P-8A MMA to become a multinational program, India too may be included

Australia, Canada, and Italy were named by the U.S. government at the end of 2004 as being the most likely partners in the development of the P-8A Multimission Maritime Aircraft (MMA), based on a Boeing 737 airframe. The US Navy is now in formal talks with these potential international partners, and India has also expressed interest. The U.S. market alone is estimated to be $20 billion, and the P-8 replaces the P-3 Orion aircraft currently in service with 15 countries.

Each potential international partner would be expected to contribute approximately $300 million toward the development of the P-8A. The U.S. also approached other allies but according to eDefense they were "less responsive," raising the prospect of a competing European system at some future date based on an Airbus airframe.

The Indian Navy's interest in joining the MMA program has already been communicated, and the Pentagon would possibly provide an answer through Defence Security Cooperation Group (DSCG) chief Lt. Gen Jeffrey B. Kohler. Some Indian Navy sources believe that a recent decision to spend $6 billion on 50 Boeing civil jets for Air India could incline Boeing toward a favourable response. The P-8A matches the operational profile currently assigned to the Indian Navy's Tupolev-142 "Bear" long-range reconnaissance planes and Ilyushin-38 maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft.

These discussions come in the wake a recent visit to India by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, in which the USA expressed its desire to substantially upgrade their strategic relationship. Given the two nations' shared interest in an arc that stretches from the Staits of Malacca to the coast of East Africa, many analysts see naval cooperation as the likely linchpin of their future military relationship.

Washington's recent offer of at least 12 P-3C Orions would match India's requirements profile immediately, but participation in the P-8A offers an aircraft with superior performance in all respects plus accompanying strategic, industrial, and prestige benefits. Some analysts consider the request a sort of test by India of its long-term importance to the USA.

As things currently stand, the P-8A will be built by Boeing's Integrated Defence Systems (Boeing IDS) division, CFM International (a 50/50 joint company of Snecma Moteurs and General Electric Company), Northrop-Grumman, Raytheon, and Smiths Aerospace.

Read full article .......

Good news indeed. I really hope it becomes a multinational programme and India is included.

[edit on 13-6-2005 by Stealth Spy]

The P-8A Multimission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) is intended to search for and destroy submarines, conduct shipping interdiction, and also possibly engage in an ELINT role. This will involve carrying torpedoes, depth charges, Harpoon anti-shipping missiles, and other weapons. It will also be able to drop and monitor sonobuoys. It is designed to operate in conjunction with the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance unmanned aerial vehicle.


Artists impression :

Other must reads :

www.aviationtoday.com...

www.globalsecurity.org...

Boeing Alters Wing Design for P-8A MMA

Prototype's cockpit :

It wont be impossible for India to be a part of the F-35 programme as well.

See pic

Read this

The P-8 is rubbish because;

a - it only has two engines

b - it is not a Nimrod.


I do of course merely jest. It is an excellent progrqamme, and a jet replacement for the P-3 is long overdue in my estimation.

Originally posted by waynos
The P-8 is rubbish because;

a - it only has two engines

b - it is not a Nimrod.


I do of course merely jest. It is an excellent progrqamme, and a jet replacement for the P-3 is long overdue in my estimation.

Thats the only thing I don't like about the U.S military. It's aircraft and ships have service lifes longer than that of any other developed country.

That's because our projects are of good quality that warrant long term life spans. Plus if you compare a F-15 from the 70’s with one from today you would think they were two different fighters, systems get upgraded and changed. And when your dealing with such large numbers as the U.S. is, its cost effective to design something for long term use then to develop a new class every other year.

[edit on 13-6-2005 by WestPoint23]

I think the increasingly cooperative defense relationship between India and the US can only be a good thing for both countries. Thinking about it, it is a natural alliance: the world's most populous representative democracy and the world's first representaive democracy. Despite past differences, both nations have strong common interests, and face common threats - Islamic extremism and (if it chooses a path of military agression, which I tend to doubt will happen) China.

The US would do well to seek a closer friendship with India, if the P-8A is part of this, good. India is a rising power, and not an agressive or threatening one. I'd like to see more cooperation between our two space programs as well. Frankly, for the future of the species, I think space exploration and colonization are more important than military projects anyway.

[edit on 6/14/05 by xmotex]

I wonder if this can be used to leverage India to buy the F-16 block 70 in the M-MRCA tender.

