Measures System, Electro Optical Infra-Red System and Software Define Radio which generates a comprehensive surveillance picture of the targets from Radar or ESM or EOIR (Day/lR image) enabling classification and target identification communicating via SDR data link for enhanced Maritime Domain Awareness
.

SPECIFICATIONS
> KSHITIJ Maritime Patrol Radar

• Long Range, 360 degree rotating AESA based Maritime Surveillance Radar
• Comprehensive Sea Surveillance, Air Surveillance, Ground Surveillance (Spot/Strip SAR & GMTI) and Navigation Aide (Weather & Search/Rescue)
• Artificial intelligence for Target Classification

> ESM
• Interception, Analysis and Geolocation of Ground, Shipborne and Airborne Emitters, Wide Spectral and Spatial Coverage
• High Accuracy of Parameters including Direction Finding (DF)
• Tactical, Situational & Tabular Views for Situational Awareness

> EOIR
• SWaP optimized State-of-Art common aperture optical channel
• HD imagery, Day TV Camera, Thermal Imager, Short Wave & Medium Wave Infra-Red Camera
• Loser Designator cum eye-safe Laser Range Finder (LDRF)
• Line-of-Sight Target Detection and Automatic Target Tracking

> Software Defined Radio (SDR)
• Communications services in V/UHF band, L Band and Line SATCOM band
• Support for Air-Ground, Air-Ship and Air-Air Communications
• Software Architecture conforming to SCA 4i


Unknown Origin Picture of Kshitij Radar
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Picture of Do 228 Shyen Upgrade EOIR System from Aero India 2025
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Unknown Origin images of installed Radar + ESM system undergoing testing on DRDO testbed Anusandhan (Most Probably from Aero India 2025)
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Status :

DRDO had released a Statement of Work document related to it back in March 2023


LRDE to start the integration of KSHITIJ X-Band AESA Radar, ESM, EOIR and SDR under the Do-228 indigenization program.
Activity of installation of the payloads on the aircraft, clearances and shakedown trails will be done by HAL.
DRDO, FTB (Do-228, Tail No : KD707) will be used for payload installation and evaluation purposes.


Latest Info Regarding the Shyen Upgrade according to Shwetabh Singh Dated November 2024

" On Sep 27, 2024, ESM system received approval for installation, development, and user flight trials following the successful completion of user laboratories evaluation "
 
More Info Regarding the Shyen Program from the 2023 Document released by the DRDO
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Status

Video Regarding SHYEN upgrade shot by Defence Matrix in Aero India 2025

DRDO's Maritime surveillance aircraft based on Dornier
"The Project SHYEN"
Features: KSHITIJ Maritime Patrol Radar
Electronic Support Measure
EO/IR Turret
Local SDR
 
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A U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon (top), assigned to “The Skinny Dragons” of Patrol Squadron (VP) 4, and an Indian Naval Air Arm P-8I, assigned to the “Condors” of Indian Navy Air Squadron (INAS) 316, take off from U.S. Navy Support Facility Diego Garcia for bilateral training, Oct. 24, 2025. The combined training focused on anti-submarine warfare and maritime domain awareness to strengthen and refine the interoperability between the U.S. and Indian navies.
 

The negotiations between the United States and India regarding the acquisition of 6 P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft for the Indian Navy are stuck, the disagreement being over the price. "They are not budging on cost. They are saying it is not possible to reduce the price as there are supply chain difficulties," highly placed sources said. The Indian government believes the price being asked for is too high-- a nearly 50 per cent markup, and therefore, considerably more than the unit cost at which they were purchased earlier.

The Navy has a dozen P8Is, made by Boeing and they have been very successful. They are largely used in a maritime surveillance role, though they could be used for anti-submarine warfare as well. The sale of the first eight were agreed upon in 2009, with the first one coming three years later. Then, four were agreed upon in 2016, the first coming four years later. Then, after discussions about an additional ten, six were decided upon by the Navy. They came along with a consignment of torpedoes and anti-ship Harpoon missiles. The P8I was even used for surveillance during the Doklam crisis in 2017 along the Line of Actual Control besides its other efforts. A team of US government officials and manufacturers were here earlier this year but could not find common ground.
 
Between a HAL built Do228 seaplane and twin otter seaplane, both myself personally and any pvt operator will choose the latter.
With the IN/ICG helicopter fiasco, they definitely need to go fix their reputation. Otherwise the armed forces might even prefer IAe N-219 over the H228.
 
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India, US near deal for $3 billion P-8I anti-submarine warfare aircraft amid improving ties

The proposal to buy the six new P-8I aircraft is expected to be taken up for clearance by the Defence Ministry in the near future, after which it would require a clearance by the Cabinet Committee on Security, Defence sources told ANI.

New Delhi [India], February 4 (ANI): Amid improving ties after the trade deal, India and the US are moving closer towards signing the around USD 3 billion deal for buying six P-8I anti-submarine warfare and maritime surveillance aircraft for boosting the capabilities of the Indian Navy to keep an eye on its areas of responsibility.The Indian Navy already has a fleet of 12 P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft based at Arakonam and Goa, from where they monitor areas along the eastern and western seaboards.The proposal to buy the six new P-8I aircraft is expected to be taken up for clearance by the Defence Ministry in the near future, after which it would require a clearance by the Cabinet Committee on Security, Defence sources told ANI.The Indian Navy's proposal to buy six new P-8I aircraft has been under discussion for a long time, but negotiations have been stalled due to price issues, they said.P-8I is the mainstay of the Indian Navy's surveillance platforms and will be used to strengthen its capabilities to monitor Chinese and Pakistani activities in the maritime zone.The Indian Navy is also set to receive a boost in its unmanned surveillance capabilities with the induction of 15 MQ-9 Sea Guardian high-altitude, long-endurance surveillance drones, which are expected to begin arriving in 2029.The Indian defence forces are also boosting their surveillance capabilities with the induction of 87 Medium Altitude Long Endurance drones; a significant number will be inducted into the Indian Navy. (ANI)
 
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the current ordered batch of 6 is lot more advance than the ones ordered in 2009 and 2016.

Does it also includes upgrades for current fleet too?

$250 million per unit cost of the initial deal in 2009 has the same purchasing power as approximately $377.7 million in 2026.

3 Billion for 6 p8i gets 500 million per unit, which is 32.38% more per unit than the deal in 2009 inflation adjusted, more advanced sensor suite kinda helps justifying the 32.4% additional cost to a significant extent, but not to the full extent i guess.

Speaking with hopium, If the contrast potentially also includes upgrades for the current fleet, then it will be a very good deal.
 
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