The Boeing company has successfully delivered the 12th P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft to the Indian Navy, marking the completion of a contract initiated in 2016 about four additional P-8I aircrafts. This delivery represents the evolving naval power and defense ties between India and the US.
About P-8I Patrol Aircraft
The P-8I is a Maritime Reconnaissance and Anti-Submarine Warfare Aircraft designed for long-range operations. It is an Indian variant of the P-8A Poseidon, manufactured by Boeing, intending to replace the US Navy’s ageing P-3 fleet.
With top speeds reaching 907 kmph and an operational range exceeding 1,200 nautical miles, the P-8Is are equipped to detect and neutralize threats well before they pose any danger to the Indian shores. India, the first international customer for the P-8 aircraft, acquired eight P-8Is under a USD 2.2 billion deal in 2009. These aircraft form part of the 312A Naval Air Squadron stationed at Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu. In 2016, the Indian Navy opted for four more P-8Is, which cost them over USD 1 billion.
In May 2021, the US State Department approved the potential sale of six more P-8I aircraft and related equipment to India. Now, the P-8Is will be installed with encrypted communication systems as a corollary to India signing the COMCASA (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement) with the US.
India-US Defense Relationships
This recent approval indicates a strengthening strategic relationship between India and the US, with India being recognized as a significant force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia region by the US.
Since 2008, defense purchases from the US have become a critical part of the expanding ties between India and the US. The defense trade between the countries has grown from nearly zero in 2008 to USD 20 billion in 2020, facilitated by substantial policy upgrades. In 2016, the US declared India as a Major Defence Partner, and in 2018, granted it equal access to defense technology as NATO allies and Australia, Japan, and South Korea under the Strategic Trade Authorization-1 (STA).
The COMCASA Agreement
COMCASA establishes a legal framework for the transfer of communication security equipment from the US to India, facilitating interoperability between their forces and potentially with other militaries using US-origin systems for secured data links.
COMCASA is an India-specific version of the Communication and Information on Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA). It is one of four foundational agreements that the US signs with allies and partners to facilitate interoperability between militaries and the sale of high-end technology.
Foundational Agreements Between the US and Its Partners
The US signs four foundational agreements with its partners and allies. They include the General Security Of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), the Communications and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA), and the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA). India has signed all these agreements in 2002, 2016, 2018, and 2020 respectively. These agreements allow for intelligence sharing, access to each other’s military facilities for refueling and replenishment, and sharing of geospatial and satellite data.