I doubt it, I think that offer was more political than serious.
I think it will be used as a foot in the door to try and sell India the F-35B when the Harriers come due for replacement though.

India has harriers? this is news to me. how long have they had them and have they been used in combat?

Yeah they use them on their carriers.

No idea about their combat record though.

India bought the Sea Harrier FRS.51 in the early '80's to replace the hopelessly out of date Hawker Sea Hawk, in view of the size of their carriers there were only two aircraft that were viable replacements, these were the Sea Harrier and the Yak -38 and, incredibly, the Russian plane was India's first choice.

However, it was reported in 'Flight' magazine that when top level contact was made between the Russian and Indian cheifs of staff regarding a purchase the Indian delegation were told that "The Yak 38 is more experimental than anything and has many problems, if I were you I'd go and buy the Sea Harrier."

thanks waynos. yah that info about the 38 being picked sounds familer. anyways back to the P-8. I hope canada get a new troop transport before a P-8 though the P-3's we have need to be replaced. the Cf-130s though are in bigger need of replacement. any word on if can has agreed to fund the project or is it old news?

Well India will be retiring its second aircraft carrier, INS Viraat in ~3 years time and the same is true for its sea-harriers.

The all new huuuge power projection aircraft carrier INS Virkamadithya will replace it and it will carry ~20 new Mig-29 K .

India's 4th and first indegenous aircraft carrier will carry a mix of Mig-29 K's and indegenous LCA Tejas Navy aircrafts.

The american offer of aesa superhornets is also being evaluated.

Originally posted by waynos
India bought the Sea Harrier FRS.51 in the early '80's to replace the hopelessly out of date Hawker Sea Hawk, in view of the size of their carriers there were only two aircraft that were viable replacements, these were the Sea Harrier and the Yak -38 and, incredibly, the Russian plane was India's first choice.

However, it was reported in 'Flight' magazine that when top level contact was made between the Russian and Indian cheifs of staff regarding a purchase the Indian delegation were told that "The Yak 38 is more experimental than anything and has many problems, if I were you I'd go and buy the Sea Harrier."

A similar thing also occured in the recent 1.6 billion $ Hawk deal with Britain . The Mig-AT was again the first choice, and some while later the hawk was purchased.

Also, India's sea harriers have now been upgraded with a new Israeli radar and even have some French MFD displays !

It has also acquired BVR capability and russian bvr missiles are also fitted !

Canada has pulled out of talks on joining the US-led Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) programme, and instead plans to extend the life of its Lockheed Martin CP-140 Auroras until 2025, writes Andrej Jeziorski.

Ottawa withdrew from the negotiations on 7 July, the Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) says. “The new defence policy has realigned the department’s priorities. Therefore, the department has decided not to pursue this initiative at this time,” the DND says. The Canadian decision follows a similar move by Australia because of an escalating crisis in defence spending.

Canada has 18 Aurora maritime patrol aircraft, these unique versions of the P-3 Orion having entered service in 1980. The aircraft are being upgraded under the C$1.5 billion ($1.2 billion) Aurora Incremental Modernisation Programme, a series of 23 systems upgrades to be completed on 16 aircraft over about 10 years.

“Currently, the third block of projects, comprised of the mission computer and sensors, is scheduled to be completed near the end of 2010,” the DND says. “The department has initiated a structural life-extension programme for the CP-140 Aurora that will extend the aircraft’s estimated life expectancy to 2025.”

Boeing had offered Australia, Canada and Italy each more than $500 million of work on its P-8A MMA on the condition that they sign up for the programme, investing $300 million each in the system development and demonstration phase. The manufacturer had tried to gather international partnerships prior to the project’s preliminary design review in September.

Based on the 737-800ERX airframe, up to 108 P-8As will be acquired to replace the US Navy’s P-3C Orions.

full article ......

Cannada & Australia out

So India in ???

Man that bites @$$. I was thinking though that DND is currently looking for a new mid air-refueler again and as well as being part of the JSF program and getting new martime choppers so i guess i should just be happy with all of that. I really would like the see that plane in CF colours though sigh.

I can see Italy pulling ot as well and going for Airbus.

I really think the Indians should buy the ex-RN FSR2 sea harriers - they allready have BVR capability and can use AMRAAM - and the youngest airframe isn`t yet 6!!