Boeing expects India’s P-8I order to increase to as many as 30 units, citing the Indian navy and coast guard’s interest in multimission aircraft.

“With 7,500 kilometers of coastline, and with three aircraft carriers, the Indian navy is going to have a tremendous need for ... maritime and surveillance aircraft,” Lang told Aviation Week earlier. “So we expect that once the navy starts using the P-8I the demand may go up to 30 or more.”

The P8-Is will operate from INS Rajali, a naval base at Arakonam, near the southern city of Chennai.

P-8I photo: Boeing