The State Department has approved a potential $2.4 billion deal with India for six of Boeing’s [BA] P-8I Patrol aircraft.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress on Friday of the new foreign military sale.An Indian Navy P-8I Poseidon aircraft. (Photo: Boeing)

Under the deal, India would also receive MIDS-JTRS radios, AN/AAR-54 Missile Warning Sensors, Embedded GPS/Inertial Navigation Systems, CFM56-7 commercial engines, tactical open mission software, ARES-1000 commercial variant Electronic Support Measures, AN/APR-39D Radar Warning Receiver and AN/ALE-47 Countermeasure Dispensing Systems.

DSCA officials noted the Indian Navy previously contracted with Boeing for eight P-8I aircraft in January 2009 and four additional aircraft in July 2016, via the Direct Commercial Sale process.

“The first P-8I aircraft were delivered to the Indian Navy in 2013, providing interoperability and critical capabilities to coalition maritime operations. This proposed sale of an additional six P-8I aircraft will allow the Indian Navy to expand its maritime surveillance aircraft capability for the next 30 years,” DSCA wrote in a statement.